Tuesday 9 April 2013

Yandles Spring Show

Just back from Yandles spring show in Martock, Somerset, about 60 miles away from home. I was asked last year  if I would like to demonstrate at their Autumn show but I was already committed to another event. Yandles is a saw mill and tool and craft shop. Run in and around a family run sawmill which has plenty of character and lots to explore. What is really great about this show is that it is free, the emphasis is on sales of tools and wood with all the major manufacturers demonstrating and talking about their products. Lots of wood for sale, a lot of which is planed.
Do pop along in the future even if you are a green woodworker, you will find something for you.


Robert Sorby has a large display of their turning chisels and other stuff they make like the Pro edge sharpening system. I bought one a few years ago from Yandles and like it very much. Talk about traditional British solid engineering. This machine is solid and very well made. To put the icing on the cake it is also made in the UK. This seams to be my sharpening system of choice and the Tormek rarely makes and appearance in my workshop these days. If there is enough interest  I will do a review on it some day.


Yandles also puts on a good display of craft demonstrators, these are ongoing through the 2 days.


My set up. I was demonstrating fan birds. I took along a shrink pot to finish and a few handles to carve, but the interest in the birds was overwhelming.

I bought a travisher kit from James Mursell and very much look forward to making it up. I will be doing a review on this when I get time.

Paul Haydon has designed and made a boring kit for drilling holes in chair seats. He sells the main metal parts for £60, a very useful tool with more than one use. paulthaydon@aol.com

Next to Paul was Nic Westerman demonstrating axe making, great to watch and Nic's axes are a wonderful design, sorry no photos.


One last photo of a little saw, this one made by Mafell has a cutting depth of just over 7 inches. I know of lots of tables saws that come nowhere near that.