Popular Woodworking Editors' Blog

There aren't many things better than free food, new power tools, and a friendly bunch of woodworkers. Last Wednesday evening that's what things were like here at the Popular Woodworking shop. Bosch tools sent several crates and boxes on Tuesday. Wednesday afternoon, Jim Stevens, Group Product Manager-Benchtop & Cutting Tools, Jason Feldner, Product Manager-Benchtop Tools, and Jon Howell, Product Manager-Circular Saw Blades arrived to unpack and set things up. Over in our cafeteria the caterers arrived with an enticing spread of barbecue beef, cold cuts and potato salad.

Close to 60 readers arrived, and after dinner the Bosch reps spoke about and demonstrated new tools and saw blades. In the corner of the picture is the new jobsite table saw, the Bosch 4100DG-09. We were impressed with this saw in Las Vegas particularly with the user-friendly guard system. We've had one in the shop for a couple months, and like it a lot. If you don't have space for a cabinet saw, or work in a garage where you have to put your tools away, it's worth taking a look at this one. It has a "gravity rise stand" that folds up easily and rolls, and a digital measuring system is available for the rip fence.

Jason Feldner, Bosch's product manager for this tool showed the features after dinner. Jim Stevens gave the group a quick look at some hand-held tools; the Colt palm router and a new random-orbit sander. We promised not to show the sander yet, but as soon as we get the OK, we'll share some pictures and first impressions with you. Jon Howell wrapped up the formal presentations with a discussion of carbide and saw-blade technology.

With our appetites for food satisfied, and our appetites for tools properly whetted, it was off to the shop to take a closer look and to try the tools in action. In the picture above, Jason is explaining some of the fine points of the saw. We also had routers, sanders, a compound miter saw you can see sitting on the corner of Glen's new bench over Jason's shoulder, and cordless drills.

To close out the evening, we drew names and the Bosch reps gave away two of the table saws, equipped with the gravity rise stands and digital rip fences. Bosch also gave everyone who attended a free 10" table saw blade.

Here's a picture of Jason Feldner, Popular Woodworking Publisher Steve Shanesy, and the two table-saw winners. If you look back at the first picture in this post, both of the winners were sitting together at the front table at dinner. Is it good luck to grab the table closest to the presentation, or is there some sort of conspiracy? If you show up at our next get together (which will happen this fall) you can enjoy the free eats and the camaraderie, and find out for yourself. Watch the blog for the announcement, or sign up for our free e-mail newsletter (link is in the lower left hand corner of the home page) to get on the guest list.

— Robert W. Lang