LANCASTER, Pa. – The first Wood Pro Expo in Lancaster drew larger crowds of woodworkers to its new home during the first day and the start of the second day of the exhibition.

A variety of equipment, supplies and services exhibitors met with local woodworkers and makers of cabinets, furniture, and millwork at the Lancaster Host exhibit hall east of Lancaster.

ARTICLE How was the scene at Wood Pro Expo Lancaster? So awesome it is already booked to return in October 2018.

Will Sampson led off the event with a keynote address describing seven ways woodworkers can improve their businesses. Sampson discussed the benefits of a business plan, and how price is determined by labor plus material plus overhead and profit all equals price.

Will Sampson tells woodworkers how to improve their businesses.

Criswell Davis of Frank Miller Lumber showed how the other half lives with examples of high-end millwork jobs. He spoke about hardwood lumber trends, sustainable forests, and quartersawn lumber techniques. Davis said to keep specifying American hardwoods for environmental reasons. Cutting down older trees benefits the forest.

Cold weather fabrication was discussed by Bob Schaefer of Fessenden Hall Inc. Schaefer detailed characteristics of different types of panel and laminate products and the effects of moisture content and temperature changes. He also discussed characteristics of contact and PVA adhesives.

What’s in your spray booth? Bob Karmonick of Russell Plywood provided examples of possible challenges in finishing, and suggested that the finishing supplier should be working with the shop.

Here too, maintaining the right temperature of the coatings themselves can have big benefits in achieving finish consistency.

Sanding should get more attention and sanding shouldn’t be a punishment area, he said.

Also, Karmonick said that finishing suppliers should be able to suggest or provide methods for hazardous waste disposal. The individual shop doesn’t want this responsibility.

Matt Buell uses template routing to make high-quality furniture and residential and commercial products. He outlined tools needed, explained fixed-base vs. plunge routers, edge templates and how he experimented with template routing.

He explained that he didn’t know the rules, and he wasn’t afraid to try something new.

We’ll have more details about Wood Pro Expo and the second day’s activities coming soon. Follow at #WoodProExpo and @WoodworkingBiz on Twitter.