Roving reporter Michael Springer here with coverage of the 2019 International Builders’ Show (IBS), held in snowy Las Vegas, Nevada. The weather was unusual, but it was still warmer than where many of us were visiting from so no biggie. The 2019 IBS marks the 75th anniversary of this trade show, and this year the show featured more than 1,500 exhibitors sprawled out over 600,000 square feet. Now combined with the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), every hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center was filled, and the attendee count broke the 100,000 people mark. I wandered as much of the acreage as I could (including the outdoor exhibits), and I encountered cool tools and gear, building materials and fasteners, and everything else that goes into a house. Read More
Safety
Toy Safe Finishes – What You Need To Know To Keep The Little Ones Safe
There’s an old truism that if you want to test how well you understand something, try explaining it to someone else. Of all the topics I’ve looked into over the years, few are as mired in confusion as that of toy safe finishes. And the deeper I dug, the worse it got. Whether you’re a concerned parent or just a woodworker who wants to be sure your products won’t endanger the health of curious young mouths, you too may have asked “What finishes are safe for wooden toys?” It’s a simple question with a slightly complicated answer. So buckle up your booster seat and we’ll see if we can make some sense of it all. Read More
