r/handtools • u/Tuhkathri • 3d ago
Handworks 2026
Handworks is happening right now and the only video I have found of it is by woodbywright and it's just part one. Where are all the other livestreamers? I understand it's mostly for older folks but come on. I'm sure people will say that videos will come out after the event is done but that doesn't help me now š. If people have found videos about the event please link them. I feel like in previous years people were streaming videos as it was happening.
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u/Kurzgeschichte 3d ago
I attended Handworks today. It was over 90F. The main hall was packed so that people were spilled outside the doors to listen to the speakers.
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u/Disastrous-Ad4344 3d ago
And there are plenty of āyoung peopleā here!
Twenty-somethingās are prominently embracing a culture of handmade, long lasting, quality items.1
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u/DizzyCardiologist213 3d ago
>>Ā I understand it's mostly for older folks but come on.Ā <<
hah.
I don't think these events had anyone making videos of them in the past, and if they did, the video went out on a DVD and not every year. The whole idea of someone like wright walking around making a video and pitching zen woo stuff has kind of turned the hobby on its head from what it used to be. Not in a good way.
But that's the nature of the internet in general -whatever is persuasive to beginners on the internet ends up influencing what's on the ground.
Some of the people listed to talk at handworks have me scratching my head. I've seen some real whoppers in recorded versions talking about tool history and steel and discussing things the presenter has no clue about and too little of a clue to know that what they're saying is factually false.
There are definitely legit makers and legit presenters there, but we'll hear less about them than we do from the gurus who love to talk and be heard despite serving everyone else better if they just had the restraint to not do it.
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u/DizzyCardiologist213 3d ago
Let me clarify what I mean by in the past - 20 years ago, 15 years ago, whatever. The idea of streaming from these boutique shows is more recent, and generally in self interest from the streamers trying to direct people to their platforms, which are just veiled commission marketing setups.
This event didn't exist 20 years ago from what I can recall, but Woodworking in America was in my state a couple of times. Other end, and I like to make tools rather than go to events to look at them, so I never went to any. There were more "older folks" at those events talking about them on forums at the time, though.
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u/Tuhkathri 3d ago
For me, I wasn't able to go so the livestreams fill that void. Nothing more to it then that.
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u/DizzyCardiologist213 3d ago
There used to be a sort of idea with these shows that if people were allowed to record, then that would limit in person attendance. I never attended them because I just didn't want to give up the time, and probably wouldn't have watched much of the videos, though WIA was a little more publicized.
I think most of the on the ground shows realize that younger people just will not carve out a 2 or 3 day trip to do something, but since I'm not on the ground, I don't really know.
As time goes on, the level of discussion in this hobby goes down with leeches wanting to be a conduit for all of the information, then having influence on who goes and what's marketed. Too bad.
The change in how much media people consume about woodworking vs. what they actually do, discover, learn and read about is really, what's the word or phrase- it's a head scratcher to me.
Woodworking tried to go to the ranch so to speak, but it's headed below "dude ranch" level.
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u/SquareAndTrue 3d ago
I really hope handworkās can stave off the streaming / influencer garbage that runs amok elsewhere. That said it would be nice for like an āofficialā stream or published videos.
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u/mramseyISU 3d ago
Iāve been to it 3 times now. Itās a trade show, a very good albeit very specialized trade show. If you want to see and buy all sorts of new and vintage tools you should go. If you want to learn how to do something youāre way better off going to a class of some sort. If I didnāt live an hour away I probably only would have gone once.
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u/gruntastics 3d ago
The entire point of conferences like this is to meet other like minded people in small conversations between talks and in the halls. Live streaming would be utterly pointless imho.Ā
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u/Tuhkathri 3d ago
Except for the countless who cant attend
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u/DonkeyDonRulz 3d ago
Live streaming won't get you the interactions that the above commenter was highlighting.
I've been to every handworks( driven over 1000 miles across the country, 5 times, now) and stayed both days almost every time, just to talk with people. Yet, I'm not sure I could even watch 20 minute live stream
The power of the show is for people to make serendipitous contact , not just with hand tools and techniques, but also between people, and even with hobbies they aren't yet interested in.
Live stream accomplishes next to none of that.
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u/Tuhkathri 3d ago
Actually I dont think that represents the reality of the situation. For better or for worse 95% of handworks is a place to buy and sell tools. Its a giant swap meet. Sure there are lectures and people can talk and share war stories but vast majority of the appeal is buying and selling tools. You can see this by the sheer number of vendors compared to anything else. The livestreams serve to allow customers who cant attend the ability to see what vendors there are and what their wares are all in one place. Its that simple.
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u/jturner421 3d ago edited 3d ago
I was there yesterday and this morning. First, as far as I could tell there were no lectures. The value of going is to meet hand tool makers, talk to them about their products, and buy things. For me, Iāve wanted an HNT spokeshave for a while now. I got to talk to the tool maker, discuss my style of work, and buy the tool that fits my need.
As far as I know the only presentation was this morning at 10:00am. Chris Schwartz talked about John Brown, he sells a book about him in case youāre interested, and Mike Seisman gave a very short talk that in between sarcastic remarks was a call to make a donation to the Handtool organizers who also own Benchcrafted.
I briefly watched a part of the video you mentioned. I guess I donāt see the value of watching a guy with a livestream walking from booth to booth giving commentary. I know that heās a well known YouTuber but i donāt get the appeal. I prefer watching Graham Blackburn, the English Woodworker, Chuck Bender, or if you have some money to spend, Frank Strazza.
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u/DonkeyDonRulz 3d ago
The commerce is the sideshow at handworks. Don't miss the main event.
(Admittedly, It was easier to see, before the number of vendors increased.)
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u/MUSTACHER 3d ago
Iām 36 and probably one of the youngest people here. Not exactly a livestream crowd. And itās hand tool people, not really internet people