Make and Take at the 2019 AWFS®Fair

Society of Wood Manufacturing (SWM) Southern California Chapter members and volunteers helped AWFS®Fair attendees make an item out of wood at the Make and Take booth. Attendees could choose to make a tea light candle holder, a cell phone holder, or customize a work apron. There was a raffle for a table top drill press, donated by SWM, and a set of clamps from Bessey Tools North America. Kayleen McCabe, a skilled trades advocate, spent time at the booth helping attendees, as did Ethan Abramson, a woodworker and social media influencer.

Festool provided a Kapex saw, and Weinig Holz-Her provided pre-milled lengths of wood, with a profile designed to hold a cell phone, or a stack of business cards. Sierra Forrest Products provided wooden blocks to be made into tea-light candle holders. AWFS®Fair attendees could then customize their project using a Laguna PL 12/20 portable laser engraver, or a Shaper Origin handheld router. Stiles Machinery donated safety glasses for anyone making a project at the booth.

SWM raised $500 through donations at the event which will be used to promote woodworking careers to students in Southern California. SWM members organize SkillsUSA California woodworking competitions, represent the woodworking industry at professional conferences for school counselors, and help woodworking students in financial need.

To learn more, contact AWFS Education Manager Adam Kessler, adam@awfs.org