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Re: Question about Fabtech this year

I am hoping someone can explain it to me, I am a little confused as to the dissatisfaction the hobbyist guys experienced? I have never been to a fabtech.

I am both hobbyist and professional depending if I am doing something for me or someone else and if you do things the proper way there really isn't much difference outside of perhaps the scale of the job and size of equipment.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

Originally Posted by Lis2323

i'm so jealous!


i will try for Fabtech Vegas 2024

Fabtech in Vegas was nice for me. Since I use to go to Vegas, I still get Vegas hotel deals. If you are staying at a hotel, choosing one with a shuttle to the show is great !

At the time, my hotel had dedicated bus service times throughout the day. This was nice if you wanted o go for a few hours and get back to hotel.

I setup to meet with a couple of members from here. Steve Weber and the famous Tony, ''N2Welding''!

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

Originally Posted by Lis2323

i will try for Fabtech Vegas 2024

Me too, Fabtech 2018 in Atlanta was my 1st show

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

i'm so jealous!


i will try for Fabtech Vegas 2024

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

I was there all day Tuesday and it was awesome. Only an hour drive for me.

I did not get as much swag, but a couple of discs, gloves, and lots of pens and markers.

My son was most interested in 3D printing. I expect he will purchase one in the next week. He has designed and printed objects for 12-15 years.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

I was there as well.
This is probably my fifth show and I agree with BD1 that the Chicago show is larger.

Here are some of my thoughts on the show.

Fabtech 2022 in Atlanta.

It isn't bad, but there are some notable absences. ESAB, Dewalt, Walter Surface, Fein, etc, are not there as well as a number of other companies I am interested in.

There seems to be a shift more for the exhibiting companies so they are looking for industrial or larger customers.

I went to one booth and had a vendor say, "You look like a hobbyist looking at tools."

I am in my usual Hawaiian shirt and shorts, and what he said was pretty much true.

Not as many freebies this year. A lot of the abrasive and tool companies were not there.

Miller and Lincoln had large displays of course, but I did not see any test booths where you could try out machines.
I wanted to try out the Miller 255 on pulse in person

I did buy a good amount of items from Fireball Tools.

While they had a new heavy duty combination square I bought there, most of the Fireball Tools will be shipped to me. They also had smaller sizes of their squares as new items.

I decided to come home early yesterday with the bad weather coming in. I drove from Virginia to Atlanta and didn't want to spend all day today driving in the rain.



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Re: Question about Fabtech this year

[QUOTE=schmitzna;8892622]First time at FabTech and I was blown away at the scale of the show. I will go next time it is in Atlanta. Walked well over 5 miles according to my Garmin watch in the exhibit halls. Crowd was huge so it took an hour to get my badge -- next time I'll wait until Day 2 or 3 to see the exhibits.

Huge machines and booths -- one exhibit hall looked like a good sized factory. Lots of very interesting stuff not relevant to my garage fab space.

I didn't go this year. IF you think Atlanta was something, Chicago is at least twice that size or more.

I didn't have to wait long for my badge, but I was there early. I'm near Chicago so it's not bad. I did well with freebies too. One of the larger manufactures even had free beer, wine, and appetizers. It's nice because they don't know if your a nobody unless they look close to your neck badge. What I liked was scanning your badge for info or to get on there email list. There is a lot to see for sure.
I went when it was in Vegas too. That was nice, with bus service from my hotel. That was my first time and I should have had a extra suitcase for goodies.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

First time at FabTech and I was blown away at the scale of the show. I will go next time it is in Atlanta. Walked well over 5 miles according to my Garmin watch in the exhibit halls. Crowd was huge so it took an hour to get my badge -- next time I'll wait until Day 2 or 3 to see the exhibits.

Huge machines and booths -- one exhibit hall looked like a good sized factory. Lots of very interesting stuff not relevant to my garage fab space.

But there were some good deals for the little guy. The Sawblade.com booth had great show specials so I ordered a Trajan 125 portable bandsaw. Diablo was cutting half inch steel with their circular saw blades and had a show special buy three get one free -- all you have to do is email a copy of your receipt. Everlast had a booth targeted at the small guy and there were many vendors of consumables, torches, protective gear, etc. You could run the LightWELD if you wanted to play with it -- out of my price range but amazing to see.

I would recommended attending, but it cost me nothing other than $20 to park as I have family in the area.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

Check the floor plan a head of time, I think Atlanta is two floors. Then determine what is a must see, and hit those first. I found the first day is the most rewarding for free goodies.

The last day is best if you plan on purchasing something. When I was there for last day, the larger plasma table setups were giving away the stuff they cut for free. Sadly airlines frown on bringing that on board. They had full size figures cutouts, like a guy leaning on post, guy holding up rifle, and assorted ones. It was amazing how fast and clean they cut these out.

Checkout the Big plasma cutting tables. I saw one setup cutting 1'' plate. It was unbelievable how fast and clean to cut out the pieces.

I think you'll find it interesting.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes as that world trade center is huge. You will walk at least 5 miles to see most of it. I went about 10 years ago and you get to meet and talk to reps from major companies and they will talk to you even if you are a home shop DIY type customer. A lot of free stuff and a lot of stuff you won't find just looking at the internet. Lot of good ideas on how to build stuff and a lot of hardware to finish your project off.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

I am going to FabTech in Atlanta this year. Never been to one before. I can stay with family in the area. Hope it has good stuff for the hobbyist level attendee.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

For anyone in Ontario mid June….




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Re: Question about Fabtech this year

Many of those conventions tend to be for industry pro's only, i'd asked about some trade shows was flatly told 'unless you're a big deal you won't get in'.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

I just registered but when I looked carefully at the layout and who was there, I didn't recognize most and a lot of spaces are unfilled. I'll check again in September but so far I'm not inspired. Not worth it at this point.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

Originally Posted by shovelon

The Vegas FabTech was always 2/3rds small manufacturers in pre-covid years. I always came home with a couple hundred dollars of promotional items.

Wow! I got a pair of Tillman 750's, a couple abrasives, a few markers, and my favorite......... a Cor-met 3/4" stick electrode for a wall hanger!!! Made it all worth it!
Like I said, I won't go back as far as I can tell. I am more interested in used equipment because I am side work only. The few things I purchase new I can research from my computer. (Track torch, plasma table, etc.)

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

Originally Posted by Stick-man

I just attended chitcago last year. I was extremely disappointed. It was geared towards heavy industrial manufacturing including a ton of robotics. I was extremely pissed that Lincoln, Miller, and ESAB were not there. Especially because I was purchasing a new engine drive. The buddy that attended with me also attended the SEMA show. He said even though it's automotive based, it had a ton of equipment for use by small fab shops, and was exactly what we were looking to see. I don't think I would ever attend Fabtech again.

The Vegas FabTech was always 2/3rds small manufacturers in pre-covid years. I always came home with a couple hundred dollars of promotional items.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

Originally Posted by Lis2323

Fabtech 2024 is in Las Vegas.


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Wife and I love the Vegas FabTech. We take the motorhome to the Sam's Town RV resort. In between FabTech I take the wife to a couple shows, hit the casinos, and frequent the casino buffets and restaurants.

I am definitely putting that on the calendar and would love to meet up with some WW members.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

Originally Posted by Stick-man

I just attended chitcago last year. I was extremely disappointed. It was geared towards heavy industrial manufacturing including a ton of robotics. I was extremely pissed that Lincoln, Miller, and ESAB were not there. Especially because I was purchasing a new engine drive. The buddy that attended with me also attended the SEMA show. He said even though it's automotive based, it had a ton of equipment for use by small fab shops, and was exactly what we were looking to see. I don't think I would ever attend Fabtech again.

I would not let last year's bad experience influence your view. From what I hear, and what I see of the vendor list, last year's show was pretty pathetic (though, not surprisingly - it's incredibly expensive to be an exhibitor, so completely understandable why companies would be hesitant in '21). Typically, there's still plenty of small fab shop oriented equipment there.

I've been 3 times in Atlanta, and once in Chicago (not last year). Very possibly will go to the Atlanta one again this year.

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

Fabtech 2024 is in Las Vegas.


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Re: Question about Fabtech this year

So sorry, yes it is Atlanta. Google had it in Chicago for 2022 but looking further they had it wrong. Odd years are Chicago. 2022 is Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center. www.fabtechexpo.com

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

JD1, I thought Fabtech will be in Atlanta this year? Nov. 8 - 10.
Am I on the wrong year? Change of Venue?

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

Nov 8 - 10 Chicago

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

When is it?

Re: Question about Fabtech this year

I attended my one and only time in Atlanta 2018, that year Jody's friend JD heald a get together the day before at his shop,
it was fun and got to meet a few of the big wigs. FabTech itself was a good experience, plenty of free swag including useful items
such as abrasives. I personally would recommend at least one visit if it fits into your schedule.

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Question about Fabtech this year

Like most of you I'm only interested in gear designed for the hobbyist and "little guy".

The advantage of attending a fab tech event in Vegas or a Sema is the fact that no matter what.....well , you're in Vegas!


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