Alex Snodgrass Bandsaw Master - Cutting Across Woodcraft Nation
Alex Snodgrass is the Bandsaw Master. If you want to learn all about bandsaws, proper usage, techniques, safety and maintenance, then you should learn from the best.
Throughout 2023, Alex has been conducting bandsaw seminars at over 70 Woodcraft stores, as well as classes on making awesome cutting boards. The good news is that Alex will be returning again to Woodcraft stores with the Bandsaw Method tour in 2024, conducting bandsaw seminars, as well as guiding students in a new class on how to construct a cutting board with a new stair-step design. This is an awesome opportunity to learn from the best.
“In mid-2022, Woodcraft started discussing ways to provide our customers with an education-based experience on bandsaws and bandsaw projects, and when it comes to bandsaw optimization and design, there is only one person that came to mind – Alex Snodgrass. With help from our partners at JET-Powermatic, Woodcraft was able to broker a nationwide tour featuring Alex. Throughout 2023, Alex has been delighting our customers from coast to coast, and we couldn’t be happier to have him on board for another tour in 2024!”
Andrew Bondi - Woodcraft Vice President - Retail & Franchise Operations
Alex was born and raised in Miami, later lived in Georgia, and has lived in Virginia for the past seven years. After spending time in the Navy, Alex lived in Hawaii. That’s where his kids were born. At the time, Alex had a job delivering items for a woodworking store and found out that he liked tools. Conversely, the store owners found out that Alex was excellent at presenting and selling tools.
“I picked up some woodworking when I was in Hawaii. That’s where I got started.”
They were impressed with his ability to present tools – thus started a longstanding relationships with both Carter Products (since 1994) and with JET/Powermatic (since 1999). They’ve been mutually beneficial relationships, to say the least.
As Alex was demonstrating new blades and how exceptional they were, he found out that he was pretty good with bandsaws, knowing them inside and out. Alex was always trying to come up with ideas. It just so happened that those ideas were well liked by others. He started putting it all together. The first patent that he ever came out with was the stabilizer, then the quick release, electronic tension gauge and others. Plus, he has several inventions that have not been patented.
Alex has demonstrated at woodworking shows for years. He has also taught a lot of woodworking classes at Woodcraft stores and Marc Adams School of Woodworking, among others.
Alex Snodgrass on the 2023 Woodcraft catalog cover.
Alex holding the 2024 cutting board design.
In 2023, Alex has criss-crossed this country, giving seminars and classes at Woodcraft stores and thoroughly enjoys it.
“The classes at Woodcraft stores have been a blast!”
He has done the bandsaw seminars for a long time and said it’s cool to show up at a store and see a hundred people sitting there waiting to listen to you and learn.
“I’ve picked up something from every class that asks questions.”
If it’s a question he’s never heard before, he asks himself why. Why would they want to do that? And if they do, is it going to be helpful to somebody else? If it makes sense, Alex adjusts and changes his seminar. Alex said they can come up with some questions that are just shocking. And sometimes, it makes Alex think, “Maybe that’s not a bad idea.” Everybody resists change, but sometimes, it’s good. He keeps an open mind. It could lead to something he can develop.
2024 Cutting Board Classes
“Every patent I’ve come up with comes from thinking, what if you ... why couldn’t you ... or why can’t you .... or I wish I could ... And after thinking about it , I conclude that I could probably make that happen.″
2024 Cutting Board Classes
Alex said the best and most rewarding part about what he does is when he watches someone complete their cutting board project and they say, “I made this.” He said you can just tell by their expressions that they can’t believe they just created it. That’s the true reward!
He had a 13-year-old boy take the class and aced it; absolutely made a wonderful board. And he has had women that have never used a bandsaw before, kids, guys – it doesn’t matter who it is. Alex said they all go home happy with a cutting board and having gained some woodworking knowledge.
After taking the class, many are inspired to continue with woodworking. The main thing is people learn what a bandsaw can do. The bandsaw is not the end all, be all, but it is a really valuable and useful tool in the shop and probably, for the average woodworker, the staple of the shop.
In 2024, Alex will make another round to Woodcraft stores with his bandsaw seminars and cutting board classes, this time with a “stair-step design.” You don’t want to miss out on these. Here is a link to Alex’s Woodcraft schedule. They fill up fast, so don’t wait.
2024 Bandsaw Seminar
In Alex’s interactive seminar, he’ll show you how easy it is to make beautiful bandsaw boxes by covering everything you need to know while demonstrating how to make a variety of different bandsaw boxes. This seminar will also cover how to set up your bandsaw, techniques such as cutting curves, unusual shapes and other valuable information.
2024 3D Stair-Step Cutting Board Class
This is a great opportunity to create your own stunning 3D Stair Step Cutting Board with the Bandsaw Master, Alex Snodgrass. Using Maple Cherry, and Walnut, Alex will show each student how to make a stunning cutting board that will really impress your family and friends.
Alex’s class will answer all of your questions about bandsaws, while covering basic topics such as bandsaw mechanics, tuning a bandsaw, and tectonics for cutting. Alex will also cover topics including glue-up techniques and how to plane, and will also debunk some common bandsaw myths.
Students leave his class with a fantastic cutting board, made with their own hands! This class is designed for woodworkers of all skill levels, from the beginner to the advanced woodworker. Register today – only 10 seats available per class!
