Lost Art Press

Do Not Miss Handworks 2023

Posted on by Lost Art Press
Dave Jeske of Blue Spruce Toolworks builds (again) a workbench to use during the Handworks show.

Registration has opened for Handworks 2023, which will be held Sept. 1-2 in Amana, Iowa. The event is free – registration helps the organizers determine the approximate attendance.

Handworks is – hands down – the best woodworking show I have ever attended, and I have attended hundreds of shows all over the world. Handworks is a true celebration of the craft, the tools we use and the people who practice it.

Even if you don’t buy a single nail or widget at the event, you will meet amazing people who share your interests. You will learn techniques from the exhibitors. And your faith in the future of woodworking will be restored.

Lost Art Press will be there – all of us. We will bring books, tools and will probably make some special edition something for the event. Check out who else will be there. It’s everyone in the hand tool world. And Roy Underhill is giving the keynote. And did I mention it’s free?

This show is not a money-making event for the organizers. They do it out of the goodness of their hearts. The booth fee for exhibitors is laughably minimal (like 1/20 of what we are usually asked to pay). No one shakes anyone down for money. So Magic Rag salesmen. No Router Bits that Fell off a Truck. 

This is the good stuff.

Also, I recommend you make every effort to attend this Handworks because there might not be another. It is an enormous pain in the butt for the organizers to pull off. And every time they put on the show, they say: This might be the last. I believe them.

Why Iowa? Why not your backyard? The Amana Colonies are amazing. They are worth the trip even without Handworks. It’s a gorgeous setting with beer, good food and old buildings.

Bring the family. Bring the neighbors.

— Christopher Schwarz

20 thoughts on “Do Not Miss Handworks 2023”

  1. Thanks Chris. I will probably go. Are there things for my wife to do as she isn’t quite as passionate about dead tree manipulation as I am.

      1. Thanks Chris. I took a look at the link. Lots of cool stuff to do. Not sure I will see too much as there is a cool woodworking event to attend. My wife, however, will probably enjoy it very much.

      2. Don’t forget about Iowa City! It’s only 30 minutes from the Amanas, and that weekend is the first Iowa Hawkeye football game of the season, which corresponds with FryFest, the annual football kickoff celebration. If you like college football, you will love FryFest and you will never want to leave Iowa City. Except for Handworks, of course.

        The Hawkeyes play in Kinnick Stadium, one of the oldest football stadiums in the country, and home to “The Iowa Wave” (Google it). The football game isn’t free, though. Tickets are…well, let’s just leave it at “not free.” Even if you don’t go to the game, the tailgating food is not to be missed and in enjoyable on its own.

        If football isn’t your thing, and you’re a fan of old buildings, Iowa’s original state capitol is on the University of Iowa campus and looks just like it did in 1840 (except for the gift shop). The Natural History Museum is right next to it, and it, too, looks just like it did in 1840. Coralville is home to a wonderful, brand new antique car museum.

        If modernism is your thing, the brand new Stanley Museum of Art just opened and features, among other things, one of Jackson Pollock’s most famous paintings.

        I love Cedar Rapids. Lived there for 18+ years. Lived in Iowa City for 26 years (God, I’m old). If you’re looking for a fun weekend in addition to Handworks, Iowa City is the place. But if 100,000 screaming fans isn’t your thing, Cedar Rapids will be much quieter.

        I received no compensation for this post. Just love Iowa City. And, for the record, I will be skipping football and going to Handworks, because it’s awesome.

  2. went to the first one………………fabulous……..covid and a lot of other things did not allow a return……..fantastic town……if you are of German heritage go now!………a piece of americana you should not miss!!

  3. It figures, 18 hours away by car. I would go in a heartbeat but just can’t for logistical reasons.
    You think there is a future with hand woodworking? One show in the middle of the country and it might be the last one?
    I think hand woodworking is about done if this is the last show ever.
    Very sorry to hear it actually.

    1. Sorry if this came off wrong.

      These shows are WILDLY successful. Attended by THOUSANDS. People come from all over the world.

      The reason this could be the last show is because it is so much dang work for the organizers. Months of logistics – and they have a business to run while they do this on the side as basically charity for the hand tool world.

      1. I belong to the Knights of Colombus (think of it as a faith based men’s club in the catholic church that does a lot of local charity work). One of our colleagues in the Knights of Colombus used to run a ribs, chili,and classic car show event. It was wildly successful. It took him 6 months a year of hard work plus a lot of others helping. It stopped during Covid and is unlikely to return because of how much work it took even though well attended, raised a lot of money for charity. I completely understand what you are saying. At some point, these events become full time jobs at which point, you start to need to charge fees, which changes things etc.

  6. Handworks is fabulous! It’s a happening more than a show. Plenty of opportunities to spend money and support makers of great tools. The Abraham brothers and their family deserve a huge amount of thanks for organizing Handworks. We’ve been to the previous three, and will be making the 1400 mile journey from Maine.

  8. Done and done, registered and lodging booked! Thanks for the heads-up, Chris. I’ve heard so many good things about this event.

  9. But why not in my backyard? Wait, Amana is only 45 minutes from my backyard… oh…. well, I guess I’ll go, then 🙂 Attended the last ones, so much fun. It is a zoo, though; too many people for the available space!! Will you and Meghan be there to autograph your books? Will Meghan’s DTC book be available for me to buy yet?
    Also, Chris, try not to repeat the Trail of Smears. And if you do, get a fecal transplant this time!

  10. Hopefully, there will be some videos available afterwards for those of us who live in the hinterlands and don’t have the budget for it.

  11. I went to Handworks II and III and, not only were they maybe the most fun I’ve ever had standing up, but I also made friends that I still keep in touch with today.

  12. I live in Florida but have been going to Tipton IA every fall to help a friend harvest corn since the 70s Iowa has some of the nicest people in the country

  13. I went to the last show and it was fantastic meeting the LAP team and visiting all the toolmakers. I’ll never forget walking down the street and encountering this guy walking alone pulling a wagon full of tshirts — Roy Underhill! He was so friendly and kindly chatted with me for awhile.

  14. Any chance there will be a limited run of “Sit on my Hand” T-shirts available at Handworks 2023?

  15. Hmmm, Amana is less than a 5 hour drive from Minneapolis. I gotta show up, especially if it’ll be the last one.

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