Fab Contests Set for SFA Mega Workshop

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – Think you’re the grinder guru? The emperor (or empress) of edging? The pasha of polishers? Care to prove it … in public?

Click photo to enlargeThe Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA) will offer two events during its Second Annual Mega Workshop on Oct. 20-22 to test the skills of stone workers — and offer cash prizes for the best work.

The first event, on Oct, 20, involves the polishing of 5′ of back-splash.Judging will be based on time of completion and quality of the polish; first prize is $200 (in cold cash).

The second, on Oct. 21, challenges contestants to grind and polish a randomly selected edge. Again, judging will be based on time of completion and quality of the work; first prize is $400 (also in cold cash).

And, sometime during the event, a Fabricator Face-Off will pit old-school East Coast stoneworking against modern-day techniques. Nick “Flip Flop” Patrona will represent the East Coast, and James “No Problem” D. will fly the West Coast banner in a miter build-off challenge.

The fabricator-friendly event, set for the Gateway Convention Center, will also feature educational seminars and exhibit floor  a selection of CNC stone production centers, edging machines and waterjets cutting and shaping slabs into ready-to-install countertop pieces.

This year’s Mega Workshop also includes the return of “The Cage,” a demo area within the exhibits that’s surrounded with a chain-link fence. Event attendees are welcome to enter the area (with proper eye and ear protection) to watch and go hands-on for real-time use of tooling and techniques – including products offered by vendors at the workshop.

The exhibits/demo area for the Mega Workshop will be open from 8 a.m. -5 p.m. on Oct. 20-21 (Thursday and Friday), and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Oct. 22 (Saturday). All Mega Workshop events and exhibits are located at the Gateway Convention Center, located 12 miles northeast of St. Louis and an easy driving distance from plenty of Midwest U.S. locations. Parking is plentiful and, like the Mega Workshop, free.
 
Several lodging chains have outlets in Collinsville; the SFA is making a limited number of rooms at $99 per night (plus tax) available at the Doubletree by Hilton adjoining the Gateway Convention Center. To get the room and the SFA rate, it’s necessary to call 866-235-4657, follow the voice-mail trail to new reservations, and then ask for rooms under the Stone Fabricators Alliance block. (Trying to book online through the Doubletree or any other travel website results in a message that there are no rooms available at the hotel for the dates of the event.)

For more information on the SFA Mega Workshop, go here. To fill out the form for free registration to the event, go here.