Words to Live By
This long thread about quotable sayings generated a long list of pithy quotes you could post up on the wood shop wall. March 21, 2012

Work-Station Shop Organization Systems
Thoughts on a shop setup that involves moving the workpiece from station to station, rather than moving pieces and tools onto and off of a single work bench.May 23, 2011

Setting Shop Temperature
A long discussion about how warm (or cool) to keep a shop, whether to turn the heat down at night and over the weekend, and the effect on costs, productivity, and quality of different practices. December 24, 2012

Sawdust as fuel
Building a sawdust-fired boiler to heat kiln and shop. November 18, 2002

Setting Up Excalibur Slider
Tips and photos for accurate alignment. March 14, 2004

Three-phase motors 101
Three-phase power and converters; explained in layman's terms. June 19, 2003

Streamlining High-Volume Cabinet Production
Well-organized cabinetmakers share their secrets for labor time efficiency. April 26, 2006

Shop Power Choice: Single Phase or Three Phase?
Shop owners discuss the relative pros and cons of three-phase and single-phase power supplies. February 6, 2010


Whether to Invest in a CNC Machine
Should a part-time woodworker with a small shop make the jump to CNC? April 18, 2015

Technology, Process Improvement , and Management in the Woodshop
A long, rich discussion about generating and applying good ideas, motivating and organizing people, choosing and using the right equipment, and keeping things simple in cabinet and furniture production. December 14, 2005

Solar Power for a Wood Shop?
Solar panels or a windmill can supplement your shop's electric usage, but you're not going to run big iron on it without the grid doing most of the work.. June 4, 2012

Shop lighting
Best bulbs for brightness and efficiency. February 12, 2003

Saving Time by Reorganizing Work on Sub-Assemblies
Analyzing a "bucket brigade" approach to cabinet parts and quantifying the time efficiency improvement. April 10, 2009

Speeding up the Work with a Value Stream Map
Drawing a map to visualize the steps in the production process helps cabinet shops streamline their processes and focus on productive activities instead of on moving parts around. October 2, 2007

Using Photos and Video to Analyze Processes
Woodweb's "LEAN" seminar thinks about using pictures to develop insight into shop workflow issues. May 6, 2009

Standardizing the Work Process: Is It Worth It?
What's the best way to create standard shop procedures — and is it worth the effort? September 7, 2013

Sizing Up a Shop That's For Sale
Another worker ponders whether to buy a shop that's up and running, or set up his own from scratch. Lots of good angles considered in this long thread. July 2, 2008

Three Phase Current, Demand Charges, and Phase Converters
Shedding some light on ways to minimize power company "demand charges," with an in-depth look at the way phase converters function. December 3, 2010

Understanding "Demand" and "Energy" Charges on Commercial Electric Bills
Electric utility companies charge shops a fee for the power you might use (or your peak power draw), as well as for the juice you actually consume. Here, shop owners describe what that arrangement can do to your utility bill's bottom line. February 18, 2007

Shop Maintenance and Cleaning
How to get your crew behind the idea that "a clean shop is a safe and happy shop." May 6, 2006

Spray Shop Layout
Setting up an efficient spray-finishing area in an expanded shop. December 26, 2004

Training Workers
The interviewing, hiring, and training process lays crucial groundwork that sets the tone for sound employee management. 1998.

Scrap and Cutoffs: Are they Worth Saving?
The perennial problem: how to manage odds and ends of material. September 30, 2010

Stroke, drum and widebelt sanders
What sort of sander is most efficient for a small cabinet shop? July 24, 2001

Synchronizing and Backing Up Multiple Computers
How do you keep an office computer, home computer, and smart phone synchronized, backed up, and secure?July 28, 2012

Shop ceiling heights and heating types
Suggestions on minimum ceiling height and more for a new cabinet shop. August 13, 2002

TOC and Complexity
Is the "Theory of Constraints" of limited practicality because it focuses on simple, linear event chains with the assumption that there is only one limiting constraint? Woodweb goes fractal on the shop floor. November 15, 2010

Setting up a milling business
How much land, what equipment is needed, and in what order, for a startup sawmill. April 24, 2002

20-foot span for saw shed
What approach should be used for strength and reliability? April 2, 2002

Tracking labor time
Keeping a record of labor time per operation in your shop. October 24, 2001

What NOT to expect from your computer -- Unreasonable expectations & wishful thinking
expect as a result of computerization. 1998

Shop Floor Management Systems
Woodshop owners discuss ways to improve the techniques they use to organize and run their operations. July 3, 2006

To nest or not to nest?
Is nesting appropriate for all shops? June 4, 2003

Whether to Move the Shop
Relocating to a different shop space can involve complicated pros and cons, including commute times, neighbor relations, marketing implications, and more. November 29, 2014

Three-phase electricity primer
Pros and cons of three-phase electricity and static and rotary phase converters. November 21, 2000

Tools to choose in setting up shop
Selecting the best makes and models of tools when starting out. October 31, 2000

1998-Rewarding your People
Creating a productive, inclusive shop atmosphere, and rewarding employee initiative. 1998

Young Manufacturing's -- Co-Generation Alternative
The feasibility of wood waste reuse. December 17, 2001

Standardizing on One Panel Thickness
Cabinetmakers discuss the idea of making all cabinet parts out of 16mm plywood. December 31, 2012

Sharing a Shop Space
Pros discuss the potential pitfalls of non-standard shop-sharing arrangements. July 3, 2006

Upgrading Fluorescent Shop Lighting
Shop owners discuss the pros, cons, and practicalities of swapping out T12 fluorescent light units for T8 fixtures and lamps. October 26, 2013

Whether to Leave Equipment Running
Here's a discussion of the cost, efficiency, and safety aspects of leaving equipment running for periods of time, versus shutting machinery down the moment it's not being actively used. September 15, 2011

Shop arrangement and setup
Shop owners describe the best and worst aspects of their workspaces. March 21, 2002

Think before you take the CNC plunge
WOODWEB technical advisor Brian Personett offers some food for thought to those thinking about purchasing CNC equipment. November 15, 2000

Upgrading Office Computers
Business owners suggest ways to improve the speed and power of your office computers, without switching platforms. April 19, 2015

Should the Shop Owner Master the CNC?
August 19, 2013

Shop Productivity With a New CNC
It seems more efficient to go on cutting parts manually than to program the CNC... what's missing? October 5, 2004

Shop Layout Advice
Here are some useful tips on making scale mockups of a shop floor plan, along with advice about how to best use the available space.July 8, 2014

When is three-phase power -- the right choice?
A primer on three-phase power, and when it's appropriate to make the switch from single-phase. June 14, 2000

Teamwork Versus Solo Work on the Shop Floor
Cabinetmakers discuss efficiency on the shop floor. When should people work in pairs, and when should handle tasks alone? June 23, 2014

Tracking Materials Inventory
Cabinetmakers discuss how to count it coming in, count it going out, and count it sitting there. June 23, 2006

Shop Floor Teamwork
A sofa shop struggles with coordinating part production and assembly. March 17, 2005

Safety and climb cutting
Safety issues involved in climb cutting with a shaper. January 21, 2003

Shop Security
Advice on locks, cameras, watchdogs, security procedures, and staying within the law in protecting your shop and tools after closing. February 6, 2010

Steel Truss Roofs for Shop Buildings
Business owners advise on choices involved in building a large clear-span steel truss-roofed shop. November 8, 2008

Setting Up Three-Phase Power
Owners share advice on ways to upgrade the shop's power supply. June 12, 2005

Whether to Locate Furniture Shop in the Basement
Cheap heat and convenience are up sides, but insurance could be a worry. April 20, 2011

Sliding Cabinets Around in the Shop
From glides to dollies to conveyor belts, cabinetmakers describe how they move cabinets around the shop during fabrication and finishing. July 18, 2013

When to hire help?
Considering all the financial aspects and adding up the figures--is it worth it to hire? February 7, 2001

Shop flow
Enhancing efficiency in the workplace by carefully planning shop layout. January 16, 2002

Three phase generator
Running machinery off of a three-phase generator. September 2, 2002

Starting a woodworking business
Ideas for advertising, books to read and special considerations when starting up your own business. June 24, 2001

Specifying features for leased space
Advice on features to include in a leased production facility. June 6, 2001

Soundproofing Between Office and Shop
Advice on quieting down your machines and on isolating the office from shop floor noise. November 14, 2011

Scheduling machinery maintenance
Creating an equipment maintenance schedule to ensure that machines provide peak proformance. January 16, 2002

Soundproof Shop
Considering noise reduction when building a shop. February 10, 2004

Used CNC buying advice
What to look for when buying a used point-to-point CNC. April 20, 2001

Shopping for a Used Cargo Van
Good ways to locate a good deal on a used work vehicle. April 4, 2011

Making Money with LEAN Systems
A thread that starts out with a question about stock versus custom cabinetry turns into a lesson in LEAN systems. October 13, 2010

Production Tips, part three
Part three of three from Woodworking International Magazine, offering proven ideas for increasing efficiency in production shops. 1998.

Importing Machinery
A woodshop owner takes a chance on importing his own machinery straight from Asia, takes a chance, and reports back on the results. August 19, 2008

Production Tips, part two
Part two of three from Woodworking International Magazine, offering proven ideas for increasing efficiency in production shops. 1998.

Equipment needed for one-man startup
Advice on budgeting and buying machinery for a new custom cabinet shop. December 12, 2000

Furniture Manufacturing to Order -- Wishful Thinking or Reality?
Coordinating the delivery and processing time of serial production with the individuality of made-to-order production. March 18, 2001

Lean Versus Theory of Constraints
Cabinetmakers discuss various approaches to optimizing operations and workflow. May 20, 2009

Nested Base Versus Beam Saw and PTP
A closet system fabricator and installer describes his journey through various shop equipment situations. May 26, 2014

Outdoor wood furnaces
Experiences with outdoor "water stove" heating systems. March 20, 2001

Radios In The Shop
A discussion with as many opinions as there are styles of music. February 25, 2005

Organizing Drills, Drivers, and Bits
Groping for a labeling method to keep track of different driver bits in different tools. August 31, 2009

Lean Production of Raised Panel Doors
A discussion of tricks for evening out workflow, such as: to speed up the whole job, move labor to the bottleneck from downstream activities. June 28, 2013

Production Management Software for a Woodshop
Once you have your paper systems straight, what can a computer software package do for your materials and time tracking, labor productivity evaluations, et cetera? April 20, 2008

Recovering from a Shop Fire
Woodweb forum steps up with well-informed advice about how to cope with a catastrophic fire in the wood shop. April 16, 2009

Good information equals production excellence
How can you assure that employees have all the information they need to do excellent work? September 26, 2000

Keeping Track of Tools
Tips and strategies for reducing the common tendency of shop tools to disappear throughout the year. July 12, 2008

New Shop Layout
Efficient shop flow for increased profit. February 28, 2004

Lean Manufacturing
A discussion of how to eliminate wasted time and effort on the shop floor. October 19, 2006

Finish room heating
Safe systems for keeping you, your finishes and your spray equipment cozy. November 22, 2003

32mm manual vs NBM setups
Will any efficiency be gained by adding high-tech equipment to a small shop? July 24, 2002

Radiant Floor Heating for a Small Shop
Shop owners who have tried it recommend radiant floor heating, and offer tips for a good installation. April 24, 2006

Home Shop Pros and Cons
Cabinetmakers describe what it's like to have your shop next to (or underneath) your house. April 13, 2012

Running a Second Shift
Setting up a night shift at a busy shop can cause problems, and it can also supply solutions. A good supervisor is key to success. November 23, 2012

Interviewing Potential Employees
The interviewing, hiring, and training process lays crucial groundwork that sets the tone for sound employee management. 1998.

Job costing help
Methods of job costing for an architectural millwork business are discussed.July 24, 2001

Managers Versus Woodworkers
Can a person with little woodworking experience manage a woodworking company? In some situations, maybe so. January 18, 2007

Net present value
Making the correct calculations when buying machinery. June 24, 2002

Production Tips, part one
Part one of three from Woodworking International Magazine, offering proven ideas for increasing efficiency in production shops. 1998.

Practical Ways to Reduce Drying Costs
Five tactics to consider for cutting the cost of drying a load of wood. June 13, 2014

How to Play 'The Circle Game'
Bad economies are inevitable. Here's how woodworking businesses can prepare. 1998.

Preparing for Bad Times
Bad economies are inevitable. Here's how woodworking businesses can prepare. 1998.

Options for heating a finishing room
Various ways to heat a finishing room. December 12, 2000

Murphy's Law in the Shop
Bad things happen to good people. Want to hear about it? January 2, 2012

Gearing Up as a Cabinet Parts Manufacturer
Thoughts on starting up in business to supply cabinet parts on a large scale. August 7, 2008

Pros and Cons of a Basement Workshop
Woodworkers share experiences with home-based woodshops. March 12, 2006

Planning for Workflow Improvements
A manager of a large shop who's working on streamlining the machine layout and work process gets advice on how to look before he leaps. October 2, 2007

Employee retirement plans
Questions about simple IRAs and taxes. October 2, 2001

People -- Your Biggest Key to Profitability
Creating a productive, inclusive shop atmosphere that encourages employee initiative. 1998

Partnership plusses and pitfalls
The dynamics of going into business with the boss. March 23, 2002

Organizing Cabinet Door Production
Cabinetmakers offer advice on how to set up the workflow for making doors in a three-man shop. October 13, 2008

Pros and Cons of Combination Woodworking Machines
They're versatile, but having one machine that does many different things can make organizing the work less convenient. March 14, 2006

Moving to Metric
Tips on making the transition as smooth as possible. September 9, 2004

Keeping Up with the CNC
A cabinetmaker's new CNC will speed up only one part of his operation. Here, he gets advice on how to streamline the rest of the tasks in his process. May 6, 2007

Moving A Shop
Plan ahead to manage the costs and hassles. April 10, 2005

Flat Roof Replacement for a Shop Building
Shop owners trade re-roof stories. February 17, 2011

Optimizing Materials Versus Optimizing Time
A small non-CNC shop considers whether it makes more sense to process more or fewer cabinets at a time. June 4, 2009

Exhaust Fan Size for Spray Booth
How much ventilation is needed? August 17, 2004

Plywood and Lumber Rack Ideas
Thoughts, suggestions, and examples of shop-built material storage racks. September 26, 2009

Moving Up to Management
Here's an interesting discussion about what it takes to step up to a more senior management role in a large woodworking company. September 7, 2013

Optimizing Factory Layout
A scale drawing and a pencil will help you understand and organize the workflow in your plant. November 10, 2005

Overnight Shop Temperatures — How Cold Is Too Cold?
Freezing and relative humidity are the prime concerns when you turn your shop heat off overnight. April 20, 2011

Finding good help
How to find and keep reliable employees for your sawmill business. January 16, 2002

Finding -- and Fine Tuning - your Niche
How to find the type of work you can do best, and most profitably. 1998.

Outfeed Table Plan
Construction ideas for an outfeed table with mounted router. March 14, 2004

Equipment Auction Bidding Strategy
A look at how online auctions work, and some discussion on wise bidding and buying strategies. December 24, 2012

Laying Out a New Shop
So brilliant, it's simple: Use full-size cardboard cutouts to mock up your layout on the shop floor before you decide. February 1, 2011

Parts Handling Flow
Ideas for carts or conveyors to handle parts in a busy closet shop. April 9, 2008

Modeling Workflow to Design a New Shop Layout
CAD or cardboard cutouts? There's more than one way to mock up a shop in scale model form. April 3, 2012

Keeping Hinges Organized
Advice on organizing hinge inventory, and making sure the correct hinges get installed. August 15, 2011

Job Descriptions
A shop owner with 20 employees gets advice on creating employee job descriptions. November 10, 2005

Painting a Concrete Shop Floor
Advice on cleaning and applying a rugged coating to a shop floor. March 4, 2006

Idle-Time Transformer Power Consumption
A shop owner tries to decide whether there are significant power savings to be achieved by turning a transformer off at night and on weekends. December 29, 2008

Rebuilding a Burnt-Down Shop
A shop owner is making a fresh start after a fire, and he has questions about layout, ceiling height, square footage, et cetera. November 23, 2012

Job applicant testing
Developing an aptitude test for potential hires. March 28, 2001

Point Air-Conditioning for Shops
Advice on providing cooling to work stations rather than to the entire shop. September 17, 2014

Managing Battery Drills
Useful thoughts on labeling and organizing multiple drill/drivers in the shop, plus an epiphany about turgid nomenclature. September 26, 2009

Profitability analysis
Forum participants provide their ideas on the reasons for low profits earned by a particular shop. November 13, 2000

New shop specs and layout
Electric power and other considerations for a new cabinet shop. April 24, 2002

Is Vertical Hierarchy Dying
In the future, is everybody equal? March 13, 2014

Overtime pay
Good reasons to pay overtime, whether or not your competition does. June 6, 2001

Regulations for finishing operation
Concerns about building, fire and environmental laws for new shop. March 23, 2002

Establishing a formal absenteeism policy
Shop owners discuss policies they've adopted to ensure consistent employee attendance, and how those policies are administered. September 26, 2000

Laying out a new shop
Advice on dust collection, electric, and general layout from those who have built their own shops. March 16, 2001

Procedures for shop-floor medical emergencies
What to do when a serious accident occurs in the shop. September 26, 2000

Lighting your sawmill
Providing good light for your work on dark days and late nights. February 19, 2002

Fire Sprinkler Damage to Machinery
Thoughts about the insurance claim issues and the practicality of repair or restoration of equipment after a small fire sets off the fire sprinklers in a shop. February 26, 2012

Gang Ripping on a Moulder
Tips for making short work of multiple rips. February 27, 2005

Replacing Electronics for Big Iron
Here's a tip: shop around for parts or components before you buy a whole new touch screen, display, controller, or similar electronic element for shop machinery. You could save a bundle. January 2, 2012

Recruiting Employees
Ideas for enticing and signing on workers. July 24, 2001

Efficiency Tips for a Too-Small Shop
When you have plenty of work but not enough space to work in, how can you adapt until you're ready to move into a larger shop? May 15, 2014

Getting Rid of Scrap Laminate
Suggestions for putting excess laminate into the hands of someone who might need it. September 17, 2014

Going metric: Pros and cons
Pros and cons of converting to metric measurement in your shop. February 28, 2001

Packaging Equipment
Basic info on shrink-wrapping machinery and related packaging equipment. November 12, 2008

Keeping the CNC Operator Busy
Productivity tips for operators while nested part runs are in progress. March 17, 2005

Purchasing Imported Equipment - The Currency Exchange Rate and Cost
The currency exchange rate can have a significant impact on the purchase price of equipment. July 11, 2002

Expanding a sawmill operation
Advice on expanding an existing sawmill operation June 20, 2000

Machinery maintenance schedules
How to develop a system of regular equipment upkeep in your shop. March 16, 2001

Renewing rusted table saw tops
How to fix a badly rusted table saw top in a few easy steps. February 7, 2001

Lumber drying options and efficiencies
The Wood Doctor's favorite references for making decisions among lumber-drying options. 1998.

Material Handling
Basic descriptions of material handling equipment. November 11, 2008

Fork Lift Trucks
Basic description of fork-lift equipment. November 11, 2008

3-phase to single phase
Is it possible to convert 3-phase equipment to single-phase power? March 20, 2001

ITEMIZER - From R & R Drummond, Inc.
Use your computer to generate efficient layouts for cutting sheet material into desired sizes (a link to a demo download is provided)1998

Equipment layout and clearance standards
Suggested reading to find clearance standards for equipment in woodworking operations. March 16, 2001

Boosting Production and Quality with Lean Methods
Written routines, checklists, cross-training, and creative teamwork all have their place in an effort to improve shop output. August 29, 2011

Backyard Shop Ideas
Here's lots of advice for a first-time shop builder from cabinetmakers who have been there and done that (with a side discussion about relating to the neighbors). January 28, 2009

Cost of running a CNC router
Choosing the right CNC machine based on projected capabilities and costs. November 29, 2000

Cabinet Door Shop Set-Up Necessities
Specializing in cabinet doors isn't a business you can easily jump into. Here's a lively discussion about "barriers to entry" — the minimum scale required for success, and the equipment you'll need to compete. December 14, 2009

Dealing with Equipment Distributors
Here's a long, lively, and sometimes contentious thread about the middleman's role in the machinery market. April 29, 2012

Compressed air delivery system
Appropriate piping for shop air distribution lines. January 15, 2003

Cabinet Shop Growing Pains
A cabinet shop owner gets advice on expanding his production volume while integrating some complex new software into his workflow. July 12, 2008

Cabinet doors: to build or to buy?
A roundtable on making raised-panel doors for cabinets, versus "buying them out," opening onto a discussion of the larger issues of tooling and automation. July 18, 2000

Company sponsored, on-site drinking
Legal implications of the Friday afternoon beer-drinking session, and off-site alternatives to it. November 7, 2000

Downsizing your shop
Businesses that have grown too fast or too big choose to cut back and go small. October 2, 2001

Does Outsourcing Cabinet Parts Make Sense for a Small Shop?
Cabinetmakers discuss the pros and cons of having parts cut by another shop. January 26, 2008

Chordal's Letters Considered by Today's Shop Men
A discussion of a century-old book about shop craft, "Chordal's Letters" by James Waring See, available today as an on-line archive. February 6, 2010

Choosing Woodworking Business and Process Management Software
Here's a brief discussion of the power and limitations of MRP (Materials Resource Planning) software packages for a cabinet shop. July 5, 2011

Doing the Front-End Math
Jon Elvrum provides a process for making the transition to the 32mm system.

Coping with an Employee -- Who Hasn't 'Got It'
An unproductive employee isn't likely to tell you the problem. You have to discover it and deal with it. 1998.

Building a rotary phase converter
How to build a rotary phase converter. November 29, 2000

Capacitor ratings and installation
Technical information on the installation of capacitors. Rule one: Call an electrician. November 29, 2000

Building a Shop
Cabinet shop owners converse about what they would do differently if they were to build their shop all over again, again. August 14, 2007

Accounting for Wood Waste
Woodworkers discuss how to estimate the waste of materials, and how it affects production and costs. April 7, 2008

Adding Floor Space Versus Re-Designing Workflow
A company that's cramped for space may need more room. But consider also the option of re-configuring your work process. July 3, 2006

Climb cutting and why not
Climb cutting on a shaper with feeder--safety and procedure issues. September 19, 2001

CNC Equipment, Beam Saws, and Cabinet Shop Effiiency
Cabinetmakers discuss one shop owner's real experience, as compared to the promised efficiency boost of his new CNC. October 14, 2009

Components--Not Cabinets
A longtime adherent of the system process of cabinet manufacturing makes his case for componentizing. 1998.

All About Authority -- Where Have All the Leaders Gone?
Unless owners grant their managers the freedom to act, those managers will never rise to the stature of 'leader.' 1998.

Analyzing Cabinetmaking Processes to Improve Productivity
Here's a cogent explanation of how breaking your work processes down into detailed small steps can help you save time and labor cost. October 26, 2007

Converting power to three-phase
Things to consider when converting power from single-phase to three. June 24, 2001

Choosing New Shop Space
Deciding about shop size, distance from home, and the pros and cons of "condo" arrangements when searching for a roomier workspace. February 6, 2010

Assertiveness Training for Woodworkers
One in a series, looking at the relationships between woodworking companies and the businesses they deal with. 1998.

Can You Relate? -- Legal and Accounting
A closer look at the accounting and legal professions, and their value to woodworking businesses. 1998.

Biscuits Or Butt Joints
High-quality, high-speed cabinet joinery techniques. October 20, 2004

Computers on the Shop Floor
Does a computer belong in the shop? Here's a debate about efficiency, workflow, dust control, and other aspects of shop computerization. April 24, 2006

A Cautionary Tale: Shop Fire Destroys Building and Burns Owner
This thread will teach you the hard lessons learned by a shop owner whose buildings caught fire — without having to go through it yourself. October 4, 2011

Cabinet Assembler Productivity
How many cabs should an assembler put together daily, assuming all the pieces are cut and ready? In this thread, bosses and workers offer their perspectives. November 12, 2005

Building a Business Plan
One in a series, looking at the relationships between woodworking companies and the businesses they deal with. 1998.

Considering Forklift Choices
Shop owners discuss forklift capacity, tire type, propane versus electric, and related considerations. August 31, 2010

Assembly table
A cabinetmaker shares a photo and description of his shop's assembly table. October 30, 2002

Developing shop into business
Adding employees to a small shop, and developing a business plan. September 24, 2002

Computers: Turbo-Charged Filing Cabinets
With a little effort, computers can make information storage and access a quick and painless process. 1998.

Bandmill enclosures for all-weather milling
Ideas for a structure to house a bandsaw mill, with thoughts on heating and dust collection. February 13, 2001

Corporation vs. sole proprietorship
Choosing which is the way to go, depending on the size and future of your company. October 2, 2001

Buying used CNC and tech support
How much help can you expect from the manufacturer or distributor? January 28, 2002

Buying at Online Auctions
Tips on loading and delivery and on checking equipment value when you purchase used woodshop equipment from an online auctioneer. May 4, 2011

Advice on Shipping Used Shop Equipment
Advice on choosing a shipper, insuring your freight, and related topics. June 23, 2014

Cabinet Shop Lighting
Pros share advice on bulbs and fixtures for bright, even light. May 10, 2005

Dealing with union organizing efforts
How to handle the potential unionization of your workforce. November 7, 2000

Color-Coding Tools
Thoughts on paint, tape, markers, and other ways to color-code tools for shop organization. December 24, 2012

Building a sawmill shed
Tips and designs for building a sawmill shed

Database and inventory software
Recommended software for customer databases and inventory tracking. November 21, 2000

Building a joint furniture venture
Advice on beginning a furniture manufactuing and sales partnership. November 7, 2000

CNC industry pricing
What goes into formulating your pricing system. September 2, 2002

Closing Shop for a Vacation Week
Key people need a break. But how will clients feel when you shut down the whole operation for a week? February 27, 2013

Calculating Remaining Edgebanding
Formula to determine how much is left on the roll, with a nod to Archimedes. March 14, 2004

Computers on shop floor
How to protect computers used on the shop floor from damaging dust. September 26, 2000

Boosting voltage with a transformer
Guidelines for increasing voltage through the use of a transformer. January 31, 2001

Dehumidification Versus Cooling for a Wood Shop
An undersized air conditioner will dehumidify effectively as it cools the shop. August 24, 2008

Advice on a forklift purchase
Is a 3000-pound capacity forklift enough? Not in the eyes of these forum visitors. January 31, 2001

Testing Prospective Employees
... and have some fun along the way. February 8, 2005

Should a Moulding Mill Bring Sawmill Operations In-House?
Here's a long, detailed, and authoritative examination of a moulding mill owner's proposal to invest in his own sawmill operation. April 20, 2011

Six Sigma Strikes
Are the Six Sigma system requests that a customer makes appropriate? November 3, 2004

Starting a cabinet business
Pros give pros and cons involved in starting a new cabinet business

Six Sigma Observations
Principles for developing efficiency in the workshop. November 3, 2004

Win the Estimating Game
Understanding Costs Means Profit. November 5, 2002

Straight-line vs. gang rip
Which is better suited to this moderate operation? June 24, 2002

10 hour days vs 8 hour days
Pros and cons of working 4 - 10's versus 5 - 8's. August 13, 2002

Time Tracking for Individual Tasks
Various time tracking methods - from time clocks and paper forms to electronic devices which input to a computer. May 10, 2005

Taking it to the Bank
One in a series, looking at the relationships between woodworking companies and the businesses they deal with. 1998.

Waste wood into profit
Sawyers turn wood otherwise destined for the landfill into a business. June 5, 2002

Workers' Comp for Owners?
February 25, 2005

Financial Success in Woodworking
Philosophies and turning points on the path to $100K a year. January 6, 2005

Profit Percentages
Here's a long and thoughtful discussion about profit — how much is typical in cabinetmaking, and how to go about increasing it. November 23, 2012

Eyewitness: Injury
Scary stories about careless acts and bad consequences. June 28, 2005

Partnerships and Other Ways to Share Shop Space
The pros and (mostly) cons of partner-run businesses. October 27, 2009

Increasing production flow
Presenting to a boss the numbers that prove production flow could be improved. (Business Forum) May 17, 2003

Project manager compensation
A conversation about PM pay grows into a detailed look at the cost of doing business. December 17, 2003

Managing a One-Man Shop for Income
A solo operator's question about reasonable income expectations kicks off a long discussion of wise management practices. October 3, 2006

Managing Growth as a Start-Up Cabinet Shop
In its second year, this small shop owner's cabinet business is starting to take off. Here, he gets advice on his next steps.October 19, 2011

Potential of a One-Man Shop
Is it realistic to think a small shop owner can make a decent living? December 9, 2004

Mulligan Stew: Random Observations -- and Ideas on Management
A bunch of different stuff that owners and managers of woodworking business should think about. 1998.

Installation scheduling
When he can't keep up with the jobs the sales staff hands him, what's an installer to do? June 24, 2001

Metering Shared Electrical Service
A woodworker who rents space and shares electrical service tries to learn how to separately keep track of his shop's power consumption. July 29, 2012

Need a Bigger Shop ... Lease or Purchase?
There are good reasons to buy the space you need instead of leasing — if you're ready to take the plunge. December 27, 2010

Fortune Teller: Making More Money in the Wood Industry
Wood Doctor Gene Wengert makes some educated guesses about the near future in the wood products industry, and offers some advice about how wood-based businesses can profit from change. April 15, 2013

Managing Quality Control and Defect Cutting
How can a millwork shop achieve good defect grading on various jobs with different specifications and standards? April 4, 2011

Panel Processing Time with and without CNC
A CNC shop and a cabinetmaker using conventional equipment compare the labor time used to cut up and bore an entire kitchen. January 1, 2012

Possible yearly earnings
What kind of sales volume does it take to support a six-figure salary in a two-man shop? May 9, 2001

Job-Costing in a Busy Shop
How do you keep track of labor hours per job, when workers are always jumping around from project to project? October 25, 2006

New Equipment: Lease or Purchase?
A shop owner is looking at a major investment in machinery. Should he consider leasing? Experienced business owners weigh in. July 24, 2005

Heavy-duty CNC router recommendations
Suggestions choosing for a good-quality CNC router, offering adequate tech support and training. February 28, 2001

Hours Worked Versus Hours on the Clock
Thoughts on measuring how much of an employee's workday consists of actual work in the real world of the shop floor. November 5, 2013

Growing a business
Keeping your mind on what matters in a healthy business, with a nod to Paul Hawken. May 19, 2003

Developing a Cabinet Business
Starting up without large equipment and finance resources. January 28, 2004

Buying Equipment Versus Leasing
Comparing the advantages and disadvantages of leasing or purchasing shop equipment. February 6, 2010

Downsizing Considerations
What size operation fits your style? April 10, 2005

Charging Walk-Ins for Occasional Cuts on a Saw
Making one cut for somebody who walks into your shop isn't much of a money-maker. So what is it worth? December 28, 2014

Accountability for Product Defects
Views on when and how to catch and fix defects. May 4, 2005

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