Plant Management at WOODWEB's Knowledge Base

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Upgrading Office Computers

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

Whether to Invest in a CNC Machine

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

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

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

Developing a Cabinet Business

Starting up without large equipment and finance resources. January 28, 2004

Financial Success in Woodworking

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

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

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

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

Testing Prospective Employees

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cost of running a CNC router

Choosing the right CNC machine based on projected capabilities and costs. November 29, 2000

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

Sawdust as fuel

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

Production Tips, part three

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

Three-phase motors 101

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

Setting Up Excalibur Slider

Tips and photos for accurate alignment. March 14, 2004

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

Starting a cabinet business

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

Streamlining High-Volume Cabinet Production

Well-organized cabinetmakers share their secrets for labor time efficiency. April 26, 2006

Production Tips, part two

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

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

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

Should the Shop Owner Master the CNC?

August 19, 2013

Eyewitness: Injury

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

Nested Base Versus Beam Saw and PTP

A closet system fabricator and installer describes his journey through various shop equipment situations. May 26, 2014

Compressed air delivery system

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

Increasing production flow

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

Partnerships and Other Ways to Share Shop Space

The pros and (mostly) cons of partner-run businesses. October 27, 2009

Six Sigma Observations

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

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

Shop lighting

Best bulbs for brightness and efficiency. February 12, 2003

Equipment needed for one-man startup

Advice on budgeting and buying machinery for a new custom cabinet shop. December 12, 2000

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

Lean Versus Theory of Constraints

Cabinetmakers discuss various approaches to optimizing operations and workflow. May 20, 2009

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

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

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

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

Win the Estimating Game

Understanding Costs Means Profit. November 5, 2002

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

Getting Rid of Scrap Laminate

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

Project manager compensation

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

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

Organizing Drills, Drivers, and Bits

Groping for a labeling method to keep track of different driver bits in different tools. August 31, 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

Downsizing your shop

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

Company sponsored, on-site drinking

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

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

Straight-line vs. gang rip

Which is better suited to this moderate operation? June 24, 2002

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Shop Layout

Efficient shop flow for increased profit. February 28, 2004

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

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

Doing the Front-End Math

Jon Elvrum provides a process for making the transition to the 32mm system.

Spray Shop Layout

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

Finish room heating

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

Lean Manufacturing

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

Keeping Track of Tools

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

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.

Good information equals production excellence

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

32mm manual vs NBM setups

Will any efficiency be gained by adding high-tech equipment to a small shop? July 24, 2002

Building a rotary phase converter

How to build a rotary phase converter. 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

Capacitor ratings and installation

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

Components--Not Cabinets

A longtime adherent of the system process of cabinet manufacturing makes his case for componentizing. 1998.

Buying Equipment Versus Leasing

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

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

Mulligan Stew: Random Observations -- and Ideas on Management

A bunch of different stuff that owners and managers of woodworking business should think about. 1998.

Accounting for Wood Waste

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

Climb cutting and why not

Climb cutting on a shaper with feeder--safety and procedure issues. September 19, 2001

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

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

Home Shop Pros and Cons

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

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

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

Is Vertical Hierarchy Dying

In the future, is everybody equal? March 13, 2014

Interviewing Potential Employees

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

Stroke, drum and widebelt sanders

What sort of sander is most efficient for a small cabinet shop? July 24, 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

Job costing help

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

Shop ceiling heights and heating types

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

Setting up a milling business

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

Production Tips, part one

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

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

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

Managers Versus Woodworkers

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

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

Net present value

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

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

Practical Ways to Reduce Drying Costs

Five tactics to consider for cutting the cost of drying a load of wood. June 13, 2014

20-foot span for saw shed

What approach should be used for strength and reliability? April 2, 2002

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

Point Air-Conditioning for Shops

Advice on providing cooling to work stations rather than to the entire shop. September 17, 2014

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

10 hour days vs 8 hour days

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

Biscuits Or Butt Joints

High-quality, high-speed cabinet joinery techniques. October 20, 2004

How to Play 'The Circle Game'

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

Gearing Up as a Cabinet Parts Manufacturer

Thoughts on starting up in business to supply cabinet parts on a large scale. August 7, 2008

Murphy's Law in the Shop

Bad things happen to good people. Want to hear about it? January 2, 2012

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

To nest or not to nest?

Is nesting appropriate for all shops? June 4, 2003

Options for heating a finishing room

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

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

Preparing for Bad Times

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

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

Assertiveness Training for Woodworkers

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

Pros and Cons of a Basement Workshop

Woodworkers share experiences with home-based woodshops. March 12, 2006

Downsizing Considerations

What size operation fits your style? April 10, 2005

Can You Relate? -- Legal and Accounting

A closer look at the accounting and legal professions, and their value to woodworking businesses. 1998.

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

Moving to Metric

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

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

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

Shop Floor Management Systems

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

Employee retirement plans

Questions about simple IRAs and taxes. October 2, 2001

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

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

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

Partnership plusses and pitfalls

The dynamics of going into business with the boss. March 23, 2002

Tools to choose in setting up shop

Selecting the best makes and models of tools when starting out. October 31, 2000

Shop arrangement and setup

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

People -- Your Biggest Key to Profitability

Creating a productive, inclusive shop atmosphere that encourages employee initiative. 1998

Three-phase electricity primer

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

Standardizing on One Panel Thickness

Cabinetmakers discuss the idea of making all cabinet parts out of 16mm plywood. December 31, 2012

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

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

Exhaust Fan Size for Spray Booth

How much ventilation is needed? August 17, 2004

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

Sharing a Shop Space

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

Young Manufacturing's -- Co-Generation Alternative

The feasibility of wood waste reuse. December 17, 2001

1998-Rewarding your People

Creating a productive, inclusive shop atmosphere, and rewarding employee initiative. 1998

Taking it to the Bank

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

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

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

Waste wood into profit

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

Moving A Shop

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

Assembly table

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

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

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

Building a Business Plan

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

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

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

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

Considering Forklift Choices

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

Outfeed Table Plan

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

Flat Roof Replacement for a Shop Building

Shop owners trade re-roof stories. February 17, 2011

Safety and climb cutting

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

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

Plywood and Lumber Rack Ideas

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

Workers' Comp for Owners?

February 25, 2005

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

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

Optimizing Factory Layout

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

Finding good help

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

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

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

Finding -- and Fine Tuning - your Niche

How to find the type of work you can do best, and most profitably. 1998.

Developing shop into business

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

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

Equipment Auction Bidding Strategy

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

Computers: Turbo-Charged Filing Cabinets

With a little effort, computers can make information storage and access a quick and painless process. 1998.

Job Descriptions

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

Keeping Hinges Organized

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

Shop Floor Teamwork

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

Painting a Concrete Shop Floor

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

Tracking Materials Inventory

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

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

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

Regulations for finishing operation

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

New shop specs and layout

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

Setting Up Three-Phase Power

Owners share advice on ways to upgrade the shop's power supply. June 12, 2005

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

Shop flow

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

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

When to hire help?

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

Advice on Shipping Used Shop Equipment

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

Job applicant testing

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

Heavy-duty CNC router recommendations

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

Managing Battery Drills

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

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

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

Three phase generator

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

Whether to Locate Furniture Shop in the Basement

Cheap heat and convenience are up sides, but insurance could be a worry. April 20, 2011

Corporation vs. sole proprietorship

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

Profitability analysis

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

Buying used CNC and tech support

How much help can you expect from the manufacturer or distributor? January 28, 2002

Specifying features for leased space

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

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

Overtime pay

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

Starting a woodworking business

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

Procedures for shop-floor medical emergencies

What to do when a serious accident occurs in the shop. September 26, 2000

Gang Ripping on a Moulder

Tips for making short work of multiple rips. February 27, 2005

Lighting your sawmill

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

Laying out a new shop

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

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

Building a sawmill shed

Tips and designs for building a sawmill shed

Cabinet Shop Lighting

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

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

Color-Coding Tools

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

Growing a business

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

CNC industry pricing

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

Soundproofing Between Office and Shop

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

Dealing with union organizing efforts

How to handle the potential unionization of your workforce. November 7, 2000

Going metric: Pros and cons

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

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

Database and inventory software

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

Scheduling machinery maintenance

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

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

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

Calculating Remaining Edgebanding

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

Keeping the CNC Operator Busy

Productivity tips for operators while nested part runs are in progress. March 17, 2005

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

Building a joint furniture venture

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

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

Machinery maintenance schedules

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

Soundproof Shop

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

Boosting voltage with a transformer

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

Packaging Equipment

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

Expanding a sawmill operation

Advice on expanding an existing sawmill operation June 20, 2000

Computers on shop floor

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

Lumber drying options and efficiencies

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

3-phase to single phase

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

Renewing rusted table saw tops

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

Dehumidification Versus Cooling for a Wood Shop

An undersized air conditioner will dehumidify effectively as it cools the shop. August 24, 2008

Used CNC buying advice

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

Advice on a forklift purchase

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

Shopping for a Used Cargo Van

Good ways to locate a good deal on a used work vehicle. April 4, 2011

Material Handling

Basic descriptions of material handling equipment. November 11, 2008

Fork Lift Trucks

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

Equipment layout and clearance standards

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

Accountability for Product Defects

Views on when and how to catch and fix defects. May 4, 2005

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