We are creating audio versions of our Knowledge base articles. These are categorized by topic into podcasts, for listening in the shop, jobsite, on on-the-go. These are both an educational and entertaining way to augment your woodworking endeavours!
Listen to archived forum discussions from Woodweb's Business forum. Woodworkers discuss the nuts-and-bolts of running a successful shop.
Subscribe (RSS Url): https://anchor.fm/s/f510f8d8/podcast/rss
Episodes:
For various reasons, most cabinetmakers prefer to install their own work — unless they know and trust the installer. December 2, 2006
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Should_a_Cabinetmaker_Agree.html
Published: Fri, 05 Jul 2024 06:46:00 GMTThis discussion about the factors that affect shipping rates takes an interesting detour into sales psychology. February 4, 2011
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Tips_for_Shipping_and_Selling_Lumber_Nationwide.html
Published: Tue, 02 Jul 2024 12:43:00 GMTA rambling brainstorming thread about how to teach complex tasks to workers. December 2, 2006
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Training_Employees.html
Published: Mon, 01 Jul 2024 06:41:00 GMTA successful niche furniture maker looks for ways to broaden his appeal in his local market. October 3, 2011
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Showroom_Strategies_for_a_Furniture_Maker.html
Published: Fri, 28 Jun 2024 05:41:00 GMTFinding out what a customer really wants, and what they really can afford, involves some psychology — but the effort can pay off. December 9, 2013
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Talking_Dollars_with_Sales_Prospects.html
Published: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 05:37:00 GMTBusiness owners discuss ways to tie employee compensation to productivity. February 17, 2006
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Structuring_Performance_Incentives.html
Published: Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:32:00 GMTWhen you back out overhead, time-and-a-half wages for overtime hours may work out to a wash. But not always ... October 2, 2007
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/The_True_Cost_of_Overtime.html
Published: Tue, 25 Jun 2024 12:27:00 GMTA Woodweb forum maker says he's ready to throw in the towel, and others describe why they're not — and explain the tactics they've used to hang tough.October 26, 2013
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Surviving_Tough_Times.html
Published: Mon, 24 Jun 2024 05:23:00 GMTHow should wood-shop employers deal with the issues raised by employees who smoke? The question leads to a lively debate. December 2, 2006
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Smoking_Policies_for_Wood_Shops.html
Published: Fri, 21 Jun 2024 05:06:00 GMTWith a nod toward David Letterman, pros discuss their least-best moments. January 24, 2005
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Stupid_Woodworker_Tricks.html
Published: Thu, 20 Jun 2024 11:55:00 GMTIt's good for society when young people gain skills. But the rules for apprentices are the same as for employees, and the management problem is not trivial. April 8, 2013
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Taking_on_an_Apprentice.html
Published: Wed, 19 Jun 2024 05:53:00 GMTWith some customers, selling the job is a long, drawn-out process involving many detours and a lot of back-tracking. How do you keep that process organized, and remember what has been said and promised? It starts with a spiral notebook. February 16, 2012
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Structuring_and_Documenting_the_Sales_Process.html
Published: Tue, 18 Jun 2024 05:46:00 GMTWhen the landlord puts a "for sale" sign on a cabinetmaker's rented shop building, the tenant starts to consider his choices. Here, shop owners explain why they think buying out your landlord can be a wise investment. May 22, 2007
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Tenants_Landlords_and_Owning_Your_Own_Shop.html
Published: Mon, 17 Jun 2024 05:44:00 GMTShop owners discuss the relative pros and cons of three-phase and single-phase power supplies. February 6, 2010
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Shop_Power_Choice_Single_Phase.html
Published: Fri, 14 Jun 2024 19:04:00 GMTThe owner gets advice as a new eye protection rule creates a labor-management dynamic in a woodshop. August 27, 2009
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Safety_Glasses_in_the_Shop.html
Published: Wed, 12 Jun 2024 05:06:00 GMTLearning the rules about worker classification and managing the details correctly is a hassle, but the risks of doing it wrong are major. September 24, 2009
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Subcontractor_or_Employee.html
Published: Tue, 11 Jun 2024 06:08:00 GMTCan a business owner help maintain a friendly and sociable work environment? The question sets off a long and lively discussion on the Business Forum. July 24, 2005
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Social_Conversation_and_Shop_Morale.html
Published: Mon, 10 Jun 2024 06:42:00 GMTA computer programmer asks whether he's crazy to want to work in a cabinet shop instead. A long, spirited debate ensues. April 9, 2008
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Switching_from_Office_Work.html
Published: Fri, 07 Jun 2024 05:19:00 GMTAfter a shop worker is very badly injured by a machine, the owner seeks feedback from colleagues. April 7, 2008
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Thoughts_After_a_Severe_Accident.html
Published: Thu, 06 Jun 2024 06:17:00 GMTA ton of advice on attaching paintable wood faces to an insulated steel garage door, including advice on fasteners, adhesive, and door track hardware. November 2, 2010
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Facing_a_FlushPanel_Steel_Garage_Door.html
Published: Wed, 05 Jun 2024 14:46:00 GMTA professional pilot who loves woodworking is considering a career change. His story sets off a spirited discussion on the ups and downs of the self-employed craftsman's life. November 10, 2005
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Switching_to_a_Woodworking_Career.html
Published: Tue, 04 Jun 2024 08:44:00 GMTWhat's the right dress and grooming strategy for a woodworker who wants to make a good impression on customers? October 13, 2010
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Professional_Dress_for_Woodworkers.html
Published: Mon, 03 Jun 2024 08:35:00 GMTMaking custom furniture is a very tough business, and most craftsmen who try it fail. August 29, 2006
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Starting_Out_as_a_Furnituremaker.html
Published: Fri, 31 May 2024 08:31:00 GMTAnother 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
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Sizing_Up_a_Shop_That_is_For_Sale.html
Published: Thu, 30 May 2024 20:29:00 GMTA ton of advice from experienced business owners about marketing, money management, planning, and other business fundamentals. December 1, 2010
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Keys_to_Profitability_for_a_Small_Shop.html
Published: Wed, 29 May 2024 20:33:00 GMTBuilding a sawdust-fired boiler to heat kiln and shop. November 18, 2002
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Sawdust_as_fuel.html
Published: Tue, 28 May 2024 08:31:00 GMTIt's the rare woodshop owner who doesn't work 12-hour days and 6-day or 7-day weeks. February 6, 2007
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/The_Crazy_Hours_of_the_Sole_Proprietor.html
Published: Mon, 27 May 2024 08:29:00 GMTHere's a long, detailed, and authoritative examination of a moulding mill owner's proposal to invest in his own sawmill operation. April 20, 2011
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Should_a_Moulding_Mill_Bring_Sawmill.html
Published: Fri, 24 May 2024 09:22:00 GMTA cabinetmaker mulls over whether to throw in the towel, after two big clients fail to pay. July 5, 2011
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Surviving_Being_Stiffed.html
Published: Wed, 22 May 2024 09:19:00 GMTI am entertaining the idea of having a potential employee take a math test during the interview process. Have any employers out there developed some type of simple math test? February 8, 2005
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Testing_Prospective_Employees.html
Published: Tue, 21 May 2024 21:16:00 GMTAn out-of-business cabinetmaker is being pursued by a debt collector for money he owes on machinery. The case sparks a heated debate and reveals some hard-nosed business and legal truths. January 7, 2007
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Secured_Debt_Collections.html
Published: Mon, 20 May 2024 09:14:00 GMTThis thread tackles two issues at one time (listing the top issues confronting wood shops, and managing multiple different kinds of work), and beats both into submission. July 30, 2009
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Challenging_Issues_for_Wood_Shops.html
Published: Fri, 17 May 2024 18:55:00 GMTBelieve it or not, some woodworkers are successfully adapting to the downturn by increasing their prices. June 22, 2010
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Survival_Strategy_Raise_Your_Prices.html
Published: Thu, 16 May 2024 06:53:00 GMTA cabinetmaker asks for advice on getting out of the hole he's in, and gets a ton of good feedback. January 9, 2008
Full Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Working_Too_Hard_and_Still_Broke.html
Published: Wed, 15 May 2024 06:52:00 GMTAdvice on structuring the process when a "designer" supplies you with vague, half-baked sketches and asks you to take on the job. November 14, 2014
Full Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/When_a_Designer_Hands_You_Sketchy_Drawings.html
Published: Tue, 14 May 2024 18:18:00 GMTAn extended discussion of one of the peskiest issues in custom woodworking: managing customers who want to change their minds. February 6, 2007
Full Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Establishing_a_ChangeOrder_Policy.html
Published: Mon, 13 May 2024 21:16:00 GMTA question about equipment investment turns into a thoughtful seminar on marketing, pricing, and finding your niche. November 10, 2005
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Taking_a_Business_to_the_Next_Level.html
Published: Fri, 10 May 2024 05:57:00 GMTA thoughtful discussion about whether labor expended on small details is wasted, or worthwhile. December 27, 2010
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Which_Fine_Details_Do_Customers_Care_About.html
Published: Thu, 09 May 2024 05:20:00 GMTAre these original shop drawings protected by copyright law? May 19, 2004
Full Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Copyright_Issues_and_Architectural_Drawings.html
Published: Wed, 08 May 2024 05:14:00 GMTA 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
Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Setting_Shop_Temperature.html
Published: Tue, 07 May 2024 05:02:00 GMTHow sustainable forestry relates to the woodworker and consumer demands. June 3, 2003
Full Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Sustainable_forestry.html
Published: Mon, 06 May 2024 06:46:00 GMTAn apprentice woodworker asks what he should concentrate on for a career in the trade, and gets a full helping of good advice. October 2, 2005
Full Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/The_Most_Important_Skills_to_Learn.html
Published: Sat, 04 May 2024 14:04:00 GMTPlan with a focus on high-margin production, and you might make money — not just wear out a saw. January 14, 2008
Full Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Making_Money_with_a_Sawmill_Business.html
Published: Fri, 03 May 2024 13:59:00 GMTA woodworker has thought up a modification that improves on someone else's design, and wonders whether he should seek a patent. Responses supply a rundown on the patent process and its pitfalls. February 17, 2006
Full Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Patenting_a_New_Jig_or_Tool.html#google_vignette
Published: Thu, 02 May 2024 05:53:00 GMTOne half of a woodshop partnership gets advice on smoothing out rough patches in the relationship. December 9, 2007
Full Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Making_a_Partnership_Work.html
Published: Wed, 01 May 2024 05:49:00 GMTCabinetmakers discuss the pros and cons of having parts cut by another shop. January 26, 2008
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Does_Outsourcing_Cabinet_Parts_Make_Sense.html
Published: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:54:00 GMTWho to pick - the rookie, or the experienced hand? May 4, 2005
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Choosing_an_Employee.html
Published: Mon, 29 Apr 2024 18:41:00 GMTConfusion over three-phase power throughs a shop leasing agreement into chaos. Here are insights into the legal and practical issues involved. October 27, 2008
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Story_of_a_LandlordTenant_Dispute.html
Published: Fri, 26 Apr 2024 05:28:00 GMTSo brilliant, it's simple: Use full-size cardboard cutouts to mock up your layout on the shop floor before you decide. February 1, 2011
Article Link with Photos: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Laying_Out_a_New_Shop.html
Published: Thu, 25 Apr 2024 05:26:00 GMTGetting paid for time spent on a job before you know it's yours. April 18, 2004
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Cost_of_Estimates.html
Published: Wed, 24 Apr 2024 05:23:00 GMTCabinetmakers discuss how to squeeze dollars out of an estimate and still make a buck. August 14, 2009
Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Competing_on_Price_in_a_Tough_Market.html
Published: Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:39:00 GMTHere's a long and somewhat abstract and meandering discussion that still makes some interesting points about how reducing the number of overlapping tasks happening at once can eliminate management headaches and improve productivity. April 20, 2008
Full Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Work_in_Progress_Efficiency_and_Profit.html
Published: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 05:59:00 GMTCabinetmakers discuss payment problems in the industry, and compare contract and billing strategies. July 3, 2006
Full Article Link: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Struggling_to_Get_Paid.html
Published: Sat, 20 Apr 2024 08:33:00 GMTExpectations were unclear, now the customer is unhappy. What to do? May 4, 2005
Full Article: https://woodweb.com/knowledge_base/When_a_Job_Goes_Sour.html
Published: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 05:26:00 GMTFounded in 1994, Woodweb has hosted forums for woodworking professionals ever since. The episodes here are the best of these discussions on various aspects of running a woodworking business.
Find these articles and many other Woodworking resources at: Woodweb.com
Published: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 20:20:58 GMT