In most woodworking shops, things kinda happen around the table saw or, in the case of hand-tool shops, the workbench. Those are some critical components you can find in most shops, but there is another tool a lot of woodworkers rely on – the band saw.

That leads to this week’s question. Not every shop has a band saw. So, how does the band saw rank in your shop? Is it a critical piece of shop equipment, a nice to have or a waste of space?

Finishing can be such a tricky part of woodworking.  Will the piece be subject to a lot of handling? How easy do you want the clean up? Will the piece be exposed to water? Will it be handled by infants or very young children?

And then there is the application method. For most woodworkers, we got started brushing finishes found in the local home improvement center. But, as our skills evolved, we found so many other ways to apply the different finishes we experienced.

Today, let us know what your favorite method of finish application is – regardless of the finish material being used.

So, yesterday I got some woodworking done. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the kind of woodworking I could do at the workbench. Instead, it took the shape of helping to install about 150 feet of privacy fence in my yard and my neighbor’s yard.

After about five hours of digging post holes, lifting fence panels and screwing them into place, a neighbor noticed I had left a bit of a gap between panels and asked, “Gosh, Tom, as a woodworker, I expected you would be into absolute precision and making this perfect.”

This week’s question was a natural follow up to that… have you found that your skills and precision in building woodworking projects translating into improving your skills in other DIY applications such as carpentry?

Over the years, I have accumulated some extra boards of project lumber. Some sweet walnut boards from a mill that was going out of business. Some awesome tiger maple boards my friends at Bell Forest Products sent me. A few extra cherry boards I bought because the mistakes I thought I was going to make didn’t happen.

While having extra wood on hand is awesome… you do have something you have to consider – how on earth will you store those extra boards?

This week, tell us how you store your extra boards… or, even if you have extra boards to begin with!

With these holidays falling on Sunday, this is the second week for posting my quick poll early….

I resolve to get back on to my regular schedule come the new year!

Speaking of resolutions… This week, let us know if any of your New Year’s resolutions include woodworking.  Maybe learning a new skill. Maybe tackling that tough project you’ve been putting off. Heck, maybe even taking up the craft for the first time!

And, if you want to share what you are resolving to do, let us know!

Yes. It’s Friday.  No, we haven’t had some kind of time-warp…

With this Sunday being Christmas, I can guarantee you I will not have the time or the inclination to put up a post. That being said, I’m sure that many of you are making holiday preparations for visitors, planning on traveling to visit with friends or relatives, racing to get those last-minute finishing touches on your holiday gifts or *GASP* maybe even realizing that today is December 23 and you have yet to get STARTED on your shopping!

To help you get into the mood, I’m going to first link you to one of my favorite holiday posts…‘Twas some time before Christmas…

Also, I have to post the other traditional holiday poll question. Of course, it’s to your benefit if you answer truthfully, no matter how much it hurts! 

And, from everyone here on the Tom’s Workbench team, we want to wish each of you a very happy, relaxing and peaceful holiday with friends and family.

The plans have been drawn up. The tools have been sharpened. The shop has been prepped.

The only thing you need to do is buy wood to build that special project.

Now, where will you get the wood from?

In years past, there was little choice – all lumber was bought locally at a hardwood supplier, construction yard or at a local sawmill.

Today, the Internet offers a tremendous variety of sources to choose from. Whether you look at an online auction such as eBay or find an online provider, your purchasing options are seemingly limitless.

So, this week, let us know if you have ever taken the plunge and bought your lumber online.