Planing.  Cutting.  Sanding.  Routing.

While many woodworking tasks will leave you with usable pieces of wood as your ‘waste’, many others will leave you with nothing more than mountains of sawdust and fine planer shavings.  Some collect as piles on the shop floor,while others fill dust collector bags to the brim.

Cleaning and collecting sawdust in your shop is a top priority, but what do you do with all of that material when it’s time to get rid of it?  This week, tell us what you do to get rid of all that sawdust in your shop.

[poll id=”94″]

While some folks claim the table saw is the heart of the shop, the workbench is, in my opinion, where all the action really is.

From setting down that first cup of joe in the morning to survey the shop before you get to work until the final project stands gleaming upon it, it will probably be the location of much planing, cutting, routing, sanding and assembly throughout the course of your build.

While there is very little disagreement about the workbench being the center of action, there are many different workbench situations. Some can double as altars for some minor woodworking religion, while others exist only in the mind.

In today’s poll, how does your workbench  situation look?  If you have multiple work centers/benches in your shop, just address the one you do the most work at.

[poll id=”93″]

While frameless (European) cabinet construction is growing in popularity, the face frame cabinet is still a popular building method.

While it does take some extra time and involves extra material, the face frame offers extra strength to the assembly, can be used to square a cabinet, allows an easy way to scribe a cabinet to fit a wall and can be decorative to boot.

There are many methods woodworkers can use to join the elements of the face frame together.  Some are traditional, others are ultra modern.  Some take very little time, others can be quite time consuming.

So, this week, I want to know if you build cabinets with face frames, and just how you join the elements together…

[poll id=”92″]

It’s no secret – woodworkers love woodworking.

However, everyone has a breaking point – some point at which they could be convinced to give up something – even their beloved woodworking.

Imagine if you will, a multi-gazillionaire were to come to your town to make you an offer to give up the craft.  Cold turkey. A truck and a group of workmen would be dispatched to clear your shop of all of your tools and prized timbers, and, once completed, you would get a  briefcase full of cash to use as you wish.  With one caveat.

The terms of this agreement  would be severe –  absolutely no woodworking at all.  If you were to even read a woodworking magazine, participate in an online woodworking forum, even touch a piece of wood that you intended to cut, shape, drill or do other acts of mayhem on – you would have to surrender the money and everything you bought with it.

Would you do it, and for how much?

[poll id=”91″]

There are few sources of woodworking know-how as rich as the many woodworking magazines published around the world.  From magazines that appeal to a wide woodworking audience to specialized titles that focus on one aspect of the craft, there’s something to suit every one’s woodworking needs.

Each edition is loaded with shop tips, projects, background articles and plans for easy-to-build jigs.  The writers and editors have a great opportunity to strut their stuff and provide valuable information for their target audience.  If you subscribe, this wisdom comes right to your mailbox as each edition rolls off the presses.  Month after month.

Their strength – frequency of issue – can also be a weakness. After all, by the time you get a chance to read through the magazine, scheme in your mind what you would like to build and find the time to do it, the next edition is just about ready to ship.  And, the process begins all over again.

This week, we want to know approximately how much do you build and incorporate from each edition of woodworking magazine you receive.  Do you build everything you possibly can from each issue, or do  you find yourself just trying to keep pace?

[poll id=”90″]

Woodworkers can do what many other people can’t – when we want a piece of furniture, we can built it for ourselves.

Whether some custom cabinetry, a dining table for the family to gather around or a comfortable chair to relax on, we can transform a pile of lumber into a family heirloom – or an object of envy for friends and neighbors who will want one of their own.

There are, however, many furniture stores out there that sell products with different levels of craftsmanship, material choices and price points. And, while it may be tempting to go out and build a bedroom suite, there’s nothing quite as convenient as having all the furniture delivered the day after you purchase.

So, this week’s poll, let us know what you think about buying furniture. Is it something you do proudly, or do you avoid doing it at all costs?

[poll id=”89″]

Power tools are awesome. They make so many tasks in the shop faster and easier.  From ripping boards to boring holes, there’s one to suit your needs.

However, they can cost quite a bit. There are off brands and cheaper models, but for high-end power tools, prepare to pry open your wallet to pay…

That is, of course, unless you buy a factory reconditioned tool.  These reconditioned tools are typically ones that are sold to a customer but returned because of some defect.  They are returned to the factory, rebuilt to specs and sold again.  You might be able to score a decent tool for a discount price.

However, there are some woodworkers who have had bad experiences with reconditioned tool.

This week, let us know if you have every bought a reconditioned tool and how it worked for you.

[poll id=”88″]