New woodworking technology and best practices to improve productivity and profitability in the woodshop were among the topics most read by readers of WoodworkingNetwork.com.
Robotics, by far, garnered the most interest. The article on Ro-Bois-Tic, North America’s first one-man, one-robot woodworking factory was one of the top viewed articles on Woodworking Network this year. The light’s out manufacturing earned the company additional notice with inclusion in 2013’s WOOD 100 Strategies for Success for Technology Innovation, and owner Bastien Larouche was recognized as one of the 2013 Wood Industry Market Leaders by Wood Products magazine.
CNC machining, sanding and finishing techniques, and procedures for combating combustible dust were also widely read by wood products manufacturers. Also of interest to followers of WoodworkingNetwork.com and the publications Wood Products, Custom Woodworking Business and Closets were case studies highlighting sustainable manufacturing and success strategies by furniture, cabinet, component and architectural woodworking firms.
Based on the number of page views, the following rank as some of the top articles for 2013.
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Lights Out Woodworking at Ro-Bois-Tic |
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Kornerking Cabinets Updates the Lazy Susan |
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Five Tips for Sanding with Flap Wheels By Sean Lechowicz | Posted: June 19, 2013 - 3:01 PM Sanding and finishing with flap wheels allows you to reach are designed to sand pieces with contour or a profile. |
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CNC Router Aids Woodworker in 3D Design Production By Wade Vonasek | Posted: May 6, 2013 - 10:05 AM Woodworker and former graphic designer Grant Nicholson purchased a CNC router because of its ability to produce 3D designs and to work with natural materials such as wood. |
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Hobbit Joinery a Custom Woodwork Feast By Bill Esler | Posted: December 26, 2012 - 1:21 PM Oak plank doors sawn, planed and joined in Middle Earth's pre-industrial woodshops give "The Hobbit" warren its signature comfort quarters. Circular doors and matching jig-sawn door frames are pegged into place. Joint and tenon furnishings abound. |
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WOOD 100 Strategies for Success 2013: 93% Expect Growth By Karen Koenig | Posted: 09/08/2013 9:35PM More than half (51.6%) of North American wood products firms saw sales resurge last year, and 92.2% expect growth for this year, according to data analysis from the WOOD 100 for 2013. |
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CNC Machining Centers for Woodworking: Trends & Tips By Karen Koenig | Posted: June 4, 2013 - 11:41 AM Experts discuss the energy efficiency, versatility and technology trends on these workhorses for panel processing and solid wood machining. |
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Burning Lumber as a Finishing Technique By Bill Esler | Posted: August 8, 2013 - 1:32 PM Finishing lumber with fire to preserve it and give it unique style - Shou Sugi Ban could be a coming design trend. A video shows how it's made. |
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Wood iPad Cash Registers Add Creative Twist By Michaelle Bradford | Posted: April 22, 2013 - 1:35 PM Wood iPad cash registers are popping up all over, allowing small shop owners to use the latest technology in creative wood frames to ring up sales. |
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Pine Beetle Wood Crafter Gains Fame By Bill Esler | Posted: January 15, 2013 - 1:00 PM Cited for making beetle-kill pine furnishings trendy, and helping the wood industry and the environment, Azure Furniture owner Corbin Clay won Ketel One Vodka's Gentleman's Call competition. |
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Wood Countertop Featured in "This Old House" Renovation By Bill Esler | Posted: February 5, 2013 - 2:04 PM A wood countertop from Grothouse Lumber was featured in an episode of "This Old House." |
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CW Keller: Architectural Firm Ahead of the Curve By Karen Koenig | Posted: August 7, 2013 - 4:23 PM CW Keller specializes in architectural projects featuring complex curve geometry. |
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New Breed of Woodshops By Bill Esler | Posted: June 5, 2013 - 2:12 PM Woodwork innovators use technology and do it themselves, creating new business and opportunities. |
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Cabinets Fly at Kitchen Kompact By Karen Koenig | Posted: May 10, 2013 - 8:53 AM Producing thousands of cabinets is all in a day’s work for the Indiana-based Kitchen Kompact. |
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Wood Finishing & Sanding: Frequently Asked Questions By Karen Koenig | Posted: May 9, 2013 - 2:56 PM What are some of the problems facing wood products manufacturers in their finishing and sanding operations? Here are some of the frequently asked questions and answers. |
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Ziricote: A Beautiful & Brainy Wood Species By Jo-Ann Kaiser | Posted: July 3, 2013 - 10:00 AM A beautiful species, ziricote is used for furniture, architectural millwork, musical instruments, dashboards, aircraft and yacht interiors. |
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Koetter Woodworking: Moulding the Present for Future Growth By Jo-Ann Kaiser | Posted: July 3, 2013 - 3:30 PM Investments in technology help Koetter Woodworking to survive — and thrive. The company was named 2013 Innovator of the Year by the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association. |
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Cabinets Made Easy for A Custom Cabinet Shoppe By Michaelle Bradford | Posted: November 6, 2013 - 1:18 PM Finishing, build-outs and installations go faster with outsourced cabinet boxes for A Custom Cabinet Shoppe. |
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Wood Surface Preparation & Its Impact on Finishing By Phil Stevenson | Posted: May 9, 2013 - 3:46 PM Final whitewood sanding is the most important step in finishing for satisfactory results. Poor finish quality, rework, and missed expectations are in most cases a direct result of improper final whitewood sanding preparation. |
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Carpenter Uses 3D Printing to Rebuild Saw-Injured Hand By Rich Christianson | Posted: August 6, 2013 - 12:31 PM When master carpenter Richard Van As lost four fingers on his right hand in a table saw accident in 2011, he said he was immediately determined to find a way to regain use of his hand to continue pursuing his livelihood. |
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Nucraft Furniture's Sustainable Production Wins Raves By Karen Koenig | Posted: July 8, 2013 - 9:33 AM Nucraft Furniture has received recognition for its furniture designs and sustainable manufacturing. The contract furniture manufacturer is based in Comstock, MI. |
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Favorite Species: What's Hot for Casegoods and Components By Jo-Ann Kaiser | Posted: March 6, 2013 - 10:51 AM Wood products manufacturers and industry suppliers offer up their favorites for domestic and exotic species. |
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America's Best Rated Custom Woodworking Businesses By Bill Esler | Posted: April 2, 2013 - 3:38 PM Custom woodworking businesses serving residential markets use strategic social media, public relations, and marketing moxie, to rack up "Best Rated" kudos at Houzz, Yelp, Angie's List, Kudzu, and other sites. Here's a look at who they are, and how they've done it. |
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ComDust Prevention: Woodshops Take Note By Jamison Scott | Posted: September 5, 2013 - 5:14 PM OSHA is visiting wood operations of all sizes to check for combustible dust related issues. Here is what you need to know. |
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Woodshop is Facebook's Latest Geek Perk Posted: October 24, 2013 - 1:11 PM Add a woodshop - along with accessible bikes, free Apple products and frozen yogurt - to the long list of perks for Facebook employees. The 3,000 square foot shop has attracted 350 employees. |
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Wood Products Magazine 2013 Market Leaders |
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The Woodworking Industry Almanac |
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The Red Book Resource Guide for Best Practices |
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