Most of us work by ourselves in one-person woodshops, and most often, one project at a time. We may lack 'efficiency training,' but we can still organize projects effectively.

It is wise to train yourself to think ahead. Cutting out pieces for the third step in a project while leaving all your clamps on a tricky glue-up might be a good idea. However, sanding and raising a cloud of sawdust while waiting for a finish to dry, certainly is not. Here are a few thoughts, gained of experience.

When starting off with a cut list, don't forget to allow for the saw kerf when marking out. Most saw blades cut a 1/8" wide kerf, and a 1/8" shortfall in measurement can effect the fit of things hugely.

It is also a good idea to allow an extra inch or so in cutting to length. If you need to cut a mortise near the end of a board, this excess helps ensure the wood won't split, and then the waste is trimmed off to an accurate measurement afterward.

If working with sheet goods, make your first cut with a circular saw and straight edge, dividing the panel where it will make the size more manageable for further cuts.

Think through your procedures with machinery set-ups: if you need to mount a dedicated ripping blade on the tablesaw, do all the long ripping your project requires before changing the blade back to a combo or crosscut blade. The same idea applies to dado cuts and changed settings for bevel cuts. Get it all done at once if possible.

Before beginning any project, check for needed supplies on hand: the correct grits of sanding discs, necessary hardware and screws, the proper length of dowels or size of biscuits.

Glue-ups are a time you really need to plan. Pre-finish any pieces that are going to be hard to reach after assembly, but be careful not to allow finish on the area to be glued. It's wise to do a 'dry run' assembly with clamps before gluing a project together. This will help you decide if you have everything right, and supplies within easy reach.

For most projects, it's wise to buy more wood than you think you'll need. If you have to match color or grain pattern, purchasing half again the lumber called for is not unusual. At least plan on a few extra pieces in case something needs to be redone.

One of the most important ways to plan ahead is to pre-think the safety of any procedure. Before you use a tool, ask yourself, "what's going to happen with this?" Not only power tools, but sharp chisels can cause serious injury. If you're ever hesitant and unsure, ask someone more experienced, or look it up in a book. If it confuses you, it has most likely confused someone before you.