How many projects do you guys usually have going on at one time?

[Michael Costa]

I cant stick to one. Too much waiting for stuff to dry, cure, frustration, need to go out and get something, etc.

I typically have 3-5 going on at any one time and my next project is always in my head. Right now I'm making a coffee table, a scroll saw thingy, an epoxy colored pencil vase, a small patio bar, and there is always something on my lathe.

[Derek Cohen]

Michael, assuming these are for yourself and not for sale ... how many do you finish? ... and within a reasonable time frame?

Regards from Perth

Derek (no more than 1 on the go, set aside if something urgent comes up, and then returned to).

[Wayne Lomman]

2 or more depending on time available to fill in between waiting times. Also depends on the size of a project. If I am making 40 windows I don't start anything else for example. The key for me is to use all the available time efficiently. Cheers

[Rod Sheridan]

I only have one project on the go at one time.

My shop's too small for any more...............Rod.

[Andrew Gibson]

I stick to one furniture based project at a time. that being said, a kitchen worth of cabinets counts as one project.
Picture frames count as a batch project.
window sash, batch project.
Instruments have been know to get built in threes as the process makes sense.

I try to complete one active project at a time. reset then start the next. If you always have a project being sanded you will never get anything finished...

I need to adopt this rule for cars as well...
Now the planning stage? that looks more like an air traffic controllers computer screen.

[Matt Day]

2 at most. Usually a restoration project or shop project, and a piece of furniture.

If I spend too much time away from a project I may forget where my workflow was, or forget that I said to myself “don’t forget to do X before Y”.

But having something else to work on for a time does reinvigorate me when I return to the other project.

But if I have a commissioned piece, that becomes priority #1.

[Jim Becker]

Historically, it was typically one project with an occasional alternative task slipped in. Now that I have the CNC...which is like having a second person sometimes...I can often be working on two or more projects simultaneously. The biggest challenge is maintaining focus on what one is working on in the moment and...not mixing projects up when it comes to measurements, etc. ;)

[Tim M Tuttle]

Just one. But since it involves filming, creating plans, and writing an article, it feels like many. When I have to pause for drying, clamping, etc I just get started on the editing.

[Tony Joyce]

I cant stick to one. Too much waiting for stuff to dry, cure, frustration, need to go out and get something, etc.

I typically have 3-5 going on at any one time and my next project is always in my head.

Same here. Currently have at least six going. Finishing doors for one job(cabinets previously done), Building miter frame doors for another client(plus finishing them), two furniture projects and one shop cabinet in the works. Doing spray finishing with lacquer seems to leave plenty of time for other things. I do have a finish room as don't have to worry about sawdust.

I get more completed and faster by having several projects going at one time. After forty some years of this, it's a way of life.

[Carl Beckett]

You can never have too many projects 15% completed...

[Bruce Page]

I only have one project on the go at one time.

My shop's too small for any more...............Rod.
Ditto. Sometimes I'll have something going on the cnc and on the bench.

[Lisa Starr]

At the moment, three. But I don't like it and it is only because of waiting for other individuals to do their part. At the moment, "my" project is the table saw rear extension cabinet. I've completed the construction, everything that gets stained if done, and I'm in the process of applying the polyurethane.

My husband wanted a custom bench to go by his small vertical mill, and the carcase is complete for that. I'm waiting for him to determine the layout of the drawers so I can build the drawer boxes and fronts.

Finally, our son needed a new kitchen, and we built and installed all the carcases and drawer boxes. I'm waiting for him to determine handle/knob placement so I can finish up the drawer fronts and bore the hinge holes for the doors.

[Mike Kees]

I have at least 3-4 things going on at once pretty well all the time. When creative genius strikes... start something else. No it just seems that waiting a day or two or a week for whatever ,I will work on something different while I wait. Building my shop and then adding machines and selling others,all while figuring out efficient work flows and what does and does not work. Throw in dust collection systems that need parts and mods as machines come and go. At least it is all coming together now,and I am living the dream. Would not have it any other way,I will never be bored.

[Andrew Hughes]

One or two projects at a time for me.
If it really challenging only one.
I make less mistakes working on one.

[Charles Lent]

Between the honey do's, the needed repairs, my want to do's and my need to dos I have way too many. I try not to count them because it's too depressing. I just try to push forward on whatever seems to be hot at the time, hoping I can complete it before getting side tracked so I can get some time in on something that I want to do before she discovers that I have finished something.

Charley

[Tim Cardinal]

It's a sad story, I was diagnosed with MPD "multiple project disorder" The pain is real...not so much for me but my wife..

[Kevin Beitz]

Way to many... Most of the time I'm waiting for parts to finish the job... Jobs...

[Dan Baginski]

I can only do one at a time. Or else I forget measurements or the original idea I had. Plus I mainly woodwork in the winter. I like to save the summers for motorcycle riding and being outside.

[mark mcfarlane]

One wood working project at a time for me. I am 'task completion' oriented. If a project stalls I can always find something else in life to do while waiting for whatever.

[Sean Nagle]

You can never have too many projects 15% completed...

You've been in my shop!

[Andrew Seemann]

In an ideal world, I would only have one project at a time, but realistically, it is more often 2 - 4 at any given time. Sometimes it is unexpected, time-sensitive jobs, and sometimes the wife suddenly decides she needs to make something crafty in the shop, or maybe one project needs to wait a couple weeks for materials to come in.

I've recently had 5 going at once (2 paying jobs, 1 maintenance, 1 of mine, 1 of the wife's) and that is about the max the shop can handle space-wise.

[Michael Costa]

I should probably clarify that I only have 1 major project going on at one time. If I need a break I'll hit my lathe. Sometimes I'm stumped on a design and need time to think about it. Rarely do I make anything to sell. If that's the case, it gets 100% attention. If I'm waiting for something to dry I'll cut or mill down stock for another project. The scroll saw thing is just a relaxing end of day project.

There are a million things I could do to my shop to make it better. Like racks for spray cans, quart cans, and other space saving organizable things. Lumber and log storage. But where's the fun in that.

[Brian Tymchak]

I only have one project on the go at one time.

My shop's too small for any more...............Rod.

Same with me and I have a hard enough time keeping 1 going. Looking forward to retirement....

[Tom M King]

So many that I am not taking on anything else for the rest of my life.

[Zac wingert]

Three to five seems about right. Hobbyist and work in the garage so I usually do everything That’s loud during the day on the weekend and save various other task that are not too noisy for weekday evenings after work. I basically plan ahead to make sure I always have something to work on when I come home from work for an hour or two to help me unwind from the day.

[Jim Andrew]

The farm tends to get in the way of woodworking projects. Right now need to get the cows ready for pasture, which includes working the calves and vaccinating cows, debugging and worming, right now treating them for cochcitiosis, but lined up the vet for Monday, getting to be wearing as I get older, and need some help, then sort and haul them to pasture. Also need to replace some posts and put up a few rolls of new wire. Planning to replace 3/4 mile of fence this spring as well.

[Chris Hachet]

I cant stick to one. Too much waiting for stuff to dry, cure, frustration, need to go out and get something, etc.

I typically have 3-5 going on at any one time and my next project is always in my head. Right now I'm making a coffee table, a scroll saw thingy, an epoxy colored pencil vase, a small patio bar, and there is always something on my lathe.

Right now...I have....

Two machine restorations, an Oliver 192 Bandsaw and a Whitney 177 table saw.

About a dozen turning projects.

Three pieces of furniture....

One glass front book shelf, one sideboard, and a plant stand.

Helping a friend with a 24 inch planer restoration

Helping a friend rewire his workshop

Helping a friend hand dovetail a ton of drawers

3 guitars I am slowly building when i have time.

No grass grows under my feet.

Chris

[Osvaldo Cristo]

I only have one project on the go at one time.

My shop's too small for any more...............Rod.

A small shop and the desire to live simpler push me towards a single project at time - with rare situations where I had a couple of them.

[Corey Pelton]

Normally 3-4 at a time. Currently building out 2 Sprinter vans into campers. So there are a multitude of projects for each. I’m always gluing up cutting boards to have a stock pile ready to go. Lots of resin tables lately as well.

As always, I’m having an absolute blast with every single project!

[Tom Bender]

One furniture project at a time but house projects take precedence and repairs get worked in all the time.

[Paul F Mills]

I am new to woodworking but find that I have more than one at a time. Right now I am putting a finish on a desk and building another. Between those I slipped in a quick phone mount project. Also still working on my workbench (shelving and drawers) and refinishing two chairs.

[Anuj Prateek]

One.

Right now I pick a project to learn a new skill (all geared towards an end goal project). I tend to get obsessive about whatever I am doing. So, once I start on a project I can't think about anything else.

Right now I am trying to make a horizontal cabinet with drawers. Current goal is to learn dovetails (carcass and drawer) and squaring rough lumber.