How to plan shop-time viewing sessions for woodworking hobbyists in 2026

Q: Which browsers work with YTSort for shop-time playlists?

The add-on needs Chrome or Edge. The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, once you add a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey. You can get YTSort as a bookmark that runs it, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension.

Plan viewing sessions around shop time for woodworking hobbyists: what to prepare, steps, tools and mistakes to avoid.

By XP Daily · 2026-11-04

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Plan each session around the shop jobs that leave you waiting, such as a glue-up or a finish drying, then match the videos to those gaps. A short ordered list kept in one place is enough to start. YTSort can reorder a playlist you own by video length ^[1].

Option	How it helps plan sessions
Paper list or sticky note	You write each title and length and rank them by hand
Spreadsheet	You sort by a length column you fill in
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first ^[1]

What you need before you start

Planning shop-time viewing takes only a few things.

A playlist or list of videos. Pick the videos you plan to watch while working in the shop. Note which ones show the steps you need next.
The length of each video. YouTube shows it on each thumbnail. You need it to fit a video into a break.
A reason for each session. It might be a cut you are about to make, a finish that is drying, or a jig you want to build. Know which, because it decides what goes first.
A place to keep the plan. A paper list pinned by the bench, a note on your phone or a spreadsheet all work. What matters is that the plan lives in one place.
A web browser, if you want a tool. Only needed if you want a tool to do the sorting. Add the tool once, following its own instructions.

Plan the sessions before you reach the bench, not while your hands are full of glue.

Step by step

These steps work with any tool, including a pen and a sheet of paper.

Note the shop jobs for the week. Write each job that leaves time for watching, such as a glue-up or a finish drying.
List the videos that match each job. Write the title and the time shown on the thumbnail. Do not sort yet.
Mark videos that must stay in order. Some builds rely on earlier steps. If a joint needs a cut made first, keep those videos together.
Match short videos to short breaks. Put the shortest videos into the gaps that are only a little time long.
Decide what happens to the long videos. You can save them for a longer block or move them to the end of the list.
Check the plan before the session. Read the list once and look for a video that now sits in an odd place in the build.
Apply the plan. Reorder the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you.
Watch from the top during the session. Start with the first video and keep to the order.
Keep notes at the bench. Write down the measurement or detail you want to remember, so you can use it at the saw.
Review the plan after a few sessions. If the breaks do not fit the videos, change the plan.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this. Here are options to consider.

Paper list or sticky note. You write each title and length and rank them by hand. Nothing is published here about price or limits because it depends on what you already own.

A spreadsheet. A column for the title, a column for length and a sort on the length column gives you a shortest-first list. Check how it behaves on your phone if you plan to use it near the bench. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not provided here, so check their own pages for limits and cost.

YTSort. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. YTSort is one option. Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] It shows total, average, shortest and longest video duration for the playlist. ^[1] You can also limit a sort to videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. ^[1]

Before applying a new order, it shows the before and after order so you can check it first. ^[1] YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. ^[1] You can get it through a bookmark, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Planning around a course that builds step by step. If later videos rely on earlier ones, a pure shortest-first order can leave you lost mid-build. Keep dependent videos together.

Trusting the plan without a look. Read it once before the session starts. A quick check catches videos that ended up in an odd spot.

Forgetting the long videos. Moving them to the end is fine, but give them a session of their own or they may never get watched.

Reordering a playlist without checking who owns it. Check ownership first. YTSort reorders a playlist you own; if the playlist is not yours, keep a written list instead. ^[1]

Watching without notes at the bench. Short videos go by fast, so a note helps you keep the detail you need.

Never reviewing the plan. If the plan does not fit your shop time, change it instead of sticking with it.

Frequently asked questions

How do woodworking hobbyists plan viewing sessions around shop time?

Start by listing the shop jobs that leave time for watching, such as a glue-up or a finish drying. Then match each video to the job it supports, and keep the order in one place. Put longer videos into the blocks with the most free time, and keep videos that build on each other together. Read the plan once before you start, and adjust it after a few sessions if the breaks do not fit the videos.

How can YTSort sort a YouTube playlist by video length?

YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] It sorts the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. ^[1] You can also limit a sort to videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. ^[1] YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. ^[1]

Can YTSort show the new order before it changes a playlist?

Yes. YTSort shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. ^[1] After a sort, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. ^[1] If you want to check a plan by hand first, a paper list or spreadsheet shows the order as you write it, so read it through once before the session starts.

Which browsers work with YTSort for shop-time playlists?

The add-on needs Chrome or Edge. ^[1] The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, once you add a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey. ^[1] You can get YTSort as a bookmark that runs it, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1]

Should woodworking hobbyists always watch the shortest videos first?

Not always. If a build depends on earlier steps, keep those videos in order, even when a later one is shorter. Shortest first can suit a short break at the bench. For long builds, review the order after a few sessions and change it if the breaks no longer fit the videos. The right order depends on the job you are doing in the shop and on how much time each break gives you.

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. ^[1]

Try YTSort

Sources

YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)