I’m not sure what all mods you have nor what mod the crafting station is
from, but if you put a crafting bench in your 2×2 crafting cell you can
have the crafting station; which is the crafting bench that allows you to
keep items in it when you leave the interface. Again, if you have whatever
mod it’s from.

I don’t know for certain; my computer doesn’t have OpenGL support, so I
just watch MC since I can’t play it. lol

For even quicker mining there is the modifier which allows you to mine in a
3×3 area. There’s also a modifier, I believe, which allows a tree to be
entirely felled when a block of it’s trunk is axed.

I remember GenerikB made a scythe and had a really hard time with it
because he would accidentally hit his friends or familiars with it since
it’s AoE. It’s amazing when surrounded by mobs though.