A method to process wood components or the like in a machine comprising a base; a locking device to lock at least one component on a given support surface; an overhead crane comprising two vertical uprights, which are coupled to the base to perform, with respect to the locking device, straight movements along the base in a first direction parallel to the support surface, and carry, connected to the free ends thereof, a horizontal crosspiece which extends over the base in a second direction, which is transverse to the first direction and parallel to the support surface; an operating head to process the components, the operating head being coupled to the horizontal crosspiece to perform, with respect to the horizontal crosspiece and to the locking device, straight movements in the second direction, and is provided with an electro spindle; the method comprising the steps of: performing a first processing of at least one component by means of a first tool mounted on the operating head; transferring, at the end of the first processing, the first tool from the operating head to a first tool store; transferring a second tool from a second tool store, which is different from the first tool store, to the operating head; and performing a second processing of at least one component by means of the second tool; the transfer of the tools between the operating head and the first tool store being performed in correspondence to a first tool change station and the transfer of the tools between the operating head and the second tool store is performed in correspondence to a second tool change station; wherein, said first and second tool change stations (19, 24) are arranged in a lying plane, which is perpendicular to said first direction, at least during the transfer of a tool between the operating head and one of said first and second tool stores (15, 20), and characterized in that the first and second tool change stations are further arranged next to the base on the same side of the base in the second direction; and the transfer of the operating head between said first and second tool change stations (19, 24) is performed by moving the operating head exclusively in said second direction and further in a third direction, which is perpendicular to the support surface. performing a first processing of at least one component by means of a first tool mounted on the operating head; transferring, at the end of the first processing, the first tool from the operating head to a first tool store; transferring a second tool from a second tool store, which is different from the first tool store, to the operating head; and performing a second processing of at least one component by means of the second tool; the transfer of the tools between the operating head and the first tool store being performed in correspondence to a first tool change station and the transfer of the tools between the operating head and the second tool store is performed in correspondence to a second tool change station; wherein, said first and second tool change stations (19, 24) are arranged in a lying plane, which is perpendicular to said first direction, at least during the transfer of a tool between the operating head and one of said first and second tool stores (15, 20), and characterized in that the first and second tool change stations are further arranged next to the base on the same side of the base in the second direction; and the transfer of the operating head between said first and second tool change stations (19, 24) is performed by moving the operating head exclusively in said second direction and further in a third direction, which is perpendicular to the support surface.