Auto Filter on selected row

Back again!

After posting a thread regarding sorting issues with multiple columns (under the thread heading "Bulk Sorting" I have conceded that unless I have a sort filter on every column I will not be able to keep data in respective rows when sorting.
My new plan of attack is to insert an empty row (it will be row 13) and apply auto filter across every column (not what I wanted visually but no other option).
Is there a way that I can do this at row 13 on an almost completed sheet? I may just be dumb but I can't stop the filter applying itself to row 1. If I select the whole of row 13 the auto filter or "right click - apply filter" options aren't available.
If not I could start a fresh sheet. Is there a way to copy and paste a large amount of cells with different width columns into a new worksheet?

Cheers,

JLB.