Rex Edgar Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 Am I the only one who cannot bear to part with a scrap of wood 'that I may be able to use at a later time?" If I am not by my lonesome, what defines if the wood is worth keeping or it needs to go? How is the wood kept/sorted so that without much bother you can scan the scraps for that 'perfect' piece when the need arises? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 Lots of previous discussions on this one Rex.. I make Christmas gifts out of mine and don't keep anything too small to make them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 My rule used to be anything less than 12" got tossed. Now I have a lathe and my scrap pile is growing and growing..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 I use a this system to store my scrapes under my regular lumber when it gets to small it goes into a bucket for the smoker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 I use my hardwood scraps after they get too small to light the charcoal grill. I'm also thinking about experimenting with making charcoal. It's an easy process and requires starting a fire both of which sound like they could be done on the weekend with friends and beverages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodbutcher74 Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 You could glue them all together and build yourself an $8000.00 dollar chair. Seriously, I have the same problem until one day I get tired of digging through it all to find something.Then I go out back, start a fire and clean shop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wright Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 I pretty much throw away any 3/4" thick wood under 12-18" long unless there is something special about the species or grain. For thick or exotic stock, I go on a case by case basis. I remember when I first started woodworking I hated to throw wood away, but now I have so much material stacked up in my shop and barn that I have trouble finding a place to store it all. In fact, I have a mahogany front door that we tore out of our house a couple of months ago and I need salvage it but I don't really have space to properly stack and store the wood so it is just leaning against the wall in my carport. I am also a little concerned about reusing the door because I have heard that using reclaimed lumber is a gateway drug to pallet projects Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 Totally depends on species. Big pieces of poplar get tossed, tiny specks of ebony dust is saved. Build yourself a scrap bin that's out of your way. When it fills up, make cutting boards and throw anything away that was too small to use. Then start over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Edgar Posted May 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 16 minutes ago, Mike. said: Cherry, maple or oak less than 12" long go in my smoker. Then I the meat and poop it out and the circle of life is complete. Other species less than 12" go in my fireplace. i am getting more and more picky about grain and color match in my projects, which means that random shorts and cutt offs have limited use. TMI! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wtnhighlander Posted May 17, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 I'm going to try this next: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 I personally wish I could throw every single scrap out. Maybe because I don't have a good way to store them yet. I'm storing them in a garbage can. If I thought the garbage guys would pick it up I'd put it on the curb and start fresh just to reduce clutter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 i make splines, use the plug cutter to make some 3/8" plugs to hide screws, or run the scraps thru the router to make different size dowels for future use, the rest is burn pile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collinb Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 Little Pieces: Trash Chunks (common hardwood): Firewood, for either camping or back yard wiener roasts. Chunks (exotics & oddities): They just sit there, waiting patiently. Maybe some day I'll be good enough to use them. Strips: Save for use or sacrificial. 2 ft is my length limit. Any shorter they mostly go in the chunks pile/box. 15 hours ago, Chestnut said: I use my hardwood scraps after they get too small to light the charcoal grill. I'm also thinking about experimenting with making charcoal. It's an easy process and requires starting a fire both of which sound like they could be done on the weekend with friends and beverages. You forgot the large slabs of meat and perhaps a chicken or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 If the piece is big enough that I can make chopstick blanks out of it I will. Otherwise anything too short to make chopsticks goes to my bro in law, and he carves statues and random things. The rest gets burned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 I typically keep any hardwood that I can use for a cutting board (or larger). Anything less normally get relegated to the fire wood box. I continually give away firewood to friends with wood stoves, or this time f year, save t for camping. Its surprising how fast it adds up, Poplar, pine, and other softwoods go to the fire wood pile if they are not over about 20" long and 3 or 4" wide. Just don't have room, and they pile up quick. All construction grade (2x6, etc) go straight to firewood if cutoffs exist. Plywood I cut down into blocks and make sanding blocks (80,100,120,150,180,220,400) by stapling sandpaper onto them. I do really like @Tom Cancelleri's chopstick kit, and would save more hardwoods if I had one. I may get one in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 How often do you all have fires? I have found that i have to start a gigantic blaze when ever i have a fire to burn enough wood to keep up. Even after that point i still have a ton sitting around waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 41 minutes ago, Chestnut said: How often do you all have fires? I have found that i have to start a gigantic blaze when ever i have a fire to burn enough wood to keep up. Even after that point i still have a ton sitting around waiting. In the winter I take scraps and use my stanley block plane to make shavings to start a fire, and then I burn a bunch of scraps to get my logs going. It helps thin the scrap pile. I do this 2-3 times a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 Here's a bunch of the scrap from my shop that's now destined to be Christmas for the next 2 years. So, what you keep should be determined by what you'll use. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 6 hours ago, Mike. said: I can go through a ton of scraps very quickly in my fireplace. I had a 50 gallon steel drum filled with scraps and burned it all in one morning. Kiln dried hardwood burns fast and hot. this is very true. i used to store my cutoffs in those giant rubbermaid bins. i could burn one of those in a day, easy, when starting and stoking a fire in my woodstove. unfortunately, i sold that house, so now i have to give away all my free heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post toddclippinger Posted May 19, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 I try to limit my scraps and extra material to certain area and shelves. When it hits capacity, I have a couple of guys that I call. One guy makes jewelry boxes so I try to feed him all the figured material. Another guy makes toys, so he does not care. Another way I use up scraps is let the grandkids build with them. When all other attempts at finding another home or use for the material fail, it ends up going to the dumpster or burning in the fire pit in the back yard. We just removed our woodturning stove last year so we no longer collect the heat value out of it for the house. Here you can see the scraps went to good use. There are a lot of hot glue sticks wrapped up in those projects too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 I try to limit my scraps and extra material to certain area and shelves. When it hits capacity, I have a couple of guys that I call. One guy makes jewelry boxes so I try to feed him all the figured material. Another guy makes toys, so he does not care. Another way I use up scraps is let the grandkids build with them. When all other attempts at finding another home or use for the material fail, it ends up going to the dumpster or burning in the fire pit in the back yard. We just removed our woodturning stove last year so we no longer collect the heat value out of it for the house. Here you can see the scraps went to good use. There are a lot of hot glue sticks wrapped up in those projects too. Grandkids??? Todd, you look like your 40 years old ! Either you got started real early or you look awesome for your age. Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddclippinger Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 8 minutes ago, shaneymack said: Grandkids??? Todd, you look like your 40 years old ! Either you got started real early or you look awesome for your age. Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Thanks! That made my day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 Thanks! That made my day! So I guess you arent 40....lol Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddclippinger Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 Just now, shaneymack said: So I guess you arent 40....lol Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk No - I am 50. If it helps reframe your thinking, my knees are blown, my hips don't engage when I get out of the work van and sometimes I go straight to the ground. My right elbow and shoulder are trashed, and some days I wake up with my fingers swollen like big sausages from the work I did the previous day. You might think I am joking, but sadly all of that is true. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 No - I am 50. If it helps reframe your thinking, my knees are blown, my hips don't engage when I get out of the work van and sometimes I go straight to the ground. My right elbow and shoulder are trashed, and some days I wake up with my fingers swollen like big sausages from the work I did the previous day. You might think I am joking, but sadly all of that is true. Wow you are racked! Whats all that from? Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.