klousiajp@gmail.com Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 At what point does everyone take a cutoff and dump it in the garbage can rather than keeping it around? I looked around my shop yesterday afternoon and realized that I have a ton of tiny cutoffs that I don't see as being that useful but, for whatever reason, I'm reluctant to chuck. If you keep everything, how do you store it all? What sort of "useless" cutoffs have you kept and been glad you had at some point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capnjack2 Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 I keep too much also. I throw out anything, though, if it's too small for a clock (for example). I usually keep some pieces for push sticks or jigs but they have to be solid, not all torn up, if you know what I mean. the only really small stuff I keep is accent wood for buttons/plugs. I store a lot in shoe boxes stacked on a shelf and labeled by species. May soyund excessive but to me that's shop time too! Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
went_postal Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 Nothing just gets tossed out... If it seems especially useless it gets put into a pile for the outdoor fireplace. =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMarcel Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 I'm like postal... I have a big garbage behind one bench in a corner; "useless" offcuts go there then they get burned in the fireplace or better yet the fire pit outside in winter. Otherwise, I have 3 milk crates under one bench where "useful" offcuts go and get used for quick 1-off jigs, push sticks, cauls, etc. When the 3 are too full for additions, I sift through it to take out ones that really aren't that useful I recently made a shooting board uniquely of scraps from the bin so it was a good way to get rid of some while building something I honestly should have built years ago. Nice thing about the "useless" garbage is that I can dig in it if I need something I know, I just know I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpLev Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 I used to be "if it doesn't fit into the shop vac hose - it stays... until I just couldn't walk around the garage anymore. I started reorganizing the garage in the last month, and threw out 5 32gallon trash bags with cut offs and parts that ultimately I figured - I will just not use. and if I do need a small cutoff - there is always more cutoffs to be made in future projects, so I should alywas have fresh cutoffs. just keeping them around becomes wasteful. some go to burning in a fire pit (if non harmful) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 When I did my first wodworking project as an adult, I actually bought off-cuts from Home Depot to use as scrap. There are dozens of times that you need to hammer on something or clamp something and you don't want to mar the workpiece so you use a piece of scrapwood. Also for test cuts, temporary guides sacrificial backers, etc, etc. Having actually paid for scrapwood in the past, it's very hard for me to throw them out now. Unfortunately, I have a lot of space, so as long as I can find boxes, I keep the scraps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawrence Brown Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 I tend to stack everything up and when the pile gets too big I sort and throw some of the redundant stuff away; like if I have 20 of the same tiny cube or something. From there is goes into a paper bag or box for "firewood" where it generally sits until I suddenly need a piece for a shim or a block to put something on, or a stain stir stick, or whatever. I just need to have friends over more often because that's when I build the fire in the pit and will grab whatever I can find to throw in it. One thing I've found though is that I'll tend to keep bits that stack easily much longer than odd pieces that just stick out all over the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samhell Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 Never! One of these days I'm going to turn a few hundred/thousand small bottle stoppers! I've thought about doing inlays and these scraps would also come in handy for that. I do keep a "burn box" but its cheap crap like pine or C plywood cutoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 I keep a lot of scrap pieces and is difficult to walk around my garage/shop. About a month ago I gave away a bunch of scrap to a friend for barbecue purposes and that sounded as a good second use. Sometimes I use my shavings to start my Mesquite. Typically a piece that is unsafe to cut on my Kapex or table saw is scrap. Sometimes I use scrap as fillers to repair a piece that I over cut (this weekend) so re-veneering and re-cutting .... This proves that I am almost a pack rat. Not the same as a rat pack ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iSawitFirst Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 Anything smaller than 3/4 x 1-1/2 x 3 gets tossed. ...into a box next to everything bigger than same. Hey, you never know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomP Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 I have two rubber maid containers, one for semi long cut offs and one for shorter ones. I use a sharpie and put the size on the end. That way I don't have to measure them every time. I also have a milk crate for the tiny pieces which get thrown out. Don't have a fire pit I use the smaller ones for testing finishes and holding up things I want to paint. Unless I want to change the color of the bench cookies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronnie Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 I keep a lot of scrap pieces and is difficult to walk around my garage/shop. About a month ago I gave away a bunch of scrap to a friend for barbecue purposes and that sounded as a good second use. Sometimes I use my shavings to start my Mesquite. Typically a piece that is unsafe to cut on my Kapex or table saw is scrap. Sometimes I use scrap as fillers to repair a piece that I over cut (this weekend) so re-veneering and re-cutting .... This proves that I am almost a pack rat. Not the same as a rat pack ... I like to see some one use some pine in a barbecue pit. That would be some rough bar-b-q..... maybe some lighter pine sounds good huh.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mqutkingdom Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 I share a shop so I have to go on a hunt for scraps it's a pain so I keep a shoe box of tiny snacks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Ron, I should qualify. The shavings I use are alder. The scrap pine is for starting a fire in my outdoor fireplace. Sorry about not being clear. Take care. I like to see some one use some pine in a barbecue pit. That would be some rough bar-b-q..... maybe some lighter pine sounds good huh.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 i have three bins, Sheetgoods, solid, and solids too small that go to a friend for his shop's woodstove. When they get full, I go through them and keep the best, throw the remainder of solid wood to my friends bin, call him to come pick up his firewood and start all over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmykx250 Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Keep drops until u know u wont use em. Then burn em! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronnie Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Ron, I should qualify. The shavings I use are alder. The scrap pine is for starting a fire in my outdoor fireplace. Sorry about not being clear. Take care. Im just messing around,Just trying to have a little fun.... sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Ronnie. This is a group of friends and I am absolutely sure you were having fun. I am off to an evening of grilling, eating meat and drinking malbec. Ah I might play a little guitar tonight to. Adios from El Gaucho Im just messing around,Just trying to have a little fun.... sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronnie Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 You play the guitar? Well I do too... cool malbec??????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYHump Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Nothing just gets tossed out... If it seems especially useless it gets put into a pile for the outdoor fireplace. =) I am the same way, nothing gets tossed. After completing my end grain cutting boards i cleaned up and stacked some of the cutoffs. Well below is another end grain cutting board I put together from the scrap. Not bad for something that was headed for the trash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billboard Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 I'll save all scraps from a project until I am through with the project. Then I sort through it. I'll save a couple of good scraps for a pen or two and chunk the little stuff into a kindling box for my in-laws fireplace. I make my own bowl blanks from logss so I have a lot of that kind of scrap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mqutkingdom Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 That cutting board is amazing how long did it take you to do that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYHump Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 That cutting board is amazing how long did it take you to do that Hi Highschoolwoodworker, Like I said it was made from cutoff from the cutting boards that I made. I kinda stacked them up and saw that they was enough there to make another board. If I remember correctly there are 25 stripes of wood in there. It took some time and a lot of glue! Here are pics of the other boards I have made. Marc has a nice podcast on this if you really want to make one, check it out Good luck. NYHump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMarcel Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Wow, nice. I like the one on the left. I'll have to look for some decent scrap and make one! Looking at the second reminded me of one I saw on forum 2.0... someone made one with different color woods to look like a bit-map graphic of Super Mario. I have too many geek gamer friends who would love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawrence Brown Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Those mosaic cutting boards gave me an idea: every time I make a cut-off, I should hit it with a dab of glue and slap it on the wall. After awhile it's get some kind of 3D sculpture effect happening and I can call it art! Now, if only I had any free wall space... Great job on the boards, by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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