SCRAPS! SCRAPS! and MORE SCRAPS!

Hi Bruce,

I think most of us tend to share this commonality. We simply don’t want to discard these seemingly insignificant pieces because “they are simply a project waiting to happen” but invariably we have trouble getting around to the project and end up with a stash of off cuts that becomes unmanageable. I don’t have a good answer but since I converted by fireplaces to gas I don’t have the option of burning them and I just can’t bring myself to toss them.

But, I have successfully defended them from the sometimes misplaced sense of order that my wife has. She simply sees them as (GASP) trash and would toss them in a heartbeat if I didn’t vigilantly guard them.

Maybe I could rent her out to you and other woodworkers who have the same problem with trying to get a handle on their off cuts. But, of course, you would have to give her free reign to take over cleaning the shop. I guarantee you it would be neat but you couldn’t get to anything. (I know from experience) :)

Good luck and if you come up with a solution let me know.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Hi Bruce,

I share your pain. I think that all woodworkers have a similar problem. I’ve figured how to get rid of most of my scraps. Since my 1 acre lot has a lot of trees that are constantly shedding limbs, I invested in a small DR Chipper. It will chip limbs up to about 3”, so my long scraps are added to my limb pile and end up as mulch. My short scraps are sometimes added (a little bit at a time) to the weekly trash. Since the trash is put in a small dumpster that is mechanically loaded at the edge of the road, one can get by with a little more. When I have more small scraps than the trash can handle, I take a couple of cans full to a friend that has a rural farm and we have a bonfire a make “Smores.” Having said that, I hope all of the LJ’s don’t ship me all of their scraps.

-- Dan, West Virginia, http://www.danpleskaCreations.com

One of these days I’m going to glue all my scraps together and build a butcher block building to store more scraps in.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Send them to me.

Actually a couple times a year I enjoy a very expensive and “exotic” bonfire with my scraps. Brings back memories of projects (or lessons learned from failed projects) as I through each piece into the fire.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

Right on, Dennis. I figure 20% over for all projects, so I have scraps. Right now we have a burn ban, but I usually burn a 55 gallon barrel full at least once a month. I keep all the larger scraps, thinking I’ll do something with them. When they get in the way, out they go. The only thing worse than the scraps, is all of the sawdust that I have to dispose of.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

Hi, my name’s Dadoo and I’m a Scrap Monger. (sigh)

Actually I’ve hit my scrap bin a multitude of times for that small piece that would fit that certain project, but every summer, I take my scrapbin camping! Or in the case of large amounts of scrap…we have a bonfire! Bras and panties optional.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Years ago I saw a photo, in a woodworking magazine, of a small workshop that was made from scrap 2×4’s stacked on top of each other.

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

Last Sept. I moved into a senior community that has a woodworking shop that is used by 10 or 12 guys. I started saving my scrap wood, some exotic woods, in a cardbard box. Yea, I know, your right, I should of put my name on it with a ‘Save’ sign. The box is now empty.

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

You can make miniature boxes with tiny scraps—- kind of a fun side hobby. You can also make small toys—-.

I must admit to having a hard time throwing wood away.

-- You can't get a hug from Facebook.