What do you do with your wood scraps?

[Ralph Sarc]

I was just reading a reply to a post I made and Geoff Simpson mentioned wood scraps and that got me to wondering what everyone does with their wood scarps from projects. I have considered burning them in our fireplace but I'm fearful of the residue that it would leave within the chimney liner. So what do you do with your scraps?  

[Geoff Simpson]

My wife will tell you that i never...ever....ever throw them away, and she's not happy with that fact.    I always find some kind of use for them.  Attached is a pic of a trawler that i'm making for my little boy to play with in the bathtub.

I would burn any of the plywood chunks or anything treated for that matter.  But raw, untreated wood...don't think that'll be a problem

[Ralph Sarc]

Wow I like the Trawler! Very nice work indeed. Is that all plywood?

Geoff Simpson said:

My wife will tell you that i never...ever....ever throw them away, and she's not happy with that fact.    I always find some kind of use for them.  Attached is a pic of a trawler that i'm making for my little boy to play with in the bathtub.

I would burn any of the plywood chunks or anything treated for that matter.  But raw, untreated wood...don't think that'll be a problem

[James Kolodica]

Ralph:   I'm retired now and gettin' pretty antsy with the cold temps. so I fired up the ole' propane salamander in the garage and brought in a stack of left over 5/4" treated deck lumber (deck repair).  In the last two weeks that "scrap" lumber has resulted in a darn nice looking Adirondack chair and a Trestle table.

It gave me the opportunity to do some pocket screw work. especially for the table top.

A foot stool for the chair and benches for the table are next.

It's amazing how beautiful "scrap" lumber looks after it's been run through the planer and jointer.  A roundover bit and a good sanding really makes them pleasing to the eye.

Don't throw anything away!!!  Even the edges I cut off the deck boards are being utilized as banding around the table top edges.

Make Momma a cutting board or something, maybe a jewelry box???

Never never burn Wolmanized wood!!

[Ralph Sarc]

Thanks James those are some really good points plus it reminds me to hit the lumber yard for wood to build my Adirondack chairs!

James Kolodica said:

Ralph:   I'm retired now and gettin' pretty antsy with the cold temps. so I fired up the ole' propane salamander in the garage and brought in a stack of left over 5/4" treated deck lumber (deck repair).  In the last two weeks that "scrap" lumber has resulted in a darn nice looking Adirondack chair and a Trestle table.

It gave me the opportunity to do some pocket screw work. especially for the table top.

A foot stool for the chair and benches for the table are next.

It's amazing how beautiful "scrap" lumber looks after it's been run through the planer and jointer.  A roundover bit and a good sanding really makes them pleasing to the eye.

Don't throw anything away!!!  Even the edges I cut off the deck boards are being utilized as banding around the table top edges.

Make Momma a cutting board or something, maybe a jewelry box???

Never never burn Wolmanized wood!!

[Steven M. Rundle]

I cut the scraps into shapes, stars, cylinders, circles, rectangles, etc. I then sand them smooth or round them over using a router. They make great gifts for friends with toddlers, or for my daughter.

[Geoff Simpson]

Thanks man.  it's just scrap 3/4" ply, a old piece of 2x4 junk.

Ralph Sarc said:

Wow I like the Trawler! Very nice work indeed. Is that all plywood?

Geoff Simpson said:

My wife will tell you that i never...ever....ever throw them away, and she's not happy with that fact.    I always find some kind of use for them.  Attached is a pic of a trawler that i'm making for my little boy to play with in the bathtub.

I would burn any of the plywood chunks or anything treated for that matter.  But raw, untreated wood...don't think that'll be a problem

[ray vile]

some scraps become little projects, some scraps become fixtures in jigs, some become test pcs to check set ups on the router table and such, and after that they contribute to a night around the fire pit with friends and family, I would think it is safe to burn wooden scraps in a fireplace but I wouldn't burn plywood, painted,stained or treated lumber.

[justin waldron]

I make cutting boards out of mine and give them away.  After I get a good pile or so I just spend an hour or so ripping scrap wood.

[steve kidd]

depends on the size of the scrap and the wood type. what i do scrap i give to my dad, he then sorts out what he wants and then gives it to his buddy to burn

[Ralph Sarc]

That's a great idea Justin!

justin waldron said:

I make cutting boards out of mine and give them away.  After I get a good pile or so I just spend an hour or so ripping scrap wood.

[Jens Jensen]

I have a 55 gallon plastic barrel next to my saw stations and toss all stuff in there and use it for whatever I need for some snall jig or whatever but mostly kindling wood for I heat with wood in shop.Come summer  just burn outside evening weenie roasts and marsh mellows with grand kids

[Jim Bontrager]

Depending on size, I use them for kindling in my wood burner.