Scraps - Debris or Opportunities?

[peter halle]

As I get ready to get rid of stuff that I accumulate as a contractor - mostly waste - and also stand and wonder at the "good" stuff - I was wondering about all you and how you deal with your scraps.  I know that this type of thread has been posted here before. 

But my question is simple:  Debris or looking for an opportunity?

Peter

 

[KescoNY]

I am in the same boat as you are and hate to see a lot of things go to dump but consider the real estate cost to store all those extras.

In the last 2 weeks, i gave away what i can to my subs, friends all the things they can use and the rest filled a 10 yrs dumpster.

If i accumulate a lot of "leftovers" either i can't find what i need when i need it in the clutter or find it damaged.

 

[JBag09]

I'll take all my cut offs and small scraps that are to small to save every piece and give it to a friend of mine who has an outdoor wood boiler. It kinda funny to watch when you hand him a box full of scraps and he'll just open the door and throw the whole box in and shut the door, and he's usually good for a day or so.
So at least it keeps their family warm and doesn't fill up the landfills.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[semenza]

I keep a limited supply of scraps. I actually have them sorted to some degree so that I can actually grab them to use for something when an opportunity strikes without having to go digging. As I get more I "upgrade" the scraps and ditch the lesser ones. I also keep one box near the router table for test cuts.

Everything that doesn't get saved goes to a friend with a wood stove.

Seth

 

[Kev]

I normally throw scraps and off cuts away about 2~3 weeks before they would have come in handy [embarassed]

Right now I'm face with a move and I have a load of marine ply in various shapes,  the cuts out panels for a small boat and a large kennel and lots of random lengths of trim in cedar, maple, etc. Some nice hardwood pieces and a few large bench and table tops in oak.

I'm faced with moving it all into storage, then interstate shipping ... I really don't know whether I should just give it all to the guy next door [sad]

 

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]These two projects have been posted before, but illustrate the usefulness of scrap and recycled timber products.

The bench on the left is constructed from a demolished Merbu Deck. The edges are from a Merbu Decking delivery crate. The other bench is Australian Hardwood sourced from a roof demolition.

From my work in a Timber Yard I have started to collect Form Ply delivery packing sheets. These sheets are not coated and reveal that some FormPly can be close to being furniture grade pine ply. That's probably why a 2400X1200mm sheet is close to A$80 each 'down here'.

However, my FOG name of Untidy Shop reflects good reasoning as to how keeping scraps and  collecting recycled and demolition timber products can be a significant workshop issue!  [eek] [eek] [big grin]

[attachimg=1]

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I definitely have the hoarder gene.  To keep things under control in my garage/shop my rule is that the
second time I have to move scrap to get it out of the way it goes to the dump.

 

[waterloomarc]

I'm like Kev. I'll keep scraps (or anything I don't particularly have use for) and trip over them for months until I finally break down and throw them away. Then, invariably, I'll have a need for whatever it was within 2 weeks.

I keep telling myself I'll use some scrap wood to make so e cutting boards or something but I never have the time. Lately I've started cutting some straighter pieces to 18" and boxing it up (so it's at least neater and out of the pile) to use in campfires. God I miss my woodburning fireplace!

 

[HarveyWildes]

I had some long, narrow scrap pieces that I've definitely moved more than twice.  Finally used them yesterday to do some under-the-countertop trim for my kitchen.  I did such a good job of using them up that I had to cut up a big board for the base trim.

I keep a lot of scraps around.  I have two hefty 30 gallon totes full of scraps that I reach for all the time for backer boards, jigs, etc. etc.  But I also have a fire pit, and when we fire it up, the scraps get used for that as well.

 

[rmwarren]

I attempt to define a max storage area for different cutoffs, i.e. ply in one area and small hardwoods in another. The idea is that I keep only what will fit in the area set aside, and as soon as it exceeds that limit I cull out the least useful stuff and trash it.

Yeah, so anyway that's the idea, in practice however...  [doh]

RMW

 

[semenza]

I attempt to define a max storage area for different cutoffs, i.e. ply in one area and small hardwoods in another. The idea is that I keep only what will fit in the area set aside, and as soon as it exceeds that limit I cull out the least useful stuff and trash it.

Yeah, so anyway that's the idea, in practice however...  [doh]

RMW

To add to my previous ....... Yup, I have a designated limited space for scrap storage too.

Seth

 

[Alan m]

i have a few wheely bins that i use. i keep one in the shop and the others either full or waiting outside. as soon as i make some scraps or small waste piece it goes straight into the bin on onto the bandsaw to cut up. it really keeps the shop cleaner. all the bins were full  a while ago. the shop strarted to accumilate little piles here and there that would come in handy some day