Cleaned my shop and threw away my scraps
It was 60+ degrees Fahrenheit yesterday here in Chicago. I loveeeeeed it!
I cranked up the old leaf blower and spent the entire day cleaning shop. I got out that BIG, empty, trash container and dumped all of my little scraps of wood into it. I NEED the room! Filled up a trash container (on wheels) that our local pick-up service uses. Holds ALOT of stuff!
Guess what I did this morning?
I went back and retrieved all my ‘so called trash I threw away’. Really, I had this dream that I need to make something and the SUV would not start. Emergency project for one of my friends.
Damn! Maybe I will call the trash company and tell them somebody stole my trash container and I need another.. I will keep the old wood filled container, outside, hidden behind a fence…
All, or at least most of those wood scraps, will NEVER be used. But I believe in Dreams! AND, in my dream there was my Guardian Angle that told me the cost per board foot in the trash can!
Have a GREAT DAY FOLKS!
Edited 3/7/2009 8:32 am by WillGeorge
Replies
Good for you, Will. That could be the hardest task that every woodworker faces. I have a big, strong cardboard box in my shop that I toss all my scraps in. Everything goes in, and if I need something later for a small project, I can dig it out. Otherwise, it's gone.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
(soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Hubby and I have agreed that if the scrap is less than 1" X 1" we burn it for heat in the shop. Anything bigger is kept till we do our annual shop cleanup and maintenance and then we bicker for the week over what to keep and what to burn!
This winter has been pretty darned cold so we've burned a bunch! I do like to keep the interesting pieces however thus the bickering.
Madison
Hi Madison
I'm the same. Almost all my wood is recycled, and in the spirit of this I conserve every offcut. I say to myself, "that could make a handle for a chisel/knife/saw ..". Eventially the offcuts grow too large for the bin and I have to decide which to keep. "That would make a better handle, or a box lid, etc". I don't burn anything, so sometimes it feels like I am giving away a child.
Regards from Perth
Derek
Derek..
I don't burn anything, so sometimes it feels like I am giving away a child.
LOL LOL..
I was blessed with wonderful children (nothing like me as I was as a child and when I was older, like now).
I however, had to give away Three Daughters to some man that I thought was less than 'perfect'!
I could never bicker with my wife.
Same here.. I tried ONCE.. She could always out 'talk me'.. And I loved her just as she was!
I mean, seriously--
She cheats. She has a memory.So all she has to do is drag the argument out past twenty minutes, and I forget what we're bickering about.
Jammer my dear:
That is exactly why we bicker! We are blessed with razor sharp memories,
Madison
Madison,
That is exactly why we bicker! We are blessed with razor sharp memories,
Now hold on there fer jest a secind. I know dang well it's cause you know in twehty minutes we won't know what yur talking about anyway.
We're too busy think 'bout sumpin else.
:-)
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
What was the question?
Hubby and I have agreed that if the scrap is less than 1" X 1" we burn it for heat in the shop.
Madison - 2 thoughts after reading your post:
You must have a ton of scraps if you keep anything over 1 square inch
Your shop must be cold in the winter if you only burn the scraps under 1 square inch!
Lee
Basic minimum criteria 1x1. We mill thousands of bf of trim and because we work in primarily solid lumber scrap is never in short supply. Also, we have gas forced air in the shop too, so our tootsies are never too cold.
Madison
Aha! 1 X 1 makes more sense than 1" X 1" (unless you make your own scrabble letters ;-)
Lee
Mapleman:
Guess I should have said 1"X1"X? Can you imagine making scrabble letters all day long everyday? This girl would wind up in the funny farm in a big hurry. Of course there are those who believe I am already there...
Madison
and then we bicker for the week over what to keep and what to burn!
And I would bet the 'make-up time over fussin' at each other is ALOT of fun!
Mhmm, but polite girls don't talk about those things sweetie!
Madison
Mhmm, but polite girls don't talk about those things sweetie!
And I'd ask what things.. Something like making your mate his favorite dinner of Corn Beef and Hash with Bacon?
Mhmm, but polite girls don't talk about those things sweetie!
My wife was a REAL TRUE sweetheart and told me off on more than a few occasions!
The amount of left over scrap is determined by how much time I am in the shop and how cold it is. Small scrap really does start a nice fire and if I run low on cord wood I tend to burn small pieces rather than go outside and get more. I really am amazed at how much small pieces I do use for blocks and jigs. Woodworking is almost a renewable resource business.
Scraps - such a derogatory word. Maybe we should call them "treasures"...
60 degrees in Boston area too! We've had 6 feet of snow so far with very few thaw cycles - this weekend is a real treat.
The Wood Loon
Acton, MA
As many, I don't throw away what could have a second life (or even a third!), or what could be a life saver! Since I always make test cuts, I need and keep those scrap pieces. I see them as tools.
I made myself the attached cutoffs bin to sort my 'treasures', and the attached carts made out on store bought cheap trollies. In my basement workshop, they became indispensable.
I keep smaller pieces in dish pans, and some long ones between ceiling joists, more in horizontal concrete cardboard tubes.
Best,
Serge
- Learn from yesterday, work today, and enjoy success tomorrow -
http://www.atelierdubricoleur.spaces.live.com
I must confess....I am a packrat when it comes to cutoffs. I seem to keep everything, until there's no place to put anything. Then, I have a good fire, and start the process all over again.
I can't tell you how many drawers and small boxes I've made out of the scrap pile, though. Without it, I would have had to cut up large, more valuable boards from the woodshed.
Jeff
Jeff,
Psssst, don't tel anyone but I actually brought a Jeep load from Uncle Stewarts scrap bin.
Is there something wrong?
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Just out of curiosity, are the cans of soup and the spices in your kitchen all alphabetized, and stacked with their labels facing the door?
You should see the mess in my kitchen right now since I'm staining in the kitchen the storage chest I just built. The shop is too dusty. And no, I don't buy the same brand of soup to get the same color labels. Some cans are even up-side-down! Aweful!
Take a look at the attached photos of the storage chest I'm staining in the kitchen. This is the first coat of oil stain.
Best,
Serge- Learn from yesterday, work today, and enjoy success tomorrow -
http://www.atelierdubricoleur.spaces.live.com
I love the color - and work!
But you never know, on a 'puter screen, what ya' really seeing!
Will,
No boubt you like the color! It's called Cabernet, like the red wine. I like this color on furniture... and in a glass! Thanks.
Best,
Serge- Learn from yesterday, work today, and enjoy success tomorrow -
http://www.atelierdubricoleur.spaces.live.com
I am totally impressed not only with the fact you keep all your shorts but that they are so organized. I have to purge after each piece i make other wise the shop would be full of shorts.Mark Rhodes
Vinworx.com
I loved it! Long scraps with a Broom holder!
Will,
Did you noticed my "roll around pencil sharpener"? (beside the broom). I had to put it some where!!!
Best,
Serge- Learn from yesterday, work today, and enjoy success tomorrow -
http://www.atelierdubricoleur.spaces.live.com
I noticed it, I was just politely ignoring it. Since you want to bring it up, I must respond.Real Men sharpen their pencils with blades.A pencil sharpener is like a sweater on a toy poodle.
Sharpening pencils with blades? Aren't we in 2009? I was thinking about upgrading my old pencil sharpener for an electric model. Having another electric tool in the shop, isn't that a 'real men' thought? Unless I should go for a cordless?
Thank for bringing me back down to earth!
Best,
Serge
- Learn from yesterday, work today, and enjoy success tomorrow -
http://www.atelierdubricoleur.spaces.live.com
Yes, we're in 2009.However I am still a Man, Real, Model 1957.Blades, son, blades.
Hey Serge,
I gotta pencil sharpener too; an old fashioned one that has the different hole sizes. Works great for putting a chamfer on a dowel sometimes too.
I'm not ready for an electric one though, I need the exercise.
<gr>
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Hey Rob,
Good idea to use your pencil sharpener to chamfer dowel ends. I would be limited to one size though. I think Lee Valley still carries a similar model like yours with a dial for different sizes. I wouldn't be surprised if yours was a Johnson?
Summer is coming buddy, even slowly. Hope we will take the opportunity to meet, as discussed (to discuss).
How does your demo/reno coming up in the kitchen?
Best,
Serge
PS: Finally, I won't buy the electric model. Energy cost is supposed to rise again up here effective April 1st, 2009. After thoughts, sharpening a pencil ten times a year doesn't worth the expense. I could also use my marking knife and my permanent marker.- Learn from yesterday, work today, and enjoy success tomorrow -
http://www.atelierdubricoleur.spaces.live.com
Couldn't post a picture of my johnson but here's a picture of my giant.
................................................
Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot
I've been sharpening all my pencils.
That reminds me of a friend of mine back in high school. He liked to use a rasp. A lot. I had to be careful not to let my pencils out of sight.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
That's good stuff.................before I completed the read, I thought, "oh man that's a tough job" to throw out anyscraps.....then I read on.
Funny............Neil
My video blog......... recent episode on Silas Kopf and Wdworking in America
http://furnitology.blogspot.com/index.html]
Sir:
I have to admit it was a real challenge to throw out all that wood even if it was really only put aside. I thought about it and I will 'really' throw it out. It sat in containers and every other nook and cranny in my shop for a very long time. It remained unused so I would assume it would sit again forever (only someplace else).
It was a good thing I checked it all first. I found some wonderful old birds-eye maple (enough for a small project). I sure hope it is not that wood that I had problems with. I once had some really pretty 1/2 inch thick by 8 inch wide 'random length sticks' that the little 'eyes' would randomly pop out when using a card scraper on it. Not just one board, but randomly throughout the 'sticks' I purchased at the time. Other than that problem it was wonderful wood! I was amazed when I inspected the 'so called scraps'. None had warped and as flat at I think when put away. My shop is small and no heat in winter or AC in summer.
Anyway, I am sure that in the 'very near future, just after the garbage truck drives away' I will REALLY need something I threw away.
Just to let you know. I check your Web Pages on occasion. I especially liked the video with you and Silas Kopf on Marquetry. I do not do Marquetry.. I do not have the artistic skills. I 'think' I could do the 'wood cuts'.. I emphasize I 'think' I could. I do not have the artistic skills needed to make the patterns. And please do not tell me ANYBODY can draw!. ;>)
Just me!
I learned that any piece smaller than 4 foot no matter what size.. (some were 12"x12" a few were even 18"x6") has to be burned.
I tried to save smaller pieces of black walnut timbers etc. for people but by the time all of my friends had all of their spce filled with such "treasures" I couldn't get anyone to come and get any more..
I found a friend who loves to burn my scraps of cherry, black walnut, maple, oak, etc.. and he cuts them down to sizes small enough to fit in his fireplace and burns them.. He's gotten to be a hardwood snob though.. I tried to give him some white pine the other day and he turned his nose up at it..
Nice wood though 2x12 (actual) 12 feet long but there were only 3 of them not enough to do anything with..
Frenchy, if I give you my address, will you send me all your four foot pieces of wood, please?I promise not to turn my nose up at anything.
I know of what you speak. I work in a custom millwork shop & if we saved all the 'too good to throw away' scraps, we soon would have no room to work. Basically any thing less then 3 ft. long is firewood, no matter if oak walnut, cherry, maple, etc. etc. The co. pays by the ton to have our garbage hauled away so what scrap is squirrelled away and taken home by employees is OK. Occassionally someone will 'make' scrap just the right size for a home project but this is usually dealt with quickly & severely.
I do share some of my good fortune with some retired woodworking friends, but I am glad firepit season is coming as my garage is getting pretty crowded. I also make some projects for myself or gifts, and some of these go back to my boss as tokens of appreciation. It's only fair and he does enjoy getting them.
Paul
Paul,
Many is the employee of the local Ethan Allen factory who has heated his home from the EA scrap bin. Recently the factory has taken to burning the scraps for energy generation and heat. They also burn their sawdust
Perhaps a bit disconcerting to employees but not wasted. What goes into the scrap bin is another matter. I've seen some very nice cherry panels go into that bin.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
And my dusty old pencil 'rasp'.. Very old and still works great.
Yup, and latey I've taken to using my marking knife a lot more. Then I follow up with a ball point pen to highlight the line when working to a line with hand tools.
Get it real close with power tools then refine with hand tools. Kinda like government spec. - measure with micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with chainsaw and file to fit.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Kinda like government spec. - measure with micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with chainsaw and file to fit...
You forgot.. Spend much more than it is worth!
paul,
winnipeg ay? have you gotten to see guy maddin's latest work, MY WINNIPEG? i have seen most, if not all, of his features as well as his short films. this latest is, i feel, his best. i savored the whole thing, beginning to end. guy is a good artist who is able to look hard, long and deeply at what inspires him.
eef
i savored the whole thing, beginning to end. ..
And NO link so we can see it also?
I suspect it has a lot to do with the relative costs of such scrap..
if you pay $10.00 a bd.ft. for something and you have 4 feet to throw away it's like throwing away $40.00
IF like me you pay pallet wood prices for hardwood it's like throwing away 68 cents..
Pine in a home fire place is a BAD thing! Nothing but hardwoods!
What scraps?
No scraps I saw in tere!
The third one from the left in the twenty-seventh row on the right is clearly a scrap.
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