What's your scrap Rule?

**ChefHDAN** · 07-17-2010, 09:20 PM

I'm looking at my pile of cut offs, scraps & shorts and wondering what should go to the fire pit. What is your rule; what do you keep what do you toss. Every time I find that perfect piece in a scrap bucket I think, "that's why I keep all this S**t, but lately there's just too much I think. Tell me how you decide, is it board feet, species, or whatever!

**robhannon** · 07-19-2010, 07:50 AM

When I run out of room (i.e. when the wife says you need to clean this mess up) I toss just about everything under 2' unless its an exotic wood.

**Tony B** · 07-19-2010, 02:29 PM

Usually after a project is complete, everything becomes firewood. I say usually because If the scraps are worthy of turning, I will keep them. BUT>>>>>>>>>>>I will cut and glue them all up at once and save as complete blanks, then toss everything else. I am not a 'collector'

**wood_worker** · 07-22-2010, 08:03 AM

I have found that I really don't use real small pieces of wood very often. So - I have garbage barrels, with lids. When I am working on a project I will toss the scraps in the barrels. If the "scraps" are rather large - 1x4x13" or so or larger, maybe in the barrel, - likely in the barrel - depends on what it looks like.

I can safely run a 13" long piece through my planer - so I think about that. I can safely drum sand smaller stuff.

I keep one barrel in the shop until it's full. When its full I put it outside and bring in an empty one.

Of course something like 1x6x48 or so is not considered scrap.

If a piece is 1x1x any length - I might consider it for a pen, but not likely. Most project wood is too plain for pens -- so I will cut it into 18" or so long pieces and toss it into the barrel.

I can fill 2-4 barrels in a year, depending on how active I am.

Soo all year - I will do that.

Now if I need a small piece of wood for some reason, or I get some hair brained scheme to make something out of scrap - I will look through the barrels.

If I have had the scraps for a year - I figure I really don't need them.

Come winter though - it all goes into the wood stove and helps to heat my house. I can grab hand fulls and toss it in there for a quick fire in fall or spring. I use it some as kindling - but I don't really need to use kindling the way I burn wood. In this way, I clean out all the scraps once every year.

If I didn't burn the scraps of wood - my shop would be half full of scrap wood by now.

**JBark** · 07-22-2010, 08:58 AM

Save everything and clean it out every two years.

**PatrickLawrence** · 08-19-2010, 09:31 PM

I save most scrap. The small pieces get made into blocks for my two young boys.

**lwilliams** · 08-19-2010, 09:50 PM

I learned a long time ago that the most valuable thing in the shop is space. I can burn a lot of wood cheaper and easier than I can get more space.

**wood_worker** · 08-28-2010, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by lwilliams

I learned a long time ago that the most valuable thing in the shop is space. I can burn a lot of wood cheaper and easier than I can get more space.

THAT is one I can relate to -- At this time, I have two barrels of scrap, covered, outside and half a barrel inside

**woodchuck75** · 09-05-2010, 09:49 AM

I generally empty the scrap barrel when the wife says it's time to clean out the garage and keep only the bigger pieces, 18" or longer 2" or wider. Thought being if I need smaller, I can rip and cut from scrap piece, unless it is exotic wood then I keep it except real small pieces.

**Tracey615** · 09-08-2010, 02:38 PM

I keep a lot of the scrap to make blocks and parts for the local Salvation Army Christmas toy projects for a local woodworking club. I am no longer a member of the club, but I like to think the wood is being put to good use. A portion of the scrap I generate becomes fire wood for a couple of families near here, they also get the windfall limbs and so forth from the woodlot. Anypiece less than 1x1x10 is usually in the fire barrel.