What to do with wood scraps?

[Orrex]

My lovely wife bought me a table saw for father's day this past summer, and to date I haven't dismembered myself. However, I have wound up with a whole bunch of wood scraps that are too small to use in any projects. What to do with them?

I'm already composting the sawdust from the non-pressure-treated wood. I'm reluctant to throw the scraps into the garbage, but I don't have any wood-burning capability in my home or on my property.

What do you suggest?

[Muttocracy]

1. stick a free ad on craigslist and someone can take it for heat or a project? local school

could maybe use it for art/shop projects depending on the size of the scraps?

[Richard D]

2. Well . . .

. . . you can certainly compost the sawdust. Or save it all up and somehow get the enzyme from Japan that is used in the "sawdust baths". Find a neighbor with a wood stove and give them the big scraps. Always appreciated for starting fires. You can also mix the sawdust with melted wax and form into balls to be used as fire starters.

[doodadem]

3. Someone would love to have those as kindling

I know I would. We heat totally with wood.

Depending on the size of your compost pile, if you bury them deep and pile enough organic matter (like manure) on top, they'll eventually rot--as long as it's not treated wood.

[begin_within]

4. Camping trip

[liberal N proud]

5. I am terrible - I use wood scraps until there is little left

I have a box of wood scraps that I keep. When I do a project, the scraps get thrown in the box.
I find a multitude of reuses for them from spacers in other projects to use as as a sacrifice piece with a hammer or between my jack in the garage and the car frame.

When there is nothing left to reuse, I will finally give up and throw these tiny odd shaped chunks away.

If you are doing lots of projects and generating a large amount of scraps, try and find a local reclaimed wood products facility.

[Lasher]

6. Feed it to woodpeckers.

[MO_Dem]

7. Sheltered Workshop?

Do you have a sheltered workshop in your area that maybe builds birdhouses or other small projects? If so, they would probably appreciate the donation.

[lamp_shade]

9. Yea... or a local high school "shop" class.

[Orrex]

12. I'm talking about the really small scraps, though

Irregular bits, like corners and such that aren't any bigger than 3 inches on a side. Or else the end strips from shaving down a 2x4.



I'll probably just wind up dumping them in my neighbor's pool. That's what I did with my kids' diapers, and it worked out very well for me.

[Inkyfuzzbottom]

8. I may be completely wrong here

but don't they use scrap wood and sawdust to make those wood pellets to use in pellet stoves?

[Fledermaus]

10. Go carbon negative. Make your own biochar.

If you have a barbecue or enough free space and an old can, you can make biochar and permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere. Biomass is the only form of energy that can be carbon negative. It can remove carbon, from the atmosphere, and permanently store it.

Biochar is a charcoal produced from biomass. Charcoal is a stable solid and rich in carbon content, and thus, can be used to lock carbon in the soil. Biochar is of increasing interest because of concerns about global warming being caused by emissions of CO2 and other GHGs (greenhouse gases). Biochar may be an immediate solution to reducing the global impact of farming (and in reducing the impact from all agricultural waste). The burning and natural decomposition of trees and agricultural matter contributes a large amount of CO2 released to the atmosphere. Biochar can store this carbon in the ground, potentially making a significant reduction in atmospheric GHG levels; at the same time its presence in the earth can improve water quality, increase soil fertility, raise agricultural productivity and reduce pressure on old growth forests.<1>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochar

Biochar - agrichar - Terra Preta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzmpWR6JUZQ

Official Biochar Tutorial Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEGmP6dhW5c&feature=rela...

Paint Can Wood Gasifier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAFlPK-oF9U

Pyrolysis is the chemical decomposition of a condensed substance by heating. It does not involve reactions with oxygen or any other reagents but can take place in their presence. Pyrolysis is a special case of thermolysis, and is most commonly used for organic materials; extreme pyrolysis, which leaves only carbon as the residue, is called carbonization and is related to the chemical process of charring.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrolysis

Wood Gasification: Alternative Energy Source
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCtLZWnTuog&feature=rela...

[Possumpoint]

11. Take Up Pen Turning As A Hobby

Cut all your scraps into 3/4" square by 5" long blanks and have fun. Pens make great gifts and I've sold a few.

[XemaSab]

13. Do what I did with two years of down logs and other debris

and burn down the neighborhood with a MASSIVE bonfire.

If it's good enough for the USFS, it's good enough for me.

[guardian]

14. Mulch it. A great way to recycle.

It you have a need for mulch in your landscaping that might be an option. Also, some city governments accept wood scraps, branches, etc. that they will use for mulch for city landscaping. Though I know some places won't accept treated wood.

[TheWraith]

15. Chip them for mulch, or have a campfire. nt