Scrap Wood Project?

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:13 pm

My father was a contractor, and he did a job one time finishing a homeowner's basement, and the man said he had a bunch of 2x4's that he said he wanted my dad to use in the job. The man had taken all his lumber scraps, glued them together and ripped 2x4's out of them... Seriously. Too much empty time on his hands.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:27 pm

But maybe this guy had 2X4s that actually measured 2"X4"!

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:00 pm

flashbacpt wrote: When I need a fire, I just place one cotton ball on top of a small pile of sawdust, surrounded by scrap wood, and with one strike of steel/flint.....instant flame! The cotton/petroleum jelly combo ignites and burns long enough to get the sawdust and wood going.

Have a good sawdust day!
John

You can also use fine steel wool or pre-burnt cotton cloth.

flashbacpt · Post by **flashbacpt** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:37 pm

Great story, Charlese! One lunch that you will always remember! Isn't amazing how, at times, large items can hide so well?

Bob, I always use dryer lint with the saturated cotton. It's free, and a little bag goes a long way. By using the saturated cotton ball, the dryer lint, sawdust, and wood scraps, one can build a fire under any conditions!

Dusty... I used to get angry with myself because I could not find something. Now I just ask myself one question......"Did I throw or toss it away?" If the answer is "No!" Then, I just smile, knowing that all I have to do is look for something else! This method really does work for all the non-believers out there! The downside is that you have to wait for something else to look for!

Save Those Scraps!
John (FlashbacPT)

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:07 pm

flashbacpt wrote: The downside is that you have to wait for something else to look for!
Save Those Scraps!
John (FlashbacPT)

John, in my shop I don't have to wait very long!

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:49 pm

tom_k/mo wrote:My father was a contractor, and he did a job one time finishing a homeowner's basement, and the man said he had a bunch of 2x4's that he said he wanted my dad to use in the job. The man had taken all his lumber scraps, glued them together and ripped 2x4's out of them... Seriously. Too much empty time on his hands.

My uncle went to job sites and collected the scrap 2X4 pieces. He wood put the pieces together in a double row, making sure that no seams lined up,and nail the pieces together. He had more time then money, but I wonder how much all those nails cost, and more so, how strong those "studs" really were. He wood use them as studs in his own addition on his house. IMHO, that is carrying the recycling of scrap a bit too far. One thing to keep in mind; he came from a family of 10 kids that all grew up during the depression. None of his brothers and sisters can throw anything away!

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:14 pm

He probably picked up bent nails and straightened them.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:19 pm

[quote="a1gutterman"]My uncle went to job sites and collected the scrap 2X4 pieces...and nail the pieces together ..., but I wonder how much all those nails cost, /QUOTE]
He probably gathered up used and otherwise bent nails and straightened them. A common practice with some of us.

flashbacpt · Post by **flashbacpt** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:35 am

The last couple of comments made by Chuck and Tim bring back memories, and are actually "explanations/lessons to be learned" by the current generations, .....if they will listen! That's a big IF! Cetainly would help understand the current economic situation that is faced!

I was one of those little boys that would sit and listen to my family members talk about things, and the depression was one of them. Too little to understand most things, but could sense the worry and fear in their voices and statements!

Hence, grew up to "take care of things", and not to abuse them, use everything, save everything because it has value, and because you may not have them/afford them again.

Learned that certain "things" took on GREAT VALUE, AND WAS TREATED AS SUCH. Many years later, that lesson came back to cause me a lot of grief. I was chosen to handle an estate of one of my Uncles. One of the bones of contention was a ring. This ring, as I came to learn, caused a major rift among the relatives.

I had the ring assessed for today's value! The value of the ring at today's price was only $100! As indicated above, this ring caused fights, and divided the family, as if it was worth millions of dollars! Back then, it apparently meant everything!

As a little boy, I used to spend my summers with my favorite Uncle. One of the things that he would do is give me a block of wood, and a coffee can of nails. My "job" was to pound the nails into the block of wood. When finished, I had to pull them all out, and then straighten them to be used again! Learned how to pound nails straight to say the least!

So now, we have a generation that has been called, "The use and abuse, throw away and buy another generation", the "Right Now generation" (can't wait, must have, and what do you mean, SAVE for it???). With that kind of mine set, it is easy to understand why people have gotten themselves into debt, and have fallen prey to the mortgage companies!

With that said, I am so glad, and feel fortunate that I listened to my relatives way back then. I respect what they faced, and the lessons learned!

Save Those Scraps
John
FlashbacPT

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