Shopsmith Forums

I have been composting my sawdust at the local land fill so I did some searching to try to find more ideas but the only idea I thought had any value was to put sawdust in the paths of your garden to stop weeds from growing. I don't have that big of a garden so I'll keep composting at the landfill.

Andy

I wonder if you could sell it to a company that makes pellets for wood stoves?

Bruce wrote:I wonder if you could sell it to a company that makes pellets for wood stoves?

I sure like that idea. Anyone have time to research that?

Bruce wrote:I wonder if you could sell it to a company that makes pellets for wood stoves?

Probably not! The original "Pres-to-logs" were made in Missoula, Mt. They were pressed into shape by huge machines that used ONLY pure spruce planer shavings. The pressure exerted was enough to fuse the resins of the spruce together so the logs would hold their shape. The same was true with the Pres-to-pellets.

I would suppose there are pretty stringent requirements on the raw material used in making all of the newer stove pellets. Many of our secondary wood products have such requirements. Even kraft paper has theirs.

I use mine as mulch around the red raspberries and blueberries, flower beds, etc. I also mix it in with the grass clipping to accelerate the compost pile for the garden.

BPR

8iowa wrote:I find that the stuff doesn't decompose very rapidly. I put a bag of mostly white pine sawdust in a pile outside two years ago and it looks the same as when I put it out. I will probably have to shovel it up and get rid of it
I now tie up the plastic DC3300 bag full of sawdust and take it to the transfer station.

You could add a bit of nitrogen to the pile. It's cheap and will break down that cellulose "quickly" (I am not too patient either). Have you turned your pile of sawdust over on occasion? Your avatar looks like you live in the countryside. I am sure there are ways out there. Horses, rabbits, etc. Someday I intend to find out how much a DC 3300 holds.

Before you fill the 3300 ful consider the potential fire hazzard?! Jim

Sawdust can smolder for hours before you see a flame.
I know:D

Also before you dump you DC3300 make sure you know what saw dust is in there. Any treated wood or woods like Walnut can have a very negative impact on your garden.

As for the fire hazard it is very real, I only allow my bag to get about 1/4 full before I dump it unless I have big job making a lot of dust. I also dump it any time I have cut wet lumber, to pickup green leafs (cleaning the back porch) as moisture they can start to decomposition and that process generates heat.

Also I often run my DC3300 when I'm doing finishing some finish chemicals react to light and air and they can also cause heat and fire. You don't want a small patch of cloth what was soaked with boil linseed oil to end up in your dust bag and left there.
Ed