My Major Shop Issue (handicap)

[charlese]

We mentioned the subject of scrap wood in a couple of other threads. I am interested in photos of how others deal with their cuttoffs and scrap.

Scrap has become my biggest shop headache. What to do with it?? Can't bring myself to throw it all away, but can't find a place to store all of it either. Guess I'll just live with the issue.

The Short stock storage has overtaken much of my lumber storage racks. Poplar on bottom, oak in the middle and ply on the top. Other sheet goods are in a non pictured sheet good bin that is 5 1/2 " wide and 8 ft. long.

Here's three photos of my problem.

[a1gutterman]

Hi Chuck,

I have no pictures for you, as my rack has knot yet been built, and currently, my scrap is a lot less organized then yours; however, I made a space in my shop to build a rack that will hold full size sheet goods, laying flat, along with a good selection of hardwood boards, including the longer pieces of scrap. As for the smaller pieces, a few here, a few there, no real solution for them yet...

[rdewinter]

a couple of thoughts
-make a butcher block looking cutting board
or
-glue odd shapes and sizes and mix in different types of wood to make an interesting board. Square it up and plane it smooth and add it to a project as an accent piece. It's amazing how you will find to use it. Be daring!

Bob
San Diego

[psf513]

You are much more organized than I am. My short scrap lays on the floor beneath my bench. My long satnda against the wall between the refrigerator and the bench. The very long lays on the floor in front of the router table (not well thought out I'll admit but at least I can access the shop)

[flashbacpt]

Chuck,

Seeing the photo of your "organized scraps in the bucket" reminded me that I used to do that myself. The problem grew, in that I ran out of room in the bucket and ran out of buckets for those smaller pieces that one cannot part with.

In a past issue of Wood Magazine, the DEC/January 2004/2005 issue, they had an article of three projects for storing wood. One was a large unit to hold sheet goods on wheels, the second was a small wall shelf unit, and the third was a small scrap unit on wheels.

I built the small scrap unit, and right now I cannot find the pictures that I took of it. But, I will say this........The unit is now overloaded with scraps.

You might like the unit as it is multi purpose in storing all kinds of scraps. The overall dimensions are 14 1/2" wide X 19 3/4" deep X 34 1/4" tall. On the front of the unit, you have 5 shelfs, ranging from 6 3/4" deep to 14 3/4" deep. The back half, for storing longer pieces of wood straight up, also has five "steps", ranging in depth from 6 3/4" to the full 34 1/4" height.

If interested, I will try and find the pictures and post them for you.

Save Those Scraps!
John (FlashbacPT):)

[Ed in Tampa]

Chuck
I would say we apply the same methods. I have overhead storage, wall storage and 5 gallon bucket storage. And from time to time I get overran with scraps.

When I do I do two things.
First tell myself I can't save every piece of wood in the world.
Second I throw some out.

Oh there is a third thing I forgot to mention.
Third I look all over my shop for the piece of wood I need that I know I have since I saw it yesterday. Then I remember I threw it out

My biggest frustration is cutting a piece off a 8ft stock or out of a 4/8 sheet only to stumble upon a piece I had already had in scrap pile.

I'm learning to solve that problem to. Now I don't ever look at my scrap pile then I can't make myself miserable realizing I just cut a 4x8 sheet up or my trophy 8 footer to get the piece I already had.

Denial that is the word I was looking for!!!
Ed

[seajay62]

Chuck,

You know that no matter what size container you use, eventually it will become filled. You need to have projects that use scraps. The others have provided some ideas and I'm sure you can search the web to find other ideas. My library system has an older book called "Scrap wood fun for kids : 100 easy-to-make projects for boys and girls" by Endicott, Robert F. It, or a book like it, also may have some ideas for you.

The key is to continually find projects that you can use the scraps. Even many manufacturers use scraps to make larger boards. You have shown us your ability to make finger joints. So as Bob has suggested, make up larger boards from the scraps to use in a project. Otherwise, as stated earlier, the scraps will continue to pile up. Of course, the other alternative is to get rid of your "extra" scraps but most of can't seem to do that. Good luck on this one and I'll be reading to see if someone comes up with good scrap wood projects.

[beeg]

Chuck

You could always just use them up, to clear them out. Ever hear of "Toys for Tots".

[dusty]

is my lack of self discipline.

If my shop was kept as a wood shop, I would be most satisfied but it is NOT. Mostly it becomes storage (all be it short term) for everything under the sun much of which is not mine.

charlese; Your wood storage methods and self discipline are to be envied. I believe you have an excellent system for a home workshop and the same principles could be applied on a large scale to a professional work area.

Now I use the bucket method too but I find that some how the buckets do not always contain items of similar description (like golf club handles, tent poles, pvc cutoffs, pipe clamps, broom handles, etc).

There may be a light at the end of the tunnel though. SWMBO has recently said she was going to have a garage sale and get rid of all that stuff she has out in the shed. If she does that, there will be a lot of open space in that shed ........ I know you can see where I am headed. Christmas decorations and yard/garden tools can not take up all that much space.

[charlese]

Thanks for the very good suggestions!:D I'll certainly consider each one!

One correction to clarify the first two photos. They didn't show what they really are - and looked like buckets, and I failed to explain.

The round yellow storage containers you see are actually sliced off pieces of a concrete form - about 12" diameter. (from Home Depot) They are hung from the rafters with plumbers metal tape. They have been divided into quarters with slotted plywood dividers.

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