Sawdust

On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:01:40 +0000, Puckdropper wrote:

> While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think.
> (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) So, while shoveling
> pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for i

Before the innovation of ground foam, dyed sawdust was used to mimic
grass and weeds for model railroads and dioramas.

--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw

Larry Blanchard <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:01:40 +0000, Puckdropper wrote:
>
>> While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think.
>> (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) So, while shoveling
>> pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses
>> for i
>
> Before the innovation of ground foam, dyed sawdust was used to mimic
> grass and weeds for model railroads and dioramas.
>

I had forgotten about that. You'd need a sifter, but it would probably
be a good use for it. At one time, I thought about using sawdust to
represent corn loads, but they don't ship corn very far in open hoppers.

Puckdropper
--
"The potential difference between the top and bottom of a tree is the
reason why all trees have to be grounded..." -- Bored Borg on
rec.woodworking

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

In article <[email protected]>, BillGill
<[email protected]> wrote:

> For making fire starters you mix it with paraffin wax. Fill a muffin
> pan with the mixture and let it set, or do it in muffin papers.

Or cardboard egg cartons...

"Puckdropper" <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think.
> (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) So, while
> shoveling
> pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses
> for
> it.
>
> Could the sawdust be glued and pressed to make particle board?
> It's got
> irregular shapes, and it's not all the same species. Here's a get
> rich
> slowly scheme... Drive to neighborhood shops and collect the
> sawdust from
> them. Then make boards. I know I had at least a 1x12x3' worth of
> sawdust under the saw. It only took 4 months.
>
> About that press... Most people have something that weighs a
> couple tons
> in their own driveway. Maybe a car could be used to run over the
> boards
> a couple times to pack it nice and tight. (Or make a really heavy
> man
> hopping mad?)
>
> How about using it for fire starting? I know it won't burn well
> by
> itself (the top layer burns, but the bottom layer gets choked
> out.) A
> little sawdust, some alcohol, and some pressure, and you've got a
> free
> fire starter right?
>
> Well at least it's something to think about next time you're
> sweeping up
> the shop.
>
> Happy sawdust making,
>
> Puckdropper
> --
> "The potential difference between the top and bottom of a tree is
> the
> reason why all trees have to be grounded..." -- Bored Borg on
> rec.woodworking
>
> To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at)
> fastmail.fm

Exactly the basic stuff used to maufacture charcoal briquets,
Add a little glue and coal dust for color.
Mold it, dry it, bag it, and ship it.
Bob-tx

On Sep 15, 11:07=A0am, "basilisk" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Puckdropper" <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...
>
>
>
>
>
> > While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think.
> > (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) =A0So, while shoveling
> > pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for
> > it.
>
> > Could the sawdust be glued and pressed to make particle board? =A0It's =
got
> > irregular shapes, and it's not all the same species. =A0Here's a get ri=
ch
> > slowly scheme... Drive to neighborhood shops and collect the sawdust fr=
om
> > them. =A0Then make boards. =A0I know I had at least a 1x12x3' worth of
> > sawdust under the saw. =A0It only took 4 months.
>
> > About that press... Most people have something that weighs a couple ton=
s
> > in their own driveway. =A0Maybe a car could be used to run over the boa=
rds
> > a couple times to pack it nice and tight. =A0(Or make a really heavy ma=
n
> > hopping mad?)
>
> > How about using it for fire starting? =A0I know it won't burn well by
> > itself (the top layer burns, but the bottom layer gets choked out.) =A0=
A
> > little sawdust, some alcohol, and some pressure, and you've got a free
> > fire starter right?
>
> > Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping u=
p
> > the shop.
>
> > Happy sawdust making,
>
> Or do this with it.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DIvPL7KC1DEA
>

That only works if you use PVC for dust collection...

On Sep 15, 8:01=A0am, "Joe" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "RonB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:a1179d62-5a01-4091-a718-67b502405a43@m11g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
> On Sep 15, 4:01 am, Puckdropper <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think.
> > (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) So, while shoveling
> > pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for
> > it.
>
> > Could the sawdust be glued and pressed to make particle board? It's got
> > irregular shapes, and it's not all the same species. Here's a get rich
> > slowly scheme... Drive to neighborhood shops and collect the sawdust fr=
om
> > them. Then make boards. I know I had at least a 1x12x3' worth of
> > sawdust under the saw. It only took 4 months.
>
> > About that press... Most people have something that weighs a couple ton=
s
> > in their own driveway. Maybe a car could be used to run over the boards
> > a couple times to pack it nice and tight. (Or make a really heavy man
> > hopping mad?)
>
> > How about using it for fire starting? I know it won't burn well by
> > itself (the top layer burns, but the bottom layer gets choked out.) A
> > little sawdust, some alcohol, and some pressure, and you've got a free
> > fire starter right?
>
> > Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping u=
p
> > the shop.
>
> We looked into using sawdust, especially planer chips for mulch a year
> or so ago. =A0Several extension services were not big on sawdust because
> it doesn't provide much soil nutrition as it breaks down. =A0It also
> tends to attract termites. =A0However, they did suggest trowing an inch
> or two between layers in a compost bin. =A0It would add bulk and absorb
> some of the nutrients from the surrounding compost matter during
> decomposition.
>
> RonB
>
> I've read that you compost it until it turns grey, *then* add it to your
> garden, beds, whatever. =A0Something about the initial decompostion proce=
ss
> actually leaching the nutrients out of the soil if you don't compost it
> first?

The sawdust leaches nitrogen until it is composted. So the idea is to
add nitrogen.

I use it in a pee bucket in the shop. Put some sawdust at the bottom
of the bucket, add a few handfuls every time you take a leak. Does not
smell and urine adds nitrogen. Into the compost bin when it's full.
This idea came from Doug Stowe here on the Wreck many years ago.

I also mix it with grass clippings in the compost bin. Works really
well in creating nice compost rather than a smelly mat.

Luigi

On Sep 15, 5:01=A0am, Puckdropper <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
> While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think. =A0
> (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) =A0So, while shoveling
> pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for
> it.
>
> Could the sawdust be glued and pressed to make particle board? =A0It's go=
t
> irregular shapes, and it's not all the same species. =A0Here's a get rich
> slowly scheme... Drive to neighborhood shops and collect the sawdust from
> them. =A0Then make boards. =A0I know I had at least a 1x12x3' worth of
> sawdust under the saw. =A0It only took 4 months.
>
> About that press... Most people have something that weighs a couple tons
> in their own driveway. =A0Maybe a car could be used to run over the board=
s
> a couple times to pack it nice and tight. =A0(Or make a really heavy man
> hopping mad?)
>
> How about using it for fire starting? =A0I know it won't burn well by
> itself (the top layer burns, but the bottom layer gets choked out.) =A0A
> little sawdust, some alcohol, and some pressure, and you've got a free
> fire starter right?
>
> Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping up
> the shop.
>
> Happy sawdust making,
>
> Puckdropper
> --
> "The potential difference between the top and bottom of a tree is the
> reason why all trees have to be grounded..." -- Bored Borg on
> rec.woodworking
>
> To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

I use it for the occasional accident while changing the oil. The rest
goes to a guy I know who does auto repair work in his garage.

On Sep 15, 4:01=A0am, Puckdropper <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
> While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think. =A0
> (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) =A0So, while shoveling
> pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for
> it.
>
How about putting it in your car/truck?
From the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory -
"Production of Gasoline and Diesel from Biomass via Fast Pyrolysis,
Hydrotreating and Hydrocracking: A Design Case"
http://www.pnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-18284.=
pdf
The "biomass" in the report is wood (poplar) chips.

On 15 Sep 2009 09:01:40 GMT, Puckdropper
<puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:

>While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think.
>(Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) So, while shoveling
>pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for
>it.
>
>Could the sawdust be glued and pressed to make particle board? It's got
>irregular shapes, and it's not all the same species. Here's a get rich
>slowly scheme... Drive to neighborhood shops and collect the sawdust from
>them. Then make boards. I know I had at least a 1x12x3' worth of
>sawdust under the saw. It only took 4 months.
>
>About that press... Most people have something that weighs a couple tons
>in their own driveway. Maybe a car could be used to run over the boards
>a couple times to pack it nice and tight. (Or make a really heavy man
>hopping mad?)
>
>How about using it for fire starting? I know it won't burn well by
>itself (the top layer burns, but the bottom layer gets choked out.) A
>little sawdust, some alcohol, and some pressure, and you've got a free
>fire starter right?
>
>Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping up
>the shop.
>
>Happy sawdust making,
>
>Puckdropper


When I get enough sawdust I make a heap in the backyard where it sits
for a year, turns gray and reduces in volume. Then I use to mulch my
blueberries.

"Puckdropper" <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote >

> Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping up
> the shop.
>
> Happy sawdust making,

At http://tinyurl.com/bwlxby there's a compilation I made several years ago
of contributions to a thread on this topic.

Happy sweeping!

Jeff

--
Jeff Gorman, West Yorkshire, UK
email : Username is amgron
ISP is clara.co.uk
www.amgron.clara.net


>
> Puckdropper
> --
> "The potential difference between the top and bottom of a tree is the
> reason why all trees have to be grounded..." -- Bored Borg on
> rec.woodworking
>
> To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

Puckdropper wrote:
> While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think.
> (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) So, while shoveling
> pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for
> it.
>
> Could the sawdust be glued and pressed to make particle board? It's got
> irregular shapes, and it's not all the same species. Here's a get rich
> slowly scheme... Drive to neighborhood shops and collect the sawdust from
> them. Then make boards. I know I had at least a 1x12x3' worth of
> sawdust under the saw. It only took 4 months.
>
> About that press... Most people have something that weighs a couple tons
> in their own driveway. Maybe a car could be used to run over the boards
> a couple times to pack it nice and tight. (Or make a really heavy man
> hopping mad?)
>
> How about using it for fire starting? I know it won't burn well by
> itself (the top layer burns, but the bottom layer gets choked out.) A
> little sawdust, some alcohol, and some pressure, and you've got a free
> fire starter right?
>
> Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping up
> the shop.
>
> Happy sawdust making,
>
> Puckdropper
For making fire starters you mix it with paraffin wax. Fill a muffin
pan with the mixture and let it set, or do it in muffin papers.

Bill

On Sep 15, 4:01=A0am, Puckdropper <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
> While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think. =A0
> (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) =A0So, while shoveling
> pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for
> it.
>
> Could the sawdust be glued and pressed to make particle board? =A0It's go=
t
> irregular shapes, and it's not all the same species. =A0Here's a get rich
> slowly scheme... Drive to neighborhood shops and collect the sawdust from
> them. =A0Then make boards. =A0I know I had at least a 1x12x3' worth of
> sawdust under the saw. =A0It only took 4 months.
>
> About that press... Most people have something that weighs a couple tons
> in their own driveway. =A0Maybe a car could be used to run over the board=
s
> a couple times to pack it nice and tight. =A0(Or make a really heavy man
> hopping mad?)
>
> How about using it for fire starting? =A0I know it won't burn well by
> itself (the top layer burns, but the bottom layer gets choked out.) =A0A
> little sawdust, some alcohol, and some pressure, and you've got a free
> fire starter right?
>
> Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping up
> the shop.
>

We looked into using sawdust, especially planer chips for mulch a year
or so ago. Several extension services were not big on sawdust because
it doesn't provide much soil nutrition as it breaks down. It also
tends to attract termites. However, they did suggest trowing an inch
or two between layers in a compost bin. It would add bulk and absorb
some of the nutrients from the surrounding compost matter during
decomposition.

RonB

On Sep 15, 9:53=A0am, Nova <[email protected]> wrote:
> Luigi Zanasi wrote:
> >> I use it in a pee bucket in the shop. Put some sawdust at the bottom
> >> of the bucket, add a few handfuls every time you take a leak.
>
> Luigi, are you trying to resurrect the pee/sawdust/mulch thread from
> back in 1998? ;-)

Who?? Me???? Never!!!

Luigi

On Sep 15, 9:29=A0am, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> Luigi Zanasi wrote:
> > I use it in a pee bucket in the shop. Put some sawdust at the bottom
> > of the bucket, add a few handfuls every time you take a leak.
>
> How many handfuls for number 2?

Can't you read?? PEE bucket.

What you want is a composting toilet.

On Sep 15, 11:37=A0am, Dave Balderstone
<dave@N_O_T_T_H_I_Sbalderstone.ca> wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, BillGill
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> > For making fire starters you mix it with paraffin wax. =A0Fill a muffin
> > pan with the mixture and let it set, or do it in muffin papers.
>
> Or cardboard egg cartons...

Or pound a wax coated milk carton full of saw dust. Makes for an
excellent firelog.

On Sep 15, 9:48=A0am, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> Luigi Zanasi wrote:
> > On Sep 15, 9:29 am, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> Luigi Zanasi wrote:
> >>> I use it in a pee bucket in the shop. Put some sawdust at the bottom
> >>> of the bucket, add a few handfuls every time you take a leak.
> >> How many handfuls for number 2?
>
> > Can't you read?? PEE bucket.
>
> > What you want is a composting toilet.
>
> Eaaaeeew-ah. =A0Do those exist?
>
Free plans at http://weblife.org/humanure/chapter8_2.html or
http://www.jenkinspublishing.com/sawdustoilet.html. This is on topic
as they are made of wood and they use sawdust.

And think that if you eat food from China, it has been fertilized
using uncomposted humanure. While your non-organic food in North
America probably used sewage sludge.

So when someone tells you to eat shit, well, you can tell them you
already do. :-)

Luigi

Puckdropper wrote:
> While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think.
> (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) So, while shoveling
> pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for
> it.
>
> Could the sawdust be glued and pressed to make particle board? It's got
> irregular shapes, and it's not all the same species. Here's a get rich
> slowly scheme... Drive to neighborhood shops and collect the sawdust from
> them. Then make boards. I know I had at least a 1x12x3' worth of
> sawdust under the saw. It only took 4 months.
>
> About that press... Most people have something that weighs a couple tons
> in their own driveway. Maybe a car could be used to run over the boards
> a couple times to pack it nice and tight. (Or make a really heavy man
> hopping mad?)
>
> How about using it for fire starting? I know it won't burn well by
> itself (the top layer burns, but the bottom layer gets choked out.) A
> little sawdust, some alcohol, and some pressure, and you've got a free
> fire starter right?
>
> Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping up
> the shop.
>
> Happy sawdust making,
>
> Puckdropper

I am not a pest control expert but was told that saw dust attracts bugs
and insects. They eat the fungus that grows on the saw dust.

I know from experience that cockroaches like saw dust. At one time I
would not bother to clean up the saw dust every time I used the tools.
It accumulated and I got a significant cockroach problem in the shop. I
cleaned up the saw dust and the cockroaches left. I have kept the shop
clean since then.

"Puckdropper" <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think.
> (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) So, while shoveling
> pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for
> it.
>
> Could the sawdust be glued and pressed to make particle board? It's got
> irregular shapes, and it's not all the same species. Here's a get rich
> slowly scheme... Drive to neighborhood shops and collect the sawdust from
> them. Then make boards. I know I had at least a 1x12x3' worth of
> sawdust under the saw. It only took 4 months.
>
> About that press... Most people have something that weighs a couple tons
> in their own driveway. Maybe a car could be used to run over the boards
> a couple times to pack it nice and tight. (Or make a really heavy man
> hopping mad?)
>
> How about using it for fire starting? I know it won't burn well by
> itself (the top layer burns, but the bottom layer gets choked out.) A
> little sawdust, some alcohol, and some pressure, and you've got a free
> fire starter right?
>
> Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping up
> the shop.
>
> Happy sawdust making,
>

Or do this with it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvPL7KC1DEA

basilisk

Seismo R. Malm wrote:

> Start to grow mushrooms. About any hardwood is suitabe and that way you can
> eat your waste.
>
> seismo malm


Caution: I would not consider ANY ideas that involve food if the
"sawdust" contains ANY plywood, MDF or laminate residue. Moreover, I
wouldn't burn such residue and I wouldn't place it anywhere near where
children play. As you probably already know, it's not nice stuff.

Bill

Luigi Zanasi wrote:
> I use it in a pee bucket in the shop. Put some sawdust at the bottom
> of the bucket, add a few handfuls every time you take a leak.

How many handfuls for number 2?


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Luigi Zanasi wrote:
> On Sep 15, 9:29 am, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Luigi Zanasi wrote:
>>> I use it in a pee bucket in the shop. Put some sawdust at the bottom
>>> of the bucket, add a few handfuls every time you take a leak.
>> How many handfuls for number 2?
>
> Can't you read?? PEE bucket.
>
> What you want is a composting toilet.

Eaaaeeew-ah. Do those exist?


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Nova wrote:
> Luigi Zanasi wrote:
>
>>> I use it in a pee bucket in the shop. Put some sawdust at the bottom
>>> of the bucket, add a few handfuls every time you take a leak.
>
> Luigi, are you trying to resurrect the pee/sawdust/mulch thread from
> back in 1998? ;-)
>
A pee bucket thread would be before I joined the group. I joined just
before and read all about using dead cats as push sticks.

Either is better than a bunch of liberals whining how bad President Bush
was.

"Jeff Gorman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Puckdropper" <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote >
>
>> Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping up
>> the shop.
>>
>> Happy sawdust making,
>
> At http://tinyurl.com/bwlxby there's a compilation I made several years
> ago of contributions to a thread on this topic.
>
> Happy sweeping!
>
> Jeff
>

Nice compilation! I especially like the 'take your sawdust for a drive in
your pickup' one.

On 2009-09-15, Puckdropper <puckdropper> wrote:
> While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think.
> (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) So, while shoveling
> pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for
> it.
>
> Could the sawdust be glued and pressed to make particle board? It's got
> irregular shapes, and it's not all the same species. Here's a get rich
> slowly scheme... Drive to neighborhood shops and collect the sawdust from
> them. Then make boards. I know I had at least a 1x12x3' worth of
> sawdust under the saw. It only took 4 months.
>
> About that press... Most people have something that weighs a couple tons
> in their own driveway. Maybe a car could be used to run over the boards
> a couple times to pack it nice and tight. (Or make a really heavy man
> hopping mad?)
>
> How about using it for fire starting? I know it won't burn well by
> itself (the top layer burns, but the bottom layer gets choked out.) A
> little sawdust, some alcohol, and some pressure, and you've got a free
> fire starter right?
>
> Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping up
> the shop.
>
> Happy sawdust making,
>
> Puckdropper

Start to grow mushrooms. About any hardwood is suitabe and that way you can
eat your waste.

seismo malm

Luigi Zanasi wrote:

>> I use it in a pee bucket in the shop. Put some sawdust at the bottom
>> of the bucket, add a few handfuls every time you take a leak.

Luigi, are you trying to resurrect the pee/sawdust/mulch thread from
back in 1998? ;-)

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]

"RonB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:a1179d62-5a01-4091-a718-67b502405a43@m11g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
On Sep 15, 4:01 am, Puckdropper <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
> While cleaning up the shop today, I had a bunch of time to think.
> (Sweeping requires very little mental activity.) So, while shoveling
> pilefuls of saw dust into a bucket, I started to wonder about uses for
> it.
>
> Could the sawdust be glued and pressed to make particle board? It's got
> irregular shapes, and it's not all the same species. Here's a get rich
> slowly scheme... Drive to neighborhood shops and collect the sawdust from
> them. Then make boards. I know I had at least a 1x12x3' worth of
> sawdust under the saw. It only took 4 months.
>
> About that press... Most people have something that weighs a couple tons
> in their own driveway. Maybe a car could be used to run over the boards
> a couple times to pack it nice and tight. (Or make a really heavy man
> hopping mad?)
>
> How about using it for fire starting? I know it won't burn well by
> itself (the top layer burns, but the bottom layer gets choked out.) A
> little sawdust, some alcohol, and some pressure, and you've got a free
> fire starter right?
>
> Well at least it's something to think about next time you're sweeping up
> the shop.
>

We looked into using sawdust, especially planer chips for mulch a year
or so ago. Several extension services were not big on sawdust because
it doesn't provide much soil nutrition as it breaks down. It also
tends to attract termites. However, they did suggest trowing an inch
or two between layers in a compost bin. It would add bulk and absorb
some of the nutrients from the surrounding compost matter during
decomposition.

RonB

I've read that you compost it until it turns grey, *then* add it to your
garden, beds, whatever. Something about the initial decompostion process
actually leaching the nutrients out of the soil if you don't compost it
first?

<Insert all available disclaimers here>

jc