Hi all,
I've got quite a bit of offcuts around the shop gathering dust. It's
hearthbreaking to throw them away since they're coming from nice
pieces of wood. Unfortunately they're not big enough to be used on
regular projects but they're still big enough to be workable into
something and I still see some significant $$$ value in them... If
SWMBO see this in the trash can I'm good for a fight.
What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
Wally
Management of wood cut-offs is a relatively simple process.
First, you need to sort and store by species.
Secondly, you should sort by size and thickness.
Third, as needed, toss into woodburner. The pieces too large for the woodburner probably shouldn't have been in the scrap pile.
I hope this helps.
--
Al Reid
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know
for sure that just ain't so." --- Mark Twain
"Wally" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> I've got quite a bit of offcuts around the shop gathering dust. It's
> hearthbreaking to throw them away since they're coming from nice
> pieces of wood. Unfortunately they're not big enough to be used on
> regular projects but they're still big enough to be workable into
> something and I still see some significant $$$ value in them... If
> SWMBO see this in the trash can I'm good for a fight.
>
> What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
> something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
>
> Wally
>
Wally <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hi all,
>
> I've got quite a bit of offcuts around the shop gathering dust. It's
> hearthbreaking to throw them away since they're coming from nice
> pieces of wood. Unfortunately they're not big enough to be used on
> regular projects but they're still big enough to be workable into
> something and I still see some significant $$$ value in them... If
> SWMBO see this in the trash can I'm good for a fight.
>
> What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
> something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
I use mine for intarsia ... or, I should say, my
rationaliz^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hjustification for saving small offcuts
is that they would be useful for doing intarsia. SO far I've only
managed to do a couple of simple intarsia projects.
I have a shelf for pieces of exotics or exceptional figured woods
that are large enough to make small boxes or be panels for boxtops.
If they get too small for that, I store them in one of two Rubbermaid
bins. The first one is for pieces that I see as having some real
value, and the second is for wood to go in the outdoor firepit or
barbeque. I periodically sort through the first bin and move stuff
from there to the firewood bin.
It's amazing how scraps that seemed vaulable at one time don't look
like much when they're filling up the bin to the point of overflowing.
I also keep one of those big plastic "painter's buckets" nearby and
toss long thin scraps in that. They usually wind up as firewood or
barbeque wood.
Chuck Vance
-
"Todd Fatheree" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> I think an interesting project, if you cook with charcoal, would be to
make
> your own charcoal out of the scraps. I believe I remember someone posting
a
> link to some information about it here quite a while ago. If anyone
reading
> this is knowledgeable about it, are there any hardwoods you would not use?
> My guess is that pretty much everything (at least North American
hardwoods)
> is fair game because by the time you're done, you've pretty much just got
> carbon.
>
> todd
Here is some information as to types:
Most common, in alphabetical order:
Apple/Pear, ash, beech, birch, butternut/walnut, cherry, hickory/pecan,
maple, oak.
Regional and miscellaneous:
Mesquite, alder, citrus, any edible fruit, nut or berry, persimmon,
sassafras, gum, pimiento, grape leaves and vines, hackberry, elm, chestnut,
bay.
Questionable:
China berry/mahogany, Osage orange, teak, tung, madrone, buckeye
Definitely don't.
Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, Oleander, pine and other resinous woods.
I've used a similar method with good results.
How to make Charcoal
Hello fellow smoker/bbq/grillers!
Here is the recipe, as requested, to make your own Lump Wood Charcoal
(thereby saving yourself tons of cash, and successfully robbing the
"Kingsford Mafia"..)
To make 30-40 lb of charcoal, you will need: A clean 55 gallon metal drum
with the lid cut off roughly (you will be able to reuse this drum many, many
times)
Enough seasoned wood to fill said drum, chopped into big fist-size pieces
(ok, say 5"x5", and the wood just needs to be a couple months seasoned,
although the dryer the wood, the faster the process..)
A bag of sand
3 or 4 bricks
A case of beer(optional)
Time and patience
Start by punching/cutting 5 holes in the bottom of the drum which are each
2" square. Try to keep them towards the center. Put the drum down on the
bricks, placed so it is off the ground and fill it with the wood.
Start a fire in the drum. When it is going well, put the top back on to
reflect back the heat. Since it was cut off roughly, there will be slight
gaps to allow the a draft. Now, turn the whole thing over, placing it back
onto the bricks. (This is where you might need the case of beer to convince
several men to help you lift the sucker. It will be heavy. And mind the lid
doesn't fall off!) Wait, consuming the beer as necessary.
The smoke will start out white. This is the water vapor burning off. Next
the smoke will go blue/gray which is the alcohol and phenols burning off.
Then the smoke appears yellow, which is the tar burning off.
Finally the smoke will clear and you will just see waves of heat. When this
happens, Carefully remove the bricks out from underneath. Take the sand and
make a pile around the bottom lid, plugging up the bottom draft. Also, cover
the top with either a piece of turf or a large piece of metal. Use the sand
to seal around the turf/metal so no air can get into the drum. We are trying
for a closed system here. If air/oxygen/fire-fuel DOES get into the drum,
the charcoal will just burn up. Not what we want. Also, try not to let the
sand fall down into the drum through the holes.
Allow the drum to cool (2-3 hours). Then turn back over, pry off the top and
remove your charcoal. If there is a spark, the charcoal may "catch", but
just douse it with some water. The charcoal will still be hot enough to dry
out. Repeat above process as necessary.
Thanks to my Bodger brother-in-law, Don Whiting, who taught me how to do
this.
(P.S. A "bodger" is a pole-lathe wood turner. He makes nifty besoms as
well...)
Best of luck to you all with the above process.
"J T" <[email protected]> wrote in message
check. I think you'll be happier with either of these. Then you can
drink your beer while lounging and watching your charcoal being made,
instead of getting beered up to do some totally uncalled for work.
http://www.velvitoil.com/Charmake.htm
http://64.176.180.203/charcoalretort.htm
Actualy, I've helped Dan make charcoal. It is a simpler method than the one
I posted. Hey, it was early in the morning when I lookedit up. I've been
to Dan's place a couple of times for his shindigs.
Fri, Jul 9, 2004, 9:38am (EDT+4) [email protected] (Edwin=A0Pawlowski) says:
<snip> How to make Charcoal <snip>
Crap Ed, me and the Woodworking Gods both figure you'd best fire
that brother-in-law. All that work, just to drink some beer? The man
has a SERIOUS problem, and it might be contagious.
We took pity on you, and I plucked a couple of my old links out of
the archives. There's still at least one more in there, if you want to
check. I think you'll be happier with either of these. Then you can
drink your beer while lounging and watching your charcoal being made,
instead of getting beered up to do some totally uncalled for work.
http://www.velvitoil.com/Charmake.htm
http://64.176.180.203/charcoalretort.htm
You can hook up a small tube to a barrel with a clamp-on top, laid
on it's side, and running under. Have it off the ground a bit, fill it
with wood, close it, build a fire under. After a bit, the combustion
gas will start flowing out of the tube, and sustain the fire. When the
fire goes out, it's charcoal. Highly recommended to let it cool before
you open it.
The Woodworking Gods say not to tell the brother-in-law about any
of this, and to ask him to make you a bunch of charcoal.
Work! What'll you guys think of next?
JOAT
What we see depends mainly on what we look for.
- Sir John Lubbock
On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 21:13:26 -0400, Wally <[email protected]> vaguely
proposed a theory
......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email
I put them carefully in a big box for later use, where the termites
get to them within a couple of months. Sometimes I sft threough them
and get bitten by a spider.
>Hi all,
>
>I've got quite a bit of offcuts around the shop gathering dust. It's
>hearthbreaking to throw them away since they're coming from nice
>pieces of wood. Unfortunately they're not big enough to be used on
>regular projects but they're still big enough to be workable into
>something and I still see some significant $$$ value in them... If
>SWMBO see this in the trash can I'm good for a fight.
>
>What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
>something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
>
>Wally
"Todd Fatheree" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I think an interesting project, if you cook with charcoal, would be to make
> your own charcoal out of the scraps.
Charcoal making is a great laugh, but it's a huge-scale process. It
just doesn't work in small quantities. There are people who've done
burns in 40 gallon oil drums, but the wastage gets really high on a
small burn.
If you're trying to gain experience of all aspects of woodworking,
it's a nice idea to find someone in a local coppice who is running a
charcoal burning demonstration or course, often in coombination with
some green woodworking event or re-enactor show.
On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 21:13:26 -0400, Wally <[email protected]> wrote:
>What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
>something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
<http://www.bburke.com/wood/index.html>
The photo shows something that really pleases my wife.
Barry
Well, in my experience, the first rule of scrap is that no piece of same
will _ever_fit in any subsequent project. It may be used in a project
designed to consume it, however.
I have spent too many hours searching the scrap bin for the a piece of the
right species and dimension to consider it worthwhile to do so for a project
in progress.
"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The universal rule is that as soon as you throw a piece of "scrap" away,
> you'll need it the next day. Besides, there is no such thing as scrap
> hardwood ... just ask any lumber yard/dealer, where most will sell
anything
> of any size.
>
Heat
--
Rumpty
Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Wally" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> I've got quite a bit of offcuts around the shop gathering dust. It's
> hearthbreaking to throw them away since they're coming from nice
> pieces of wood. Unfortunately they're not big enough to be used on
> regular projects but they're still big enough to be workable into
> something and I still see some significant $$$ value in them... If
> SWMBO see this in the trash can I'm good for a fight.
>
> What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
> something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
>
> Wally
>
Finger joint them into boards
make butcher blocks and cutting boards
"Wally" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> I've got quite a bit of offcuts around the shop gathering dust. It's
> hearthbreaking to throw them away since they're coming from nice
> pieces of wood. Unfortunately they're not big enough to be used on
> regular projects but they're still big enough to be workable into
> something and I still see some significant $$$ value in them... If
> SWMBO see this in the trash can I'm good for a fight.
>
> What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
> something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
>
> Wally
>
On 9 Jul 2004 02:37:55 -0700, [email protected] (Andy Dingley)
calmly ranted:
>"Todd Fatheree" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
>> I think an interesting project, if you cook with charcoal, would be to make
>> your own charcoal out of the scraps.
>
>Charcoal making is a great laugh, but it's a huge-scale process. It
>just doesn't work in small quantities. There are people who've done
>burns in 40 gallon oil drums, but the wastage gets really high on a
>small burn.
Talk about an assinine way to add to global air pollution...
-------------------------------------------
Crapsman tools are their own punishment
http://diversify.com Comprehensive Website Design
======================================================
"Wally" wrote in message
> What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
> something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
The universal rule is that as soon as you throw a piece of "scrap" away,
you'll need it the next day. Besides, there is no such thing as scrap
hardwood ... just ask any lumber yard/dealer, where most will sell anything
of any size.
For my purposes, those small pieces that are worth saving for future
projects go into any number of plastic storage boxes with tight fitting lids
that get stored/stacked behind the shop. The rest end up in the bar-barbecue
smoker.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 5/15/04
Thu, Jul 8, 2004, 11:47pm (EDT-1) [email protected] (Swingman) says:
<snip> there is no such thing as scrap <snip>
True, mine goes from big pices of wood, to smaller, and smaller,
pieces of wood, and sawdust, no scrap at all.
JOAT
What we see depends mainly on what we look for.
- Sir John Lubbock
"Wally" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> I've got quite a bit of offcuts around the shop gathering dust. It's
> hearthbreaking to throw them away since they're coming from nice
> pieces of wood.> What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn
them into
> something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
>
> Wally
>
Glad you asked....see my woodscraps site.
http://home.mchsi.com/~lawlhote/
Larry
"Larry Jaques" <novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 9 Jul 2004 02:37:55 -0700, [email protected] (Andy Dingley)
> calmly ranted:
>
> >"Todd Fatheree" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> >
> >> I think an interesting project, if you cook with charcoal, would be to
make
> >> your own charcoal out of the scraps.
> >
> >Charcoal making is a great laugh, but it's a huge-scale process. It
> >just doesn't work in small quantities. There are people who've done
> >burns in 40 gallon oil drums, but the wastage gets really high on a
> >small burn.
>
> Talk about an assinine way to add to global air pollution...
>
>
> -------------------------------------------
> Crapsman tools are their own punishment
> http://diversify.com Comprehensive Website Design
> ======================================================
Well, I don't know about you, but I don't like my steak raw.
todd
Cut them into pen blanks and either use them or sell them on ebay.
Jim
http://www.woodblog.com
My woodworking projects updated daily.
"Wally" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> I've got quite a bit of offcuts around the shop gathering dust. It's
> hearthbreaking to throw them away since they're coming from nice
> pieces of wood. Unfortunately they're not big enough to be used on
> regular projects but they're still big enough to be workable into
> something and I still see some significant $$$ value in them... If
> SWMBO see this in the trash can I'm good for a fight.
>
> What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
> something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
>
> Wally
>
B a r r y wrote:
> On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 16:07:15 -0700, Larry Jaques
> <novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Talk about an assinine way to add to global air pollution...
>
> I was under the impression that burning wood was far different
> pollution wise than fossil fuels.
"different" != "better".
> I may be wrong, but I've seen this stated many times in naturalist
> magazines.
If it's the sort of magazine I'm thinking of take everything you read there
with a large dose of salt.
>
> Barry
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
"Andy Dingley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Todd Fatheree" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
>
> > I think an interesting project, if you cook with charcoal, would be to
make
> > your own charcoal out of the scraps.
>
> Charcoal making is a great laugh, but it's a huge-scale process. It
> just doesn't work in small quantities. There are people who've done
> burns in 40 gallon oil drums, but the wastage gets really high on a
> small burn.
>
> If you're trying to gain experience of all aspects of woodworking,
> it's a nice idea to find someone in a local coppice who is running a
> charcoal burning demonstration or course, often in coombination with
> some green woodworking event or re-enactor show.
Notice that the words "cost-effective" were not included in my post ;-).
todd
In article <[email protected]>, "Leon"
<[email protected]> wrote:
I have just adopted your attitude. I have some rreally nice pieces of
scrap that have been around the shop for 25 years. It has gotten to
where the scrap restricts movement in the shop. I am sure that some
pieces will never be used but they just look nice. There is a 4' piece
1X6 cocobolo that is just a beautiful decoration to the shop. Meantime,
I am eagerly awaiting cold weather to clean out the scrap.
Dick
> So that I don't throw away pieces that I may need in the next few weeks, I
> toss the scraps in a box and if they are still there when fall comes I use
> them to start the fire in the fireplace.
>
>
On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 16:07:15 -0700, Larry Jaques
<novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote:
>Talk about an assinine way to add to global air pollution...
I was under the impression that burning wood was far different
pollution wise than fossil fuels.
I may be wrong, but I've seen this stated many times in naturalist
magazines.
Barry
On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 21:13:26 -0400, Wally <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I've got quite a bit of offcuts around the shop gathering dust. It's
>hearthbreaking to throw them away since they're coming from nice
>pieces of wood. Unfortunately they're not big enough to be used on
>regular projects but they're still big enough to be workable into
>something and I still see some significant $$$ value in them... If
>SWMBO see this in the trash can I'm good for a fight.
>
>What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
>something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
>
>Wally
How about donating them to a Senior Center that offers woodworking?
Stinky
Wally wrote:
> I've got quite a bit of offcuts around the shop gathering
> dust.
<snip>
> What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them
> into something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
Look around the kitchen for ideas - there're lots of possibilities.
Consider /tiny/ jewelery boxes to hold single items or a set/pair
of anything (earrings, for example). Consider presenting them
with something new inside (fun even if it's just a crystal or
piece of costume jewelery).
Got kids? How about a framed photo collage of the kids' pictures
- or a matched set of frames to hold pictures of everyone in the
family?
How about mixing contrasting woods to make one of a kind
serving/snack trays?
Think about what your SWMBO does and come up with something to
make that more fun and/or provide recognition.
Does she collect anything? If so, you might consider something to
display the best of her collection to particular advantage...
HTH
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto, Iowa USA
"Wally" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
> something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
>
> Wally
Barbecue. I give some way to others for making barbecue or smoking meat.
Soft woods go into a box and when full, it goes down to the curb with a
"Free Kindling" sign on it.
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
"Wally" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> I've got quite a bit of offcuts around the shop gathering dust. It's
> hearthbreaking to throw them away since they're coming from nice
> pieces of wood. Unfortunately they're not big enough to be used on
> regular projects but they're still big enough to be workable into
> something and I still see some significant $$$ value in them... If
> SWMBO see this in the trash can I'm good for a fight.
>
> What are you doing with your extras? I'm looking to turn them into
> something useful or a quick project to please SWMBO.
>
> Wally
I think an interesting project, if you cook with charcoal, would be to make
your own charcoal out of the scraps. I believe I remember someone posting a
link to some information about it here quite a while ago. If anyone reading
this is knowledgeable about it, are there any hardwoods you would not use?
My guess is that pretty much everything (at least North American hardwoods)
is fair game because by the time you're done, you've pretty much just got
carbon.
todd
Thu, Jul 8, 2004, 10:52pm (EDT-1) [email protected]
(Todd=A0Fatheree) says:
<snip> I believe I remember someone posting a link to some information
about it here quite a while ago.
Posted some, can do a archives search using JOAT aand charcoal, or
just do a google, and probably find a buch more.
If anyone reading this is knowledgeable about it, are there any
hardwoods you would not use? <snip>
I'd say do some research first, before using any wood you're not
sure about.
JOAT
What we see depends mainly on what we look for.
- Sir John Lubbock