What is your definition of "scrap"? And at what point in time does it fit in that catagory? (Thanks to Colin for this one.) **Rules** There is no minimum post requirement, Leprechauns, missplaced texans, stoopid monkeys and Minesootans are welcome to post an answer. And of course the and brink too...
If I can’t get at least a pen blank or stopper blank, it’s scrap. For really plain wood, I’ll burn larger stuff too. The pen and stopper blanks make great filler when trading with WB members!
When it becomes too small for any use that I have and or it has set in the scrap bin for 10 or more years , then it may be come scrap. Just sold some fire wood and told the guy I had a couple boxes of kindling he could have. I had to sort through the the boxes first and sure enough there was some stuff I had to keep for awhile longer.
I used to keep almost anything that was pen blank sized, smaller than that even for really figured stuff for "Just in case" Right now with the downsizing and putting the business on standby it's gotten tot he point I'm looking it it and asking- Will I ever use it? Is it figured enough to justify? if I can't answer yes to either, into the bin it goes.
I save all little pieces for awhile then I load up some of the better pieces and take to a couple woodturning meeting I belong too. It becomes kindling for those who burn wood.
My definition has changed over the years. When I was in my prime, anything that had a major defect and not usable for furniture parts, I put in my firewood pile. Since retiring from the business world and starting to make home decor items last year, I discovered that people now want to buy wormy wood, knots, cracks, and wooden items that look rustic. This is the exact opposite of my thoughts over the years. I had a lady in CA who has a collection of crystals and was looking for rustic display bases. Nothing I had in my shop was rustic enough for her so I dug through a large pile destined for the fireplace and found a really crappy piece of American chestnut. She loved it. Here's a couple of photos she sent. I've also sold many boxes of small cut-0ffs down to just a few inches long to crafters who turn them into all kinds of small items. Now I don't burn anything except bark and even that can be sold as packets of material for potpourri. Heck, there are even guys selling boxes of sawdust on Etsy. People are buying them to make fire-starter candles. To make a long story longer, I have no idea what scrap is.
scrap is an ever changing term relative to the size of woodpile. a pen turner with 10 full blanks and some partial -scrap is only chips. someone with tons of wood- scrap has a whole different definition
When all the piles of wood everywhere get on my last nerve I finally snap throw it all in boxes and take it to a friends house and say burn it! Then I start all over again. But that is usually just plain grain wood, the figured and exotics I seem to save forever. So for me it becomes scrap when it's in my way and I have no place to put anything else.
My idea of scrap seems to be getting worse as I get older. I used to keep pen blank sized pieces to use as packing peanuts for others, anything smaller went in the burn pile. Now I can't seem to throw hardly anything out because I can use a 1" square chunk for a fan pull, keychain, etc. Dam y'all for making me get into turning!!!!!!!
You would be amazed at how good Kingwood works for fire starter- that oil in it and coco really burns good.....
Not to mention Burmese teak and that crappy old Brazilian Rosewood. And it puts off a wonderful fragrance as it burns.
Here's another piece I dug out of the burn pile and sold for $10 on Etsy. And the plant was not included. Amazing what my burn pile is worth.
Wait ‘til I tell his better half that he’s driving all of the place buying exotics by the trailer full, paying to have it milled, and then burning it! Of course, I’m open to bribes...
