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Woodworking enthusiasts often find themselves accumulating a large pile of scrap wood. While larger scraps may find a home in future furniture projects, smaller pieces can quickly become a messy pile that is difficult to navigate. In this article, we will explore the purposeful use of seemingly useless scraps and how they can be transformed into valuable tools and jigs.
From creating squares and panel gauges to producing perfectly matched plugs and pegs, even the tiniest scraps can find a purpose in the woodshop. By utilizing scraps as glue calls, inlays, wedges, and bench hooks, woodworkers can maximize the potential of their scrap wood collection and minimize waste. Join us as we delve into the importance of scrap wood and the many ways it can be transformed into useful tools and jigs.
Key Takeaways
- Scrap wood can be transformed into valuable tools and jigs.
- Purposeful use of seemingly useless scraps can minimize waste in the woodshop.
- Utilizing scraps as glue calls, inlays, wedges, and bench hooks can maximize the potential of scrap wood.
The Importance of Scrap Wood
Scrap wood may seem like useless clutter that can accumulate in a woodworker’s shop, but it can actually be a valuable resource. In this section, we will explore some purposeful ways to use seemingly pointless scraps.
One of the most obvious and useful solutions is to use small scraps to create squares, miter squares, panel gauges, and other measuring aids. These tools can be made by combining different types of scrap wood, such as a block of red oak, a block of teak, and a couple of pieces of holly.
Scrap wood can also be used to create tools and jigs, such as a stair saw or a turning saw. Additionally, small scraps can be used to make pinch sticks, which are used to capture interior dimensions of projects like cabinets.
Even seemingly worthless scraps can be repurposed into valuable shop tools. For instance, a small off-cut piece can be cut into individual pieces, drilled with holes, and screwed to the underside of a tabletop to create hardwood buttons that provide an expansion and contraction solution for your average table.
Straight grain lumber scraps can be used to make pegs for joinery, while soft pine scraps can be used to make glue calls. Holly scraps can be planed down and cut into thinner strips for use as stringing inlay in federal style projects.
In conclusion, scrap wood should not be considered useless clutter in a woodworker’s shop. With a little creativity and ingenuity, even the smallest scraps can be repurposed into valuable tools and resources.
Creating Squares from Scraps
Woodworkers often find themselves accumulating a pile of small scraps that can quickly turn into a messy pile. However, these seemingly useless scraps can be repurposed into useful tools and jigs for future projects.
One of the most obvious and useful solutions is creating squares. By combining small pieces of scrap wood, woodworkers can create squares that can be used in a variety of projects. These squares can be made in different sizes and shapes, including miter squares, layout squares, and panel gauges.
Woodworkers can also get creative and use small pieces of scrap wood to create other tools and jigs, such as stair saws, turning saws, and pinch sticks for capturing interior dimensions of projects.
In addition to tools and jigs, scrap wood can also be repurposed into obscure items such as hardwood buttons. Woodworkers can take small pieces of scrap wood, cut a rabbet on one end, and cross-cut it into individual pieces. They can then drill holes in these pieces, insert screws, and create buttons that can be used to fill up holes in tabletops.
Even seemingly useless scraps, such as straight-grain lumber, can be repurposed into valuable structural joinery tools. Woodworkers can cut long strips of scrap wood into smaller pieces, drive them through a dowel plate, and create pegs that can be used for drawbore pegs or plain old regular pegs.
Scrap wood can also be repurposed into useful glue calls by adding packing tape to a piece of scrap wood. This can be used to clamp together panels, dovetail cases, and other projects.
Overall, scrap wood can be repurposed into a variety of useful tools and jigs for future woodworking projects. By getting creative and thinking outside the box, woodworkers can turn their scrap pile into a valuable resource in their woodshop.
Building Tools and Jigs
As a woodworker, it’s common to accumulate a pile of scrap wood that can quickly become unmanageable. However, even seemingly useless scraps can be repurposed into useful tools and jigs.
One of the most obvious solutions is to use small scraps to create squares, miter squares, panel gauges, and other measuring aids. These can be made by combining small pieces of different types of wood to form a functional tool.
Another useful application for small scraps is to create pegs, which can be used for joinery. By driving small pieces of straight-grain lumber through a dowel plate, one can quickly create pegs of various sizes and shapes.
Even softwoods like pine can be repurposed into useful tools, such as glue calls. By covering a scrap of pine with packing tape, it can be used to clamp panels together without sticking to the glue.
Bench appliances like joiner saddles and battens can also be made from scrap wood. Joiner saddles can be used to plane octagonal shapes or edge-planing, while battens are useful for holding thin boards in place while planing.
Overall, repurposing scrap wood into useful tools and jigs not only helps to keep the woodshop organized but also saves money and reduces waste.
Making Hardwood Buttons
In woodworking, it is common to accumulate a pile of small scrap wood pieces that seem useless. However, these scraps can be repurposed into useful items. One example is hardwood buttons, which can be used for expansion and contraction solutions in table construction.
To make hardwood buttons, one can take a small piece of scrap wood and cut a rabbet on one end of it. This creates a board with a little rabbit at the end, which can be cross-cut into individual pieces. These individual pieces can then be drilled with holes and screwed to the underside of a tabletop. The buttons ride in a groove in the apron and provide an expansion and contraction solution for the table.
Other than hardwood buttons, there are many other ways to repurpose scrap wood. For instance, small scraps can be used to make squares, miter squares, panel gauges, and larger layout squares. They can also be used to create tools and jigs, such as stair saws and turning saws, or measuring aids like pinch sticks.
Even seemingly useless scraps can find a purpose. For example, straight grain lumber offcuts can be turned into pegs for structural joinery. Soft pine scraps can be used as glue calls, while holly scraps can be planed down and used for stringing inlay. Additionally, small offcuts of ash can be used to make bench hooks, and leftover Douglas fir can be used to make joiner saddles.
In summary, scrap wood can be repurposed into useful items, such as hardwood buttons, squares, tools, and jigs. By finding purposeful uses for seemingly useless scraps, woodworkers can reduce waste and save money on materials.
Creating Perfectly Matched Plugs
In woodworking, small scraps of wood can quickly pile up and become a messy pile. However, these seemingly useless scraps can be repurposed for a variety of purposes, such as creating perfectly matched plugs.
One solution for matching plugs is to use a plug cutter and grab stock that matches the project being worked on. This method ensures that the plugs will perfectly match the wood being used.
Another solution is to repurpose short off-cut pieces by cutting a rabbet on one end and cross-cutting it into individual pieces. These can then be drilled with holes and used as hardwood buttons that can screw to the underside of a tabletop, providing an expansion and contraction solution.
Straight grain lumber off-cuts can also be used to create pegs by driving them through a dowel plate. This seemingly useless scrap can become an incredibly valuable structural joinery tool.
Even softwood scraps, such as cheap big box store pine, can find a use as glue calls. By putting packing tape on the scrap, it can be used to clamp panels together to keep them flat during glue-up.
Other obscure uses for small scraps include creating wedges for wedging leg blanks or tenons by tapering down straight-ish grain wood pieces. These can be quickly formed into shape and cross-cut to the desired length.
Overall, there are many creative ways to repurpose seemingly useless scraps in woodworking, and creating perfectly matched plugs is just one example. By thinking outside the box, woodworkers can save money, reduce waste, and create unique and functional pieces.
Producing Pegs from Scraps
Woodworking often leads to the accumulation of scrap wood, which can quickly turn into a messy pile. However, even the smallest and seemingly useless scraps can find purposeful use in the woodshop.
One of the most obvious and useful solutions for scrap wood is to create squares, miters, panel gauges, and layout squares. These tools and measuring aids can be made from small pieces of scrap wood. Additionally, small pieces of stock can be used to create useful tools and jigs like a stair saw or turning saw. Pinch sticks, used for capturing interior dimensions of projects, can also be made from scrap wood.
Obscure uses for scrap wood include creating hardwood buttons for tabletops, perfectly matched plugs for screws and metal fasteners, and pegs for joinery. Straight grain lumber, which may seem boring for projects like pen blanks, can be used to create incredibly valuable structural joinery tools like drawbore pegs.
Even softwood scraps like pine can find use in the woodshop. Packing tape can be added to a scrap piece to create a useful glue call, while thin pieces of scrap can be used to create battens for planing and holdfasts.
Overall, it is important for woodworkers to find purposeful use for their scrap wood as it can lead to the creation of useful tools and aids, without the need for additional materials.
Utilizing Scraps as Glue Calls
Woodworking can be a messy business, and scraps of wood can quickly pile up, making it difficult to find anything in the clutter. However, even seemingly useless scraps can be repurposed and put to good use in the workshop. In this section, we will explore some creative ways to utilize scraps as glue calls.
A glue call is a piece of wood used to apply pressure to a glued joint, ensuring a strong bond. While many woodworkers purchase specialized glue calls, scraps of wood can be just as effective and cost-effective.
One option for utilizing small scraps is to create hardwood buttons. By cutting a rabbet on one end of a short offcut, then cross-cutting it into individual pieces and drilling holes, woodworkers can create buttons that can be screwed to the underside of a tabletop. This solution allows for expansion and contraction of the wood, preventing warping or cracking.
Another option is to use cheap, softwood scraps, such as pine, as glue calls. By covering the scrap with packing tape, woodworkers can use it to clamp panels together or glue dovetail joints. The soft nature of the pine allows it to flex and compress around the hardwood pins, providing excellent clamping pressure.
Straight grain wood scraps can also be repurposed as wedges for wedging leg blanks or tenons. By splitting out a piece of straight-ish grain wood and tapering it down with a chisel, woodworkers can quickly form a wedge that can be used to secure joints.
Even small scraps of wood can be used to create useful bench appliances, such as joiner saddles or battens. Joiner saddles can be made from small offcuts of wood and fit into dogs, allowing woodworkers to plane into octagon shapes or edge plane. Battens made from skinny bits of stock can be used to sandwich boards into inside corners, providing a stable surface for planing or cutting.
In conclusion, scraps of wood that may seem useless can be repurposed as effective glue calls, wedges, and bench appliances. By getting creative and utilizing all the resources available, woodworkers can save money and reduce waste in the workshop.
Incorporating Scraps into Inlays
Woodworking often results in a pile of scraps that can quickly become overwhelming. However, even the smallest scraps can be repurposed for useful projects. In this section, we will explore some ways to incorporate scraps into inlays.
One of the most obvious uses for small scraps is to create squares, miter squares, panel gauges, and other measuring aids. These can be made by combining different types of wood scraps and forming them into a square or another shape.
Small scraps can also be used to create tools and jigs, such as a stair saw or turning saw. Additionally, scraps can be turned into pinch sticks for capturing interior dimensions of projects.
Off-cuts can be used to create hardwood buttons for expansion and contraction solutions for tables. Another option is to use a plug cutter to create perfectly matched plugs for screws and metal fasteners.
Straight-grain scraps can be used to create pegs for joinery. These can be used as drawbore pegs or regular old pegs. Softwood scraps, such as pine, can be used as glue calls for clamping panels or dovetail cases.
Thin scraps can be used to create battens for planing against or to sandwich a board into an inside corner. Joiner saddles can be made from small scraps and fit into dogs for planing octagon shapes or edge planing.
In summary, even the smallest scraps can be repurposed for useful projects in the woodshop. By incorporating scraps into inlays, woodworkers can reduce waste and create unique and functional pieces.
Creating Wedges from Scraps
Shannon suggests that even small seemingly pointless scraps can be repurposed for various woodworking projects. Wedges are one such example. He demonstrates how to create wedges from scraps of wood.
The process involves taking a straight-ish grain wood and splitting out a piece that is approximately three-quarters of an inch. A chisel is then used to taper it down and quickly form a wedge. The wedge can be used for wedging leg blanks, wedging tenons, and other similar applications.
He also highlights the value of using African utility wood for creating wedges, which can provide a cool contrast. Additionally, small offcuts of ash can be used to make bench hooks, while thin pieces of poplar can be fashioned into battens for planing.
Overall, the purposeful use of seemingly useless scraps can result in valuable tools and aids for woodworking projects.
Making Bench Hooks
Shannon in the video emphasizes the importance of finding purposeful uses for seemingly useless scraps of wood. One practical solution for small scraps is to create bench hooks. Bench hooks are simple appliances that help secure workpieces to a workbench while sawing or planing.
He demonstrates how to make bench hooks using small offcuts of ash wood from his own workbench. He cuts the wood into small pieces and drills holes into them to create pegs that fit into the dog holes of his workbench. The result is a set of bench hooks that securely hold workpieces in place while sawing or planing.
He also suggests other uses for small scraps of wood, such as creating squares, miter squares, panel gauges, and other measuring aids. He also shows how to use small pieces of stock to create stair saws, turning saws, and other useful tools and jigs.
In addition, he demonstrates how to repurpose short offcuts of wood into hardwood buttons, plugs, pegs, and glue calls. He also shows how to use thin strips of holly wood for inlay work and how to create wedges from straight-ish grain wood.
Overall, he encourages woodworkers to be creative and resourceful in finding new uses for their scrap wood. By repurposing small scraps into useful tools and appliances, woodworkers can save money and reduce waste in their workshops.
Crafting Joiner Saddles
In the world of woodworking, scrap wood can quickly accumulate and turn into a messy pile. However, even the smallest and seemingly useless scraps can have a purposeful use. One such use is crafting joiner saddles, which are simple yet effective tools for edge planing and shaping.
Joiner saddles can be made from small offcuts of wood, such as the leftover douglas fir or poplar. A hole is cut into the wood, and the resulting piece is then inserted into the dog holes of a workbench. Once in place, a board can be placed on top of the saddle, allowing for easy planing and shaping of edges.
Joiner saddles can also be used for more complex shaping tasks, such as creating octagon shapes or other intricate designs. They are an excellent addition to any woodworking shop, as they can be easily made from scrap wood and provide a useful and versatile tool for a variety of tasks.
In addition to joiner saddles, there are many other useful tools and jigs that can be crafted from scrap wood. These include squares, miter squares, panel gauges, stair saws, turning saws, and pinch sticks. Scrap wood can also be used to create hardwood buttons, plugs for filling holes, and pegs for joinery.
Overall, the purposeful use of scrap wood is an important aspect of woodworking. By utilizing even the smallest scraps, woodworkers can create useful tools and jigs that can enhance their craft and improve their efficiency in the shop.
Using Thin Scraps as Battens
In woodworking, it’s common to accumulate a pile of small scraps that seem useless. However, these scraps can actually be repurposed into useful tools and aids.
One example is using small pieces of stock to create squares, miter squares, panel gauges, and larger layout squares. These tools are effective and can be made from even the smallest scraps.
Thin scraps can also be used to create jigs and measuring aids, such as pinch sticks for capturing interior dimensions of projects. In addition, small scraps of valuable lumber can be used to create shop tools, such as drawbore pegs or hardwood buttons for expansion and contraction solutions for tables.
Even seemingly useless scraps, such as short little in-cut pieces, can be repurposed into something useful. For example, cutting a rabbet on one end of a small piece and cross-cutting it into individual pieces can create hardwood buttons that can screw to the underside of a tabletop.
Other uses for thin scraps include creating glue calls, wedges for wedging leg blanks or tenons, and bench appliances such as joiner saddles and battens.
By repurposing thin scraps, woodworkers can save money, reduce waste, and create useful tools and aids for their projects.