Are you a wood hoarder?

When I finish building a project, I’m always left with pieces of wood: a small pile of offcuts, wood that didn’t make the cut, and extra wood that I bought just in case. I usually add about 20% to my cutlist for any little surprises. I buy wood for each individual project because I don’t have the space to have lifts of wood delivered. I also like going to my local lumber shop to browse the racks and pick the boards that speak to me. 

So what to do with the extra wood bits? If you’re like me, the thought of throwing away even the smallest chunk of wood can lead to an internal struggle. 

What if I need that 1-in.-long offcut for something? 

Maybe that small bit would make a nice pull on the lathe? 

What if I resaw that small bit of wood to make inlay panels?

I seem to go through this cycle after each project I complete, which has me keeping everything that isn’t split or full of knots that make it unusable. Then, in about six months’ time when I start to run out of wood storage space, I have to cull the piles. So how do I decide what stays and what goes? I usually start with the rule that nothing shorter than 8 in. stays … unless it’s figured or special in some way. That normally gets rid of three of four pieces and I feel like I’ve accomplished something. Usually in another two weeks I get frustrated with the piles again and decide to increase my threshold. I decide that the cutoff for keeping the wood is 12 in.

Wood doesn’t grow on trees so I value every scrap of it. I needed to come up with a way to keep the pieces I would reasonably use and send the rest to the burn pile. I’m fortunate to have a garage attached to the house that doesn’t get used for cars. In the back of the space are floor-to-ceiling cubbies that measure 3 ft. deep and are perfect for short pieces. 

So here is my new system:

If it’s 3 ft. or shorter, it goes into the cubbies standing on edge. I also mark the length of the piece on the end so I don’t have to pull everything out to know what’s there.

If it’s 3-6 ft. long, it gets stored vertically against the wall.

If it’s longer than 6 ft., it also goes up against the wall but not mixed with the shorter stuff because then the longer pieces will hide the short stuff. 

I also dedicated one cubby to small stuff that would be great for turning (either for myself or a turning friend). I’m not a wood turner per se but I can make round and cylindrical objects from time to time when required. 

Plywood also has its place. I have dedicated a cubby for the smaller chunks of plywood, and I store the bigger pieces vertically for easy viewing.

Sorting wood can be a hobby in itself and personally, I’m trying not to get into that. I prefer to keep my hobby to the one I truly enjoy — working wood. However, I recognize that unorganized wood storage can create stress and frustration, which is the last thing I want when I plan for a good day in my shop. Finding the lumber I need is all part of the workflow, and just like my shop and tools, I want it to be effective and efficient. So, I’m feeling better with my new system. I think it will help to keep the wood in front of my eyes as opposed to languishing in piles and boxes. The true test will be how it works in 6 months or so. 

	A Smart Cart for Scraps Build a rolling bin for storing and sorting your scrap pile.
	Woodworking with kids: Scrapwood sculptures Two bandsaw cuts, some hot-melt glue, and some spray paint make for a fun time in the shop for both kids and their adults!
	Easy scrapwood turning project: Earrings Make beautiful last-minute gifts on the lathe while trimming down your scrap collection.

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