Revised Wood Scrap Cart Guidelines

Maker Talk
1

Based on all the feedback I received, it’s clear that a change is needed to address hardwood & exotic wood minimum sizes.

In lieu of a bucket for hardwood & exotics that fell short of the previous guidelines, I believe it is best to remove minimum sizes for both hardwood and exotics. I have also reduced the minimum width of dimensional and sheet goods to allow for more scrap wood to added to the cart. All other wood shop scrap cart guidelines will remain in place.

Scrap Cart Guidelines
Overview
The scrap cart is a great way to share your offcuts with others. We request that you follow these guidelines when deciding if your offcut is usable.

Purpose
To help distinguish the difference between scrap and trash. Offcuts that are placed on the scrap cart will fall into two categories:

  1. Offcuts may be used for test cuts to dial in the settings on the table saw, router table, drill press, band saw, etc. They are also occasionally used by hand tool users in setting up various types of hand planes, testing hand saw set, practice cuts, etc.
  2. Offcuts may be used as project materials.

Definitions

2 by X Materials: These include the common 2x4, 2x6, 2x8 etc. Also included in this category are 4x4’s 6x6’s etc.

Dimensional Lumber

  1. Softwoods: This includes pine, poplar (technically a hardwood) basswood, etc.
  2. Hardwoods & Exotics: This includes all domestic and international wood species such as cherry, oak, maple, mahogany, walnut, padauk, bloodwood, purple heart, Iroko etc.

Other Lumber & Sheet Goods

  1. Rough sawn lumber: This includes slabs, cookies, live edge offcuts, etc.
  2. Sheet Goods: This includes plywood, MDF, OSB, melamine, etc.

Guideline
The following provides the guidelines for what constitutes usable scraps.
First and foremost, the scrap cart is for usable wood.

2 by X Materials

  1. 2 by X materials must be a minimum length of 10 inches and a minimum width of one inch of usable lumber to assist as test cuts as described above. Anything smaller shall be thrown into the trash.

Dimensional Lumber

  1. Dimensional softwood lumber must be a minimum length of 10 inches and a minimum width of 1.5 inches. Anything smaller shall be thrown in the trash.
  2. Rough dimensional lumber must be in usable condition. It must not be just the bark/wane and sap wood—there must be usable project wood on it. The minimum length is 10 inches and a minimum width of 2 inches.

Sheet Goods

  1. All sheet goods must be a minimum length of 12 inches and a minimum width of 2 inches.

CNC Special Instructions

If you have cut out shapes in the sheet goods and believe there is ample material left to meet the minimum requirements, then before you place that material on the scrap cart, you are required to cut away the waste material and place it in the trash. The individual who chooses to use that scarp material should not have to cut out the usable section and throw away the waste for you.

  1. Cutouts: If you have cut out circles, ovals, triangular or rectangular pieces out of sheet goods, the usable surface of the cutout must meet the minimum dimensions outlined above.
  2. 2 by X materials and dimensional lumber: If you have made cuts into the face of the material rendering it useless unless it is resurfaced, then you can either:
    A. Resurface the material and place it on the scrap cart.
    B. Throw it in the trash.

I want to thank everyone for their comments and contributions to this guideline. If you have additional questions or feedback, please be respectful and courteous.

Michael Doto
Woodshop Lead

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