Jul 27
What can I make out of scrap lumber?
I have a garbage can full of scrap lumber (2×4’s & 2×6’s) most less than 24" in length. I have a table saw, circular saw, miter saw and a drill. I also have some scrap 3/4" plywood. What are some things I can make with this wood?
I hate to see this wood go to waste when I could use it to practice my carpentry skills and possible make something usefull out of it.
Thanks for all your ideas.
I haven’t read any answers yet, but offer this suggestion, and TOTALLY relate.
Better to have a plan first, and assess the lumber available to build an item, or various items in a choice, based on needed material first.
It makes little sense, to me at least, to use scrap, simply to use it, for an item you may not have a use for at all.
Certainly as Practice, scrap is the way to go, but some notion of practical application, might also be a thought.
"Guesstimate" the amount of scrap versus some choices of what you might most be able to use, or need practice fabricating, and proceed.
If your intent is primitive items, or items that may not matter aesthetically, then wack away. If you have more formal practice in mind, IE: various JOINT types, finishing techniques, the way tools function with various wood species, then even if you trash the scrap, you may have accomplished a set goal.
Steven Wolf
just my two "sense"
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You could make a small stand for a fish tank
Ok that should be worth a best answer LOL
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How about little stools, side tables, small trash cans, small flower boxes, you can do lots of things with little pieces of wood. Make a shoe shelf.
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a campfire?
Just Kidding . . .
How about a butcher block, would be great practice in joinery . . .
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Well, at 24" lengths you’re pretty limited as to what you could create. One thing that comes to mind is an end table or coffee table, sort of on the rustic side. I have made plant stands with similar material that have turned out sturdy and efficient for larger plants, add casters at the legs and you save your back when moving them.
I made the plant stands to look like mini picnic tables and painted them. On an end table you could use the ply wood for the top, sand it real smooth, add trim along the edge and it’ll look like a solid finished piece. Good luck
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I haven’t read any answers yet, but offer this suggestion, and TOTALLY relate.
Better to have a plan first, and assess the lumber available to build an item, or various items in a choice, based on needed material first.
It makes little sense, to me at least, to use scrap, simply to use it, for an item you may not have a use for at all.
Certainly as Practice, scrap is the way to go, but some notion of practical application, might also be a thought.
"Guesstimate" the amount of scrap versus some choices of what you might most be able to use, or need practice fabricating, and proceed.
If your intent is primitive items, or items that may not matter aesthetically, then wack away. If you have more formal practice in mind, IE: various JOINT types, finishing techniques, the way tools function with various wood species, then even if you trash the scrap, you may have accomplished a set goal.
Steven Wolf
just my two "sense"
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45 plus years as a contractor
For the 2X stuff I can’t add much to what has already been suggested.
For the plywood, make birdhouses. You’ll want to nail and waterproof glue the connections. Sand well, and THEN fill gaps with waterproof caulking. Then paint with opaque deck stain. This will hide the fact that you’re not using better wood.
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I made Chrsitmas presents of birdhouses using construction site "dumpster wood".
you would be suprised theres a guy on the golf channel called Dave Pelz and he made a putting robot out of scrap its a pretty pointless thing but then again so is Dave Pelz
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I would try to create bird houses from the various pieces.
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Storage bins….you cannot have too many of those.
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BONFIRE!
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doghouse
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make bird houses, signs. go to freeplans .com
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maint man