What to do with short cutoffs?

[HerHusband]

I have a large stack of 1x6 T&G cedar cutoffs. Most are about 16" to 24" long, and are generally clear lumber.

They're only 5/8" thick, and rough sawn on the back side. A small portion are also cupped slightly.

In the past, I've ripped off the tongues and grooves, edge glued them into panels, and planed them smooth on both sides. But those boards were longer, and it's a lot of work to go through. I usually end up with panels that are only 1/2" or 3/8" thick.

I'm thinking about gluing them up into panels for some garage cabinet doors, but the panels would end up kind of small.

Anyway, I would be interested in hearing suggestions of what I could do with all these cutoffs? I already picked out about half of what I had, anything with big knots or splits was sent to the firewood pile. But I hate to just burn wood that is mostly clear like this.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Anthony

[John Smith]

Bat boxes. They are made of rough cedar, and they are plenty big enough.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Kids or grandkids? Neighbor kids? they love to put together bird houses, bird feeders, boxes,. Know any scout leaders?

[bridger]

planter boxes

[Jim Stuyck]

In a word, "kindling."

If you have a fireplace then use an axe to split at least some of them into 1" strips, more or less, and put them away for the winter.

Jim Stuyck

[Owen Lawrence]

I keep a box of them handy for clamp pads. You can never have enough clamps, and you need twice as many pads as clamps.

You could also use them as framing for small boxes, whose surfaces are nice

1/4" plywood. I made a few for my children; they look nice and are strong enough to hold one of the grandparents. (DAMHIKT)

- Owen -

[Owen Lawrence]

(Oops. I think my cutoffs were a lot thinner than yours, so maybe this isn't a great idea; I didn't realize how long they were until I reread your post. Change "pads" to "cauls". :) )

[splinter]

Could make a lot of window boxes. Sand a few small ones down and put them in your sock drawer.....nothing personal.

Joe

[loutent]

Hi Anthony!

Three projects on which I used cedar (I had to purchase it from Lowes!):

1. A little wine rack in the basement: ripped it all into strips, then glued & braded into "racks". At about 6x8 ft, holds 300+ bottles. I figured cedar was just as good as redwood since nobody will see it much anyhow.

1. Deck box to store umbrella covers/charcoal/toys etc. Looks a lot better than those plastic things.

2. An ash box built around a 5 gal pail that to collect charcoal ashes etc. Lid to fit. I use a 13 gal kitchen trash bag in it to keep the mess down (we like charcoal grilling on the Weber).

FWIW

Lou

[HerHusband]

Lou,

Sounds like a nice project, but we can never keep more than a bottle or two of wine around here without drinking it. :)

Hmm... That's a thought. I'll keep it in mind.

Don't need an ash box, but it does bring up the possibility of using it for a cart for our electric grill. Thanks for the idea.

Anthony

[HerHusband]

Jim,

I've already gone through the scraps I had left over. Anything that had knots or splits became firewood. I've got well over two years of firewood stacked up.

When I rip the tongues and grooves off to make panels, I also get a lot of small kindling size pieces too. So, no shortage in that area either.

Hoping to find a useful purpose other than just firewood... :)

Anthony

[JLarsson]

Short cutoffs? Two words: Daisy Duke.

Small pieces of wood? You're on your own - marquetry maybe?

JLarsson

[C & M]

Wit the tongue and groove feature you could stagger the pieces and glue up some pretty neat looking doors for your shop cabinets. You could half-lap or T&G the ends or maybe just bisquick 'n goo 'em. Wish I lived next door - LOL!

Anthony

[Pat]

Bee hives. Might sell the lot to a bee keeper.

[Dhakala]

Rubber Band Gatling Guns:

[Battleax]

Basically if you can't think of something to use them for then toss them or burn them.

[Larry Jaques]

Not a CHANCE! Two Words: UPS Girl

oughta see the back shot. Small pieces of wood? You're on your own - marquetry maybe?

Intarsia, marquetry, inlay, or the alternatives: fire or trash.

----------------------------------------- Jack Kevorkian for Congressional physician!

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[Duane Bozarth]

...

Sell them as raw material to the handicrafts-making crowd...

[mac davis]

either save them until you have a project that works out for them, or try trading them for something.. tools, other wood, lawn mowing for a few months, etc..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

[nospambob]