What to do with cut offs?

[Don Henthorn Smithville, TX]

Like most woodworkers I hate to throw out perfectly good cut offs. I often took a cut off of nice wood and cut it into the largest disk I could get from it and threw it into a box. I turn these into saucers of different shapes, but would like to do something else. These vary in size from 3/4" to 1 1/2" in thickness and 2 1/2" to 8" in diameter. Does anyone have ideas on something other than saucers that could be made from these? Something nice looking and useful? TIA

[Jeff Sudmeier]

I keep mine around for pen blanks, but that is about all I turn right now. The Saucer idea sounds like a good one. What do you use the saucers for?

[Steve Jenkins]

I keep mine around for pen blanks, but that is about all I turn right now. The Saucer idea sounds like a good one. What do you use the saucers for?
You could us them to store pen blanks. :>)

[Randy Meijer]

The thing that immediately comes to mind is Yo-Yos!! You could make up a bunch of them and donate to Childrens Hospital.

I'll put on the old "thinking cap" and see what other ideas pop up. I do my best thinking in the shower!!!

[Randy Meijer]

Stands for desk pens.

Hourglass frames.(kits from PSI)

Stands for small oil lamps.(Hut and Berea)

Glu'em up for ring boxes or whatever else your imagination might suggest...pepper mills, rolling pins.

Jar lids.

Mirror frames

Stamp dispensers.

Business card holders.

[Charlie Stein]

Hi Don,
I have just started to keep mine, glue up about 3-3 1/2" thick and about 4" in di. Then turn potpourri pots. Get the tops from Packard Woodworks #154929.
I sell at Craft shows $ 10.00-$ 15.00 each.
Just my thoughts.
Just Charlie ;)

[Jim Becker]

Make some "saucers" (mini-platters, actually) that are more artistic and can be used as wall-art. There are some interesting texturing ideas in the new issue of WOOD Magazine that you might want to try by marrying two contrasting layers and then cutting through them after the fact, too. You could also experiment with some off-center hollowing for more interest on these small, but useful turnings.

[Don Henthorn Smithville, TX]

Thanks guys, there are some ideas to chew on. Part of my problem is that all my equipment is gone but the lathe and scroll saw. I don't even have a vise. Hard to get things glued together well without tools. I have some hand saws and a few planes and chisels, but I have to rig up ways to hold the wood to work on. I made this little press so I could glue work to glue blocks without tying up my lathe. With yellow glue I can do a block every thirty minutes, but I like to let the glue cure over night.
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<img src="http://users2.ev1.net/~henthorn/press.jpg">

[Doug Shepard]

Coaster sets for gifts?

[Steve Inniss]

Don,
Randy mentioned jar lids. I have seen nice jars that some products come in, even hexagonal etc., but they all come with metal lids. It's nice to recycle them as gifts -empty or with whatever in them, having cut a recess in your discs for the steel lid. You just have to make decisions as you buy your day-to-day products, to choose the nice jars. -Steve

[Steve Clardy]

Mine get fairly small from continually taking more off, then it's time for the woodstove.

[Tom Hintz]

I know I keep too many cutoffs but occasionally they do add up to something I can actually use!
See the link below for one of them.

http://www.newwoodworker.com/scrpmalet.html

[Carl Eyman]

Make wooden nickles. But then they'd probably cost you lots more than a nickle to make.

[Roger Fitzsimonds]

try your hand at segmented turning. Even if theyare small cut them up in pie shapes and mix the colors up. then call them coasters.

Roger

[Bill Wiggins]

I give my small cut-offs to my 4 year old grandson with some elmer's glue. It's amazing what he can do with them.

[Ken Salisbury]

What to do with cut offs?


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