Seriously…being a woodworker generates a LOT of sawdust & woodchips. What exactly can be done with all of it? There’s something about simply tossing it that doesn’t feel right.
Not too long ago I was running a handful of pieces through my surface planer and I stopped at one point to check my dust collection bin. Yep…stuffed with wood chips. Now granted it’s not the biggest dust collection system on the planet…but it was nearly empty when I started. Aside from creating really beautiful looking furniture & crafted items, woodworking can generate a LOT of dust and woodchips…and I mean a LOT.
I’ve bullet pointed a few ideas below that might help you on your quest of figuring out what to do with all the sawdust and wood chips you might be producing in your workshop. Every idea might not resonate with you, but these are a handful that I’ve come up with and have tried with success from time to time.
Packing Supplies- Many of us are shipping things these days. Why use costly bubble wrap or other materials when you have semi soft cushiony wood “debris” in abundance? If you don’t want the receiver to have a “wood dust surprise” on the other end consider one of two options – a NOTE on the top of the box indicating loose wood chips/dust inside OR pack the wood chips/dust in smaller bags to act as “pillows” for whatever your item is that’s being shipped.
Display Bowls- This one sounds silly and it may not solve the issue of very large amounts of woodchips, but considering utilizing some as part of a display. Made a sweet turned bowl on the lathe? Toss wood chips in from the project. Have a large item in the house that’s empty and could look cool filled? Add those wood chips in. If you’re working with cedar the chips can be great for an aromatic appeal as well.
Liquid Absorption – This one is a classic move. Ever drop oil on the garage floor when you’re working under the hood? Three seconds of oil spillage and it spreads out super quick. Wanna soak it up fast? Dump sawdust and woodchips on it. These will soak up the oil quick and efficiently so you can scoop them up to discard without making a huge mess.
Arts & Crafts – Consider taking chips and gluing or epoxying them together to form a new piece you can work with (turn, mill, shape etc.). Some super fun projects can emerge from keeping projects simple and low pressure.
I hope these tips help fellow woodworkers out there if they at times feel overwhelmed with their dust collection bins. What’s worked for you that I didn’t have on the list?