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Other topics for members => General Woodworking => Topic started by: ponderosae on September 16, 2019, 05:05:59 PM

Title: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: ponderosae on September 16, 2019, 05:05:59 PM
I see that there are a lot of topics here about what to do with lots of sawdust from milling. As far as what to do with a little bit, I watched a video about furniture restoration, where sawdust was being added to the glue, in order to make staining it look better. Maybe it would be good for filling holes in wood, so less glue or other filler would have to be used.
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: doc henderson on September 16, 2019, 05:46:08 PM
i know a doc with an off grid cabin, and he takes mine to use for his low tech composting cabin toilet.  only # 2 into a 5 gallon bucket, then cover with sawdust.  dump when full. rinse and repeat!  the saw dust i use for filler is from fine sanding, and many will add glue to the crack and then just sand over it, with the wet glue in the imperfection. 8)
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: ponderosae on September 16, 2019, 06:12:25 PM
Well, I don't think I'd want to add glue to that crack...
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: doc henderson on September 16, 2019, 06:36:35 PM
 :D :D :D :D :o :o :o 8) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: firefighter ontheside on September 16, 2019, 08:04:40 PM
I will take fine dust out of my orbital sander bag to mix with glue to fill cracks on woodwork.  We are talking about a minute amount.
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: ponderosae on September 16, 2019, 09:11:13 PM
Ah, maybe I'll try using more sawdust though, mixed with construction adhesive, next time I fill a dead knot hole.  I've used that by itself and it works, but doesn't look like wood.
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: hackberry jake on September 16, 2019, 09:48:24 PM
I've had people come and get my planer/jointer shavings for all kinds of things. Hog bedding, leveling underneath above ground pools, putting in horse stalls, mixing with lawn clippings to make compost. But most of it still just washes down the mountain when it rains. It came from nature. I guess it's ok if it returns.
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: Southside on September 16, 2019, 09:49:08 PM
Quote from: doc henderson on September 16, 2019, 05:46:08 PMdump when full


I do the same thing Doc, but what does that have to do with wood working? :D
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: doc henderson on September 16, 2019, 10:33:11 PM
we were talking about his bucket, not your bowels!!!  @Southside (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=24297) .  Is your wife not watching you today?    :D :D :D
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: Don P on September 16, 2019, 10:43:51 PM
Mostly I use it to without glue to fill imperfections in my land.
It also works good in the bottom of the box with the baby chickens.
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: Southside on September 16, 2019, 11:13:20 PM
See - Chickens come up in the discussion @K-Guy (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=35658) and I had nothing to do with it!  :D  It's a space time continuum thing I tell ya!!  @doc henderson (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=41041) Nope - she is on the left coast for two weeks, nobody to keep me in check.   8) 
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: WDH on September 17, 2019, 07:58:12 AM
Southside, don't forget to take your meds. 
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: Southside on September 17, 2019, 09:32:09 AM
Thanks for the love Danny.  :D We sure don't want a repeat of THAT situation now do we?   :o  :D
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: Nebraska on September 17, 2019, 03:30:02 PM
Chickens and crack in the same thread what is this place coming too. :o
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: Cosmo52 on November 14, 2019, 11:11:05 PM
I've never tried it but is supposed to work as a replacement for gravel in making concrete.  Looks like sawmill sawdust or maybe planer shavings would work
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: samandothers on November 15, 2019, 12:16:32 PM
While it is not a large volume at a time it works as a good oil dry.  I'll give it to my neighbor at times to use in his shop under his lift.   it does a good job absorbing mechanical device droppings, not just animal droppings.
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: JRHill on November 15, 2019, 12:36:10 PM
A neighbor has an off grid rental and he just came by for another load. Along with others who use the saw dust in pens, I told him to put a scoop or two into burlap and place several around his cabin. The fresh cut ponderosa fills the inside with a forest scent that people love.

It's not so good in a garden, etc. as the saw dust robs nitrogen from the soil as it degrades - at least that's what the extension service says.

But for me the real problem is small trimmings and partial slabs. We use as much as possible (doug fir) in the wood burning season for starting and in the evening when we're around to keep reloading. Can't use it in the fire pit for cooking unless swinging a covered pot.
Title: Re: Do you use sawdust in woodworking?
Post by: Don P on November 16, 2019, 07:39:48 AM
It does tie up nitrogen as it breaks down but there is a very slight positive N overall and organic matter is good for soil tilth. We've put down cardboard in the walk paths in the garden and cover that with fresh sawdust to keep weeds down and make clean walkways. Then a year or two later that goes into the beds and repeat. There is a big pile at one end of the garden that I periodically refresh for that.