Ask Adam Savage: When to Discard Scrap Materials

[@tested]

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[@d-granter5126]

goodstuff do me a favour a help rewrite and perfect this im sending it everywhere so just reply with ideas even space studio/ makerspaces conventions hundreds of projects vs war to mad max when thiers gold in the ocean coral reef incubators, oceanic robtics,, robo chefs and space vendors, housing first systems we needed space studio/ makerspaces in convention centres hundreds of projects vs war to the stone age for survivors with mad max to look foward to when thiers gold in the ocean but zero facility we could have coral reef incubators, oceanic robtics,, robo chefs and space vendors, housing first system analysis and recycling, ect 5 floors with this list incorporated ... i plan to make a 3d model (rooftop) garden dome, solar water features, plants, irrigation systems, pottery wheels, musical instrument's violin, piano ect., marble machines, telescopes, (Spacestudio) shuttle replica workshop, perspex display units, 3d printers, space projects, rovers, robots, ongoing experiments, concept art,, of space cargo, space hotels, rocket lab locations, asteroid detection screens and observatory links space vendors m.r.e ration crate concepts (Makerspace) (brains of the building) computer building, robotics, r2d2 coffee bots, 3d printers (lazy A.i cafe craft lounge), robo chefs board games project cases, kitbashing hobbie crafts, jewellery making, knitting, cosplay, random art ect (Global innovation platform) (the money maker) fundamental research and collaboration eco projects conservational projects events and tours recycling, waste systems, vertical farming mapping footprint coalition- data base integration, food science analysis global missions, and a list of major input, updates, and breakthroughs

[@astermay5757]

I need a way to get my hands on thick bars and plates of copper and brass as i am a up and coming jewelry, artist, creator, and i have been trying to obtain chunks big enough to cut and carve 3d objects from such as Pendants, charms and etc any tips, love Vibrations from a looooong time Mythbusters viewer

[@astermay5757]

Would love to get silver too but wishful thinking

[@AverageJoeLui]

Cut your scraps into circles... no need to throw anything away 🙌

[@maighstir3003]

That sounds like the beginning of a song..

[@DaydreamEmily]

fkn genius

[@rowanbrown5541]

Sounds like kind of a last resort

[@RLSteffler]

I work on a lot of bikes, especially dirty and grimey ones, so I save scrap paper towel. Whenever I wipe down a surface with paper towel, I let it dry out to be used on a sludge covered bottom bracket later. It just seems so wasteful using a fresh pristine paper towel to move around sludge.

[@bubblesculptor]

Haha, i try to get multiple usages of those too. Many things i clean in my shop need to be as spotless as possible, and particles that stick to the wipes can cause scratches. But other things just need to get cleaned from nasty to less-nasty, and the reused paper towels are perfect. They're expensive!

[@sydroper4761]

I do the same! If all I’ve done is washed my hands I’ll leave the paper towel draped to dry, drives my partner nuts when there are like 5 of them festooning the kitchen. Artist habits.

[@DigitalGus75]

I particularly love: “sometimes you just wanna see all your suits of armour in one spot” Everyone knows that feeling. Lol.

[@martins.4240]

"This is where I would put all my suits of armor... if I had any!"

[@CarboniteDreamer]

i love getting scrape from my local furniture makers / wood workers because i like to make miniatures like doll house stuff. i dont need a giant piece of plywood to make a 3 inch tall chair. lol

[@barneymiller7894]

I'm a knife maker so I hoard hardwood scrap 😂

[@bradnoone2460]

That's a very good point. The value of scrap is directly proportional to the size of stuff you make!

[@adnamamedia]

trickle-down making!

[@natmickan]

Do you get offcuts, or pull from their bins? And do you pay them for it? Or are they just happy to be rid of it? I’ve been meaning to go ask a local furniture company for some scrap pieces of similar size, but I don’t know what would be appropriate to ask/offer

[@davydatwood3158]

"Living with an imperfect situation until I finally get angry enough to solve the problem" is a near-perfect description of how I feel about my job. Thank you for being a cheerful and enthusiastic person who's willing to let us see the downsides and mistakes, too. It really helps me deal with all the crap in the world right now.

[@AlanStucky]

A couple years ago I was given the single most helpful question for sorting out scraps: if I needed this in the future, would I actually look for it and use it? Or would I buy it new or something else? If the answer is, no, I actually wouldn’t use it in the future, then it doesn’t need to be in my life anymore.

[@tested]

Oh, great advice.

[@jessewhiteside8195]

Searching through the delirin bin really got me. Going through my own scrap I feel like I can use pieces for some part project that would be a waste of a large piece but perfect for these random scraps. It's so hard to pick between scrap and potential small parts perfection.

[@NicholasJeffery]

This video speaks to me. The agony of getting rid of scraps cause "I might need it" and the rabbit hole of reorganising something I had organised before.

[@vibesmom]

Resorting sortable cases, and discussions about what to keep and throw out. I think this show is therapy for me. I am not alone in this world!

[@QuestionableContent411]

BEST QUESTION EVER!!!!!! Thanks for your input Adam! I have bought and scavenged buckets of scraps! Covid was great for my scrap cleanout. I day dream about rebuilds on my organization...

[@harbl99]

Just threw out a skipful of scraps, off-cuts, and "I was going to do something with that" bits the other week. Getting rid of them actually gave me more energy and inclination to be productive with what was left. Funny how that works.

[@tacet3045]

Bet you end up keeping the off cuts from the parts you are productivity with. We all do.

[@barneymiller7894]

My woodworking consists entirely of making scales for the knives I make, so I basically survive off scraps and off cuts 😂

[@budm9982]

finally! A youtube maker channel with a shop that resembles mine. Or at least what I wish to develop mine to resemble to a lesser degree. Adam, you amaze me with your manufacturing/creating resources and ability. I watch this segment just to see your thoughts on keeping/discarding scrap. There is nothing quite as validating as taking on a project and not having to purchase anything to complete it because everything needed is in the shop. Makes the decision to keep those "scrap" items seem quite valid. Thanks for all of your content. Very enjoyable viewing.

[@engineglue]

Are you aware of Mythbusters?

[@thymewizard]

If you haven't seen it, Alexandre Chappel built a shelving system for his own cases of a similar style, and there was a little pullout shelf halfway up so you could set the box down right there and get the trays you need. That could be a happy medium between having to bring them to another table and having every one on its own drawer slide (I feel like there'd also be a pretty narrow height range for that to work well). It might even be a relatively simple addition to the rack you already have? Alexandre Chappel's vid: kzbin.info/www/bejne/haXLqKKNmrGVlbc

[@daalelli]

This is what I was picturing!

[@edwardchester1]

Been suffering with this dilemma for years. So many scraps that have never been used and realistically will never be used. Invariably they're just too small for most jobs. But, I cannot bring myself to chuck them. Maybe this video is finally the motivation I need.

[@FlintlockFreddy]

"When to Discard Scrap Materials?" that's definitely a tough question, i absolutely agree with you on that. I feel the urge to keep everything that might com ein Handy a some time. Since I live (and work) in a rather small place throwing away things is mandatory. I still keep a lot of stuff I never use but you never know. I guess everybody had that moment when we have thrown avay that absolutely useless looking piece and three days later we needed exactly a piece of that material in roughly that shape and then we have to buy buy a new piece or cut it of from a perfectly fine board, sheet of plastic, leather, whatever, but I guess you just have to skip that thought, especially when it come to tiny bits and you have dozens of them. I just threw a large bag full of tiny fur scraps away this morning. I way need some pieces in the future, but not a large bag full of them. The big exception is Worbla. The blessing and the curse of that material is that you can use every tiny bit of that stuff since you can just melt it together again to make larger parts, but My Box of Worbla pieces is huge. I occasionally use them but I admit, I probably create more scraps than I use....

[@L.Scott_Music]

One way I started dealing with scraps in my cabinet shop was to begin trading out for better scraps. If I had a good scrap I wanted to save, then an old scrap had to go. But also, I realized that SPACE is also a valuable commodity, and one must question what is more valuable.

[@ImprobableGarage]

For the sortimo(sp?) cases, find the row that is at the most comfortable height for rooting through cases and replace once case with a slide out shelf. Then you slide the shelf out, put whatever case you need on it, get what you need, and put the case & shelf away. Minimal expense & building that will give you most of the convenience of them all being on sliders. And because the shelf slides away it won't accumulate junk and be unusable for it's purpose.

[@FunAtDisney]

This was such a great question because we all do this! I save wood scraps all the time and with the price of lumber even a 6” piece of 2x4 can save you $10 if that is all you need. But I also save material and leftover parts. An example is years ago we got a new garage door opener, but because we were replacing the older model a lot of the pieces were already in place so I was left with steel support hangers, etc. Heck, maybe one day I use them and again save some $$. My wife does the safe with her knitting, her Cricut plotting cutter materials, and so on. You just never know!

[@darrylhilbig6459]

Follow up question: Have you ever thrown something out. Then soon after doing that, discovered it would have been the perfect piece for your next project?

[@stevewalston7089]

Just like when you can't find something and look for it (sometimes for years) and finally buy a new one. The old/lost one will show up very soon afterwards!

[@lazaruslong92]

Everyone who hobby builds has gone through that one. aka WTF is this? F'ed I know, toss! Week later @$$%!Q@!!!

[@CapitalNick]

That's my life.

[@snafu2350]

Always this! :)

[@griffinstreetstudios]

I recently started working at a drapery and upholstery shop and now I have access to so many scraps and old drapes that I've been able to salvage. And I get to make high end decorations to adorn the walls of mansions. Ill tell ya it ain't a bad gig!

[@alexisrivera200xable]

Glad to see the time honored method of dumpster diving for useful materials is alive and well. (Of course ours are not as flashy as Industrial Light & Magic's) It's real hard to see useful stuff thrown away as a maker and not salvage it!

[@mertz7305]

Sometimes eliminating scraps and making room for more assets can be more cathartic than making.

[@pest5373]

Oh my word I was just googling this yesterday after finally organising my workshop. Love Adam so helpful. I hope eventually in his lifetime we’re able to copy peoples information their brain has retained.

[@justinbanks2380]

"Working with an imperfect solution until I'm angry enough to fix it" speaks to so many things I've dealt with and jobs I've had...

[@Beamer1969]

What you keep also depends on how much space you have. A lot of space gives you a lot of leeway to keep more.

[@chrisjm74]

About drawer slides/access for the Sortimos. IMO you don’t want slides on for every storage location. The ones on floor and 5’ (1.5m) up are not good for rummaging through. I built a bread-rack for Stanley 14725R (the poor man’s Sortimo). I made a pull-out shelf at bar height in each column. This works amazingly well. When you need something, you pull out the shelf, grab the organizer, put it on the shelf, rummage around, and be sure to put it right back for the next thing you need.

[@christopherumberger6142]

I love that box with the clear front. That is a great idea!

[@bruceglor7756]

This was very cathartic to hear. Thank you.

[@93midnightsunrise]

As a sewist, this speaks to me SOUL!

[@lugattinine8451]

Adam, I really feel like our brains work the same way.. so inspiring to see your love and dedication 🙏🏻

[@Jackedhobbit]

It seems like there ought to be a cosplay museum or gallery to put costumes on display. I think it would be a cool concept. There’s a lot of people like Adam who have made many amazing costumes that aren’t worn often. Would be cool if there was a place where people could send costumes on loan for people to come and see and be inspired for their own builds.

[@lubrew5862]

I am a woodworker/furniture maker, always always always keep your off cuts and scrap until the project is completed, even for pieces you know you will throw away. So many times the offcuts and scrap have come in handy for clamping and holding parts during assembly.

[@herrtonapparat6612]

This video is therapy. Thx 4 feeling less alone.

[@benwebb7698]

How is it so interesting just watching Adam go through a box of scrap? Wild.

[@JTidiotboy]

Anybody else think the sound of the plastic scraps moving around in the box is satisfying as hell?

[@bvf1420]

Beginning to wonder if we need to start a project fund to give this man the means to do those obscure expensive works we love to watch so much. Outside of patreon that is.

[@zjedinite]

Ok before watching this video I’m gonna comment. I’m making myself a coffee and getting comfortable before pressing play. I’m so looking forward to this solution. I’m literally a material hoarder!

[@Grayson_Baker]

Awesome video. My dad always says "Never get rid of scrap, you never know when you might need it."

[@ThomasHaxley]

My dad used to say "It'll come in handy even if you never use it!" 😁

[@Platinum_Squid]

This question hits home for me

[@adrianscarlett]

I put all my scrap material for throwing away in a box that I keep for a year but never look in. Once I've completely forgotten the contents, it's safe to throw it. If I knowingly throw something out, it's guaranteed that I will need it within the next 24 hours.

[@Stevegaravatti]

Thank you for always sharing your skills. It’s amazing to see what success looks like and a great example to follow after.

[@Werdna12345]

6:00 I think there would be some Museums that would willing to have Adam’s costumes as exhibits.

[@peterkelley6344]

YES! Rent them a museum pieces!

[@adamjrutherford]

As a woodworker, my scraps are mainly wood, when they start building up I make it a challenge to start coming up with scrapwood projects to use it up. They can then be sold off or gifted away, Christmas is a particular good time to try to sell or give away these projects.

[@rpavlik1]

Oh, the trade-off between the possibilities of scraps, and the mental lightness and clarity (and efficiency) of a whittled-down stash free of the weight of incomplete projects.

[@relwoodmusic3630]

In my very small woodshop, it depends on what the material is. I keep offcuts of hardwood in a bucket for tiny crafts, but most of my pine waste gets burned. I have just enough to use for jigs/sacrificial purposes, and all the rest gets in the way. I used to hold on to scraps of 2x4 that just got in the way, then I realized if I ever needed some I could buy one fresh 2x4 board and make enough scraps for a year

[@robertpeacock1635]

Those of us who remember card files at the library remember the pull-out shelves about waist high. We would pull out the drawer of cards, pull out the shelf, and put the drawer on the shelf to go through the cards at a comfortable height. This also allowed you to look at the cards in the back of the drawer without the drawer falling out. I sometimes carry a small piece of half inch piece of kelron to show the worker how thick I want my stick bologna cut for the grill. I know it is not healthy, but grilled bologna taste so good to this omnivore.

[@triptheroad]

I have a rubber stamp storage cabinet that I use to store all my supplies and materials. The drawers are clear so it's easy to see what's inside each drawer

[@marcokleiner8795]

hi adam, i've been following your content for a while now and just wanted to express my appreciation. i really dig your work, and your humor :-) I find it amazing how you are so f-ing knowleagle and humble at the same time. i already leanrnt a few neat tricks from you and am excited for all the things im still gonna learn watching your videos. lots of love, marco

[@terpman]

The biggest problem I have is feeling like something isn't right with my organization, but not being able to pin down exactly what the problem is so I make changes, reorganize, spend money, but still don't feel completely satisfied. Then there's always the 2 other problems you unintentionally create by rejigging something to fix one problem you knew about.

[@jasonbutcher364]

Art shop at uni was doing a sale to get rid of old stock. Was so tempting to just buy a whole load of random paper stock, but decided against it. Did come away with lovely leather textured paper, which might be useful, but I do tend to hoard random material that aquire "just in case"

[@ozsavage]

Speaking of leather patina… That piece protecting your workbench is ageing like a fine wine. It would look amazing framed and hung on a wall. Might be an option to raise money for a charity one day.

[@SuperCutealien]

I work with clay. I have BINDERS. 3 big 3 inch binders. Full of flatten scrap clay colours. My rule for myself is to look in my binders first before opening any new clay. I try to use my scraps first.

[@thehorriblebright]

I feel this right in my leather scraps bins. Yes plural. I start out by buying scraps at my local hobby store so there is mostly really useless scraps left. I've started to throw away the vast majority but have a tenancy to err on the cautious side.

[@libertarian1637]

I built a storage cabinet for a similar sorting system to sortimo, I have glides on the cabinet that the storage containers can slide on/in to and simply have 1 set or drawer guides on a pull out platform on top which can be slid out and provides a space to set a sorting container on, and when not in use slides right back into the cabinet. My bench top drill press sit in top of the cabinet on one side and my bench grinder sits on the other, and I want to say maybe 12-15 organizers fit in each side; it is on 4 inch locking casters so it can be spun around or tucked away as my shop is only 15’x25’. I used the cases from Harbor Freight that are similar to the sortimo though at $5-$10 depending on sales a lot LOT cheaper than Festool. Though a lot of companies make similar systems now like Milwaukee and DeWalt if you prefer them. As a business owner cost and function are king and while I will spend more money on some things that get you demonstrably better life lengths sortimo simply doesn’t justify the cost over something like HF; we use the containers for storing a lot and have built similar slots on the trailers so you can swop out boxes as needed.

[@brianspenst1374]

I am a woodworker who uses a mix of reclaimed wood, store bought dimensional lumber, and wood from limbs and logs thay I mill myself. I do not have a huge shop so I have to be more discerning about what is kept. Typically all small plywood and pressboard goes in the trash. Most small bits with paint or finish also head to the trash. Anything else that is less usefull goes in boxes and a couple times a year they head to friend's houses that have woodburning stoves. So the majority of my extra scrap ends up used for further projects or providing winter heat. As Adam said though, decided which to keep id a difficult process.

[@wb5mgr]

My answer would be when it starts to encroach on your creative process or eat up your valuable shop space that could house another tool or project. One thing that my father and I used to do with materials at the end of the year that would be left over… Specifically wood (if it was not treated) we would go through and cull out Anything worth keeping and store it but any really small pieces that were just trivial we were always cut them up and put them in to 55 gallon drums that we had over by the wall and at the end of the year merry Christmas we would take a 55 gallon drum full of kindling and give it to people for their fireplace. We also used this scrap wood to heat our shop all through the winter with a wood-burning stove in the corner… So it might seem like waste but not really since we were burning it for heat. I rarely ever throw away metal scraps since you can obviously weld them, but for example in order to create more “useful scrap” when planning projects out in the drawing phase I try really hard to make sure that the scrap that will be left cutting things out will be at least semi-useful knowing that larger pieces are more useful in most cases than smaller pieces and that pieces with a straight side normally have more use. And yes for what you keep storage is key. But I never throw it in the trash per se. Really small pieces of plastic can help make great kids toys…

[@MorrisonManor]

Make the rounds at the Habitat for Humanity stores in your area for drawer slides. I can't afford Sortimo but, the Harbor Freight version (Stanley knock-off) is one I have built shelving for. Walmart has reasonably sturdy metal shelving which can be retrofitted with drawer slides on wooden end/divider panels and the whole thing can be put on casters, If you keep the two halves unstacked. It's also a very serviceable mobile worktop. H4H is also a great source for casters (Or was until Adam mentioned their usefulness).

[@Gibbtall]

I'm terrible at taking my own advice, but I usually suggest to limit your scraps by volume. Whatever your storage bin, a milk crate, a box, whatever, only keep what fits in that bin, if you have something new, toss it or something less useful to make room for it. Giving yourself the permission to hoard within limits can help.

[@frankmurphy5]

One time I left the rubber grip from a bicycle handle in the same spot on the floor for like 3 years, because everytime I looked at it I just had a feeling... Eventually it ended up being just what I needed for the handle of a portable shop light that I cobbled together out of other junk that I saved. I'm not saying it was worth it, but it was an interesting experiment. And I still use the light 💡😁

[@seldoon_nemar]

The welding shop I work at recently started sending pallets of our drops to the local tech school. the recently got like 3000# of 2" angle iron because we end up with a 50" ish drop off a bulk job we do and we all looked at the scrap bin a little queasy after every run. as makers, seeing one of those big audo dumpers loaded with material so long it hangs out the front is never a good feeling.

[@verybignw]

you might want to look into data center decommission companies like baytech recovery or the like. id be willing to bet you could get a truck load of server rail kits you could use for your organizers at low or no cost.

[@sweedon7]

I can so relate...have quite the collection of glass, wood and molding scrapes. Although I do use them as I always go to scrape drawers before buying more...but I prob could throw out some of it. Hey...love your drawers...hahahah...the ones with the see through acrylic front panel...what an awesome idea...might have to copy that idea

[@robwilkes3351]

"I did that to Will Wheaton when he wanted to do Kylo Ren". I love you Adam. You're living every nerd's dream.

[@trueblue862]

“Am I really going to need that piece?” (Chucks it I’m the bin). The perfect way to ensure that you will need it tomorrow.

[@tomcook5813]

I built a 500lb locomotive model with two 1000 watt, 24vdc batteries and RC. Made most of it from metal I gleaned from 16ga metal cabinets. I’m a hermit and mist days I’m surprised that it’s dark when I come out of the shop to go in the house..my safe little model world

[@DrewskisBrews]

I keep all my scraps as a living testament to entropy

[@gingermany6223]

A good first pass for sorting off cuts is if you can’t hold them in a safe manner for future cuts then immediately toss them in the bin. Probably obvious to most but those people that hoard 3” square of plywood know who you are!

[@raidengl]

My garage shop was a disaster zone. Then I got two seperate giftcards to the Home Depot. I used that as the catalyst to finally bring "some" order to the shop. But I have a mental block as to how to tackle the lumber storage. I still need to be able to park my car in there after I implement something to tackle it.

[@SgtMaj22]

This is tough as a scale model maker (as small as 1:285th), because even the smallest piece can find life in a diorama!

[@lyricderbin1169]

I can fill my pickup bed from a local amish mill with cutoffs and scraps for about 30 bucks. They are kiln dried and most people use it in their wood stoves. As do I, but I filter through it and find all the scraps with amazing figure and rip it into blanks that I glue together to make cutting boards, boxes and other things that end up having amazing figure and glisten depending on what direction the light hits it. A lot of oak and walnut. Most of the peices come from crotch areas. I have even gotten some cut from burls. They dont like these areas because it isnt consistent for the tongue and groove planks they make. I have made lots of money with their scraps that would have been burned.

[@AlexKiritz]

For materials that can go bad I recently found out about Ezy Storage 75 Liter IP67 containers. They're $19 at Target and you can throw a bunch of materials in them with moisture absorbers and they should last a long time.

[@jeremygagnon9277]

I built a cabinet/rack for bins similar to your sortimoe(sp?) cases. What I did was build one pull out shelf on drawer slides at a comfortable height. I think it would be pointless if you had drawer slides on all of them unless they are all at a reasonable working height.

[@davidmccarthy6061]

Adam, you are awesome!

[@blacksquirrel4008]

Hah! Just did the same thing. I just yesterday tossed the two pieces I had cut out of my Ocean Kayak while installing hatches in 1991(!) but today I thought of something I might need one for.

[@dorsk84]

As it always happens. Every! Single! Time!

[@robrussell5911]

Oh man, do I get this. I horde Delrin and metal cutoffs. I have to take your lead here and organize this stuff.

[@haydnmalyon7690]

I like the sounds the Plastic Chunks container makes.

[@ashleyeasy9076]

next episode we fix the lights :) all ways like to see what your building or fixing... keep up the vids!

[@Artorius19631]

Omg I do the same thing! If I see a bed frame made of angle iron tossed out at the curb I slam the brakes to pick it up. I need help 😁

[@CapitalNick]

I think a HUGE part of the hesitation to throw anything out is not wanting to have to buy it again. That's one of the main factors a person should consider on "should I throw this out". Well, is it worth purchasing/finding it again vs. the aggravation of clutter and accumulating stuff.

[@davidmedeiros7572]

Scraps! Oh man, I have an arch of wood I made up years ago, laminated pieces of 1/16 mahog about 1.25" thick and 2" deep in a curve, intended for part of a wooden boat breasthook. I've stood over the shop garbage bin dozens of times with that piece of wood in my hands in a state of painful deliberation and somehow it always ends up back in my storage rack! Most of the old woodworkers I know have a strict shop rule by length... nothing under 12" stays. Period.

[@WildoTheRubberFist]

I use most all my smalls to practice joining of different joints before I toss them.

[@DouglasJenkins]

Moving has always "forced" me to toss my scraps and re-evaluate my storage space and storage options. I've moved 24 times, so far! There are always some things I miss after the move!

[@shanek6582]

24 times! You don’t move out at 2:00am so you don’t have to pay rent do you? Lol, just kidding

[@DouglasJenkins]

@@shanek6582 Not quite! Presbyterian minister, in a specialized ministry with my wife, also a minister.

[@peterkelley6344]

@@DouglasJenkins I am not Presbyterian; but I do wish you, and your wife, well on your journey,

[@johntaylor1947]

Two things about keeping scrap 1 finding a organized place to put the scrap and 2 remembering you have it when you need it.

[@pirobot668beta]

I worked for a firm with a philosophy about scrap: If you haven't moved or opened the box of goodies in 6 months, get rid of it. If you need it again, it will be cheaper and better quality than the old stuff you have on hand right now. You gotta be mindful of tech that goes out of use (vacuum tubes, buggy whips, phlogistin) so you can keep legacy stuff working and the odd souvenir.

[@Urza9814]

I always save but rarely end up using my scraps. I keep trying, but rarely find them useful. But my garbage...man, I use that stuff for EVERYTHING. I have significant amounts of furniture made from cardboard boxes, plastic jars and tubs, ripped up and worn out clothes or bed sheets...scraps are scraps but trash is freakin treasure... xD Of course, this means I have multiple closets and cabinets full of "trash"... Just waiting for the days when I need twenty big plastic jars or two dozen empty spice containers or fifteen identical cardboard boxes...

[@tacet3045]

I find in that all makers work to a modified Parkinson's Law, that instead of "work expanding to fit the time available" Stuff accumulates to fill the storage available. In my experience while we do horde inordinate amounts of what would generally be considered scrap we do also slowly consign the worst of it to the dump. Although that is because we have generated new scrap and if we didn't chuck the truly useless stuff we would no longer be able to use the work bench. Case in point, today out of a 3mm plate steel off cut of off cuts, a desk draw handle, part of a trailer bed and a spring latch I rebuilt a security shutter attachment. All out of stuff from the scrap bins

[@jeffreylehn8803]

A friend of mine would scrap any bar stock that was under a12" long , I have found as a model builder (steam engines and gas engines )that anything under 3" long goes into the bin otherwise the shop is too cluttered .

[@skunked42]

Love the Sortimo boxes. Milwaukee, Stanley, Craftsman and I think Husky make some less slick but less spendy versions.

[@TechnologistAtWork]

I keep enough scraps for a single job. Having more means you create more scraps than you use them. Scraps are awesome but within reason. My scraps either have a project in mind when I look at them, or they're perfect as a complementary piece to something I may never know if I need. Keeping enough for one job is the healthy amount for me.

[@darcyj19]

I would add one thing to the "keep" list, and that is small cuts of wood that would fit easily in your palm. Reason: One is *always* needing another chock or shim. Always.

[@weedfreer]

Hey Adam...how about you look into starting a national Cosplay museum...you could display your costumes *and* run workshops and experience days. Also, if there was going to be such a place, I couldn't imagine anywhere more appropriate than the very city you're based.

[@keefjunior4061]

We made a few hundred pounds of Delrin cuts today. Big, 8" diameter, .8" thick rounds. Just tossed in the trash. I grabbed about 30 pounds worth myself .

[@nerdfulthings4670]

It's hard to throw out any tech stuff in my town. maybe twice a year is a toxic waste collection, usually the day I am away or working. Electronics, maybe in a nearby city rarely. Scopes, test equipment, decades of hobby projects. metal like disk brakes, motors, air compressor tanks. I was saving a pile for a nearby scrapyard, even cat converters from my 20+ year old cars and wood stove, they closed up.

[@drsquirrel00]

I fill the space I have and thin out as I need more. If you work with wood, having a wood stove helps...

[@ernestvenn8291]

So when will we see the Adam Savage museum?

[@melgross]

I have the same problem. I find that small pieces of anything can be used for various fixtures. I’ll save odd bits of metal, and go and quickly weld them together for a fixture, or some odd shaped part I don’t want to machine out of solid. It’s really difficult to let materials go. It’s so expensive, particularly these days, to buy materials, that a small piece of bronze might cost $30! Throw that away? Crazy!

[@lucidlx]

You should do a museum with all of your costumes!

[@bluegizmo1983]

I think putting all the costumes on mannequins and then having them setup on an airport style baggage claim conveyor where they revolve around on the belt constantly but you can only see a small number of them at a time because the rest are on the conveyor behind the wall would be a perfect way to display them!

[@Billybob09871]

I really need to see an aluminium tactical case one day build now.