@PopularMechanics _ May 2019 53IL
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That stuff in the dust collector may be a waste product,
but it need not be wasted. Here’s a few ways to use it.
/ BY ROY BERENDSOHN /Save Your Sawdust
COMPOST
Sawdust is a
potent ingredi-
ent in a compost
pile. A rich source
of carbon, even a
small amount of
sawdust goes a
long way toward
achieving the
optimal carbon/
nitrogen ratio
needed for good
compost. (Details
about the com-
posting process
and proportions of
ingredients can be
found on the web-
site of the Penn
State Cooperative
Extension Service,
extension.psu.edu.)BLOTTING
MATERIAL
Spill something
on the shop floor?
Throw down some
sawdust and let it
sit for a few min-
utes, then scoop or
sweep up the pile.
Let’s say the spill
was something
gross, like your
dog taking a leak.
Scoop up the soggy
first coat of saw-
dust, then apply a
fresh scattering of
it. Sprinkle a gen-
erous helping of
liquid disinfectant
like Lysol over the
pile and let it set
for a few minutes.
The sawdust forms
a poultice with the
cleaner. Scoop it
up, let the remain-
ing dust dry, then
sweep. You’d never
know. Pro tip: Pine
sawdust is particu-
larly absorptive.WOOD FILLER
Mixing sawdust
and various
adhesives makes
excellent and
inexpensive paint-
grade wood filler
(for filling up holes
or gouges in wood).
Use white glue,
carpenter’s glue,
waterproof glue,
or epoxy. Apply
the adhesive to the
sawdust and mix
with a putty knife.
Spread it in the
void, then wait
for it to dry. Com-
plete the patch by
sanding it smooth.
Note: I haven’t
tried this with
expanding glues
like Gorilla Glue.HAND CLEANER
Table-saw sawdust
makes an excel-
lent heavy-duty
hand cleaner when
mixed with Gojo,
dish detergent,
Bon Ami, or other
gentle cleaners. My
favorite blend con-
sists of hardwoods
like oak and maple
with a little pine
sawdust thrown
in for consistency.
Form a paste
of sawdust and
cleaner, then work
it in thoroughly to
remove paint and
grease. It sounds
old-timey, but this
works so well that
I keep a bag of
sawdust with
my painting sup-
plies. It’s amazing
what the blend
will take off.Speaking of Sawdust
Check out Sandra Powell, a.k.a. Sawdust Girl.
At sawdustgirl.com she posts home projects
she’s working on—we like her versatile set of
cantilevered shelf brackets, which are strong
and simple to build and install. Her favorite
source of sawdust? The Festool Domino
joiner. “It gives me strong, invisible joints,”
she says, “but is superfast and easy to use.”WOOD SHAVINGS
Wood shavings from hand-
planing lumber—especially
hardwood—make excellent
packing material. Techni-
cally called “excelsior,” it’s
perfect for packing some-
thing you built yourself.BONUS!