4 Easy Scrap Wood Gifts
A growing scrap pile is a good source of small projects if you design around the material you already have.
These four gift ideas turn leftover wood and upcycled materials into useful projects that can each be finished in an afternoon.
4 Scrap Wood Gifts Video
Four Practical Projects From Workshop Scraps
The goal of this video was to find projects that are useful, giftable and small enough to make from the leftovers that accumulate around a workshop.
Cedar Soap Dishes
Cedar deck-board scraps become simple soap dishes with grooves that let water drain away from the bar. They are fast to batch and make a practical small gift.
Hardwood Coasters
Small hardwood offcuts can be turned into a matching coaster set. A reusable router template makes it easier to keep the shape consistent when making several at once.
Modern Kitchen Trivet
The trivet uses scrap hardwood to create a simple heat-resistant surface for hot pans while still looking clean enough to leave out on the counter.
Sunglasses Holder
This project combines scrap wood with an old leather belt to create an organizer that stores several pairs of glasses without taking up much space.
All four builds are intentionally approachable and make use of material that might otherwise stay in the scrap bin indefinitely.
Tools & Hardware
Quick links to grab some of the tools, materials and finishing products used in these projects.1
Rockler Router Guide Bushing Kit
Used with the router template to create repeatable shapes when making the hardwood coasters.
Buy on Amazon
DEWALT 2-1/4 HP Router with Plunge Base
The router used with templates and guide bushings for shaping several of the small project parts.
Buy on Amazon
0000 Sanding Pads
Extra-fine pads used for light surface preparation and smoothing between finishing steps.
Buy on Amazon
TotalBoat Halcyon Clear Satin Finish
A clear protective finish used to protect the wood while keeping the natural color and grain visible.
Buy on Amazon
Cedar Deck Boards
Cedar decking provides the moisture-resistant stock used to make the soap dishes.
Buy at Lowe's
Aluminum Setup Blocks
Useful for fast, repeatable setup when positioning fences, blades and router bits.
Buy on Amazon
Benchtop Disc and Belt Sander
Useful for shaping small parts and quickly cleaning up edges during these batch projects.
Buy on Amazon
Digital Calipers
Helpful for checking small dimensions and keeping repeatable parts consistent.
Buy on Amazon
Grip-Rite Common Nails
1-1/2-inch common nails used for the sunglasses holder. I cut them down to approximately 3/4 inch for this project.
Buy at Lowe's1 Some of the product links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them - at no extra cost to you. Using these links helps support the channel and lets me keep creating woodworking and workshop projects like this one. Thank you for your support!