Woodworking projects from scrap wood
- By LAUREN THOMANN
- February 27, 2023
- Updated on 12/20/22
- Fact checked by SEAN BLACKBURN
Explore these easy ideas for scrap wood and suggestions to explore! These simple wood projects are great for beginners woodworking projects!
If you’re woodworker, then you’re likely seeking simple wood projects that you can make from scrap constantly!
Unique wood projects
Making a simple wall shelf from a pallet is an easy project that wouldn’t stress you
out with heavy labor. The most complicated step from this project could be the cutting of pallet, where a sawzall might be needed. All other steps simply include
screwing the wood pieces into place and adding your finishing touches. Estimated Time – 1 hour.
Tools
- Drill
- Sawzall/Reciprocating Saw
- Handsaw
- Orbital Sander
- Paintbrush
- 1 Pallet
- Sandpaper
- 1/8″ Drill Bit
- Paint & Stain
- 1 5/8″ Wood Screw
There are countless of beginner tutorial on how to create a basic table, but this one stands out as its final product is a nice piece that you can use to style your home porch or garden. Simple cuts and screws are the majority of the making process, perfect for everyone just starting out. Estimated Time – 2 hours.
Tools
- Any saw available capable of cutting through lumber
- Drill Bit
Wood and other materials
- Lumber
- Stain or paint
- Screws
- Sandpaper
This project is the ingenious solution to couch potato coffee-lovers always trying to find places for their hot beverage. The simple steps needed in creating this piece include cutting the wood into proper pieces, drilling a hole to serve as the cup holder. Estimated Time – 1 hour.
Tools
- Clamps (at least 8″” long)
- Hole saw in diameter of your choice
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Power drill
Wood and other materials
- Wooden board
- Plywood
- Wood glue
- Wood stain
- Sandpaper
- Steel wool
- Polyurethanse
Recycle an old chunk of wood and bring to life a rustic looking candle holder with this simple woodworking project. All it takes is a bit of drilling and nailing some pieces into place—a great practice for newbies for no/minimal cost. Estimated Time – 1 hour.
Tools
- Saw
- Drill
Wood and other materials
- Achunk of rough sawn wood or any old plank of scrap wood
- Horseshoes
- Hammer
- Nails
- Protective finish
Achieve a neat and clutter-free TV area by making your very own media box. The homey feel of the wood is a perfect contrast to the technology the project would support and be useful for. It is an awesome conversation-starter when you have guests at your home. Estimated Time – 1 hour.
Tools
- Two clamps
- Saw (for cutting wood into desired dimension)
Wood and other materials
- 3 pieces of any wood
- Sanding block
- Wood glue
- Clear spray finish
Spruce up your doorway entrance with this multipurpose DIY project. With this wood piece, you’ll get an address number indicator, a wall planter, and a decorative item all out of simple project! It wouldn’t take a lot of time, plus you’ll get to try out your first few power tools. Estimated Time – 1 hour.
Tools
- Drill
- Electric sander
Wood and other materials
- Cedar fence picket
- Cedar Board
- Metal address numbers
- Plants (succulents)
- Wood stain
This simple project will let you come up with a perfect present for yourself, your spouse, friend or any home cook you know who likes experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. Just a few hours of simple work can produce an item can both accommodate traditional and techy chefs, as it can serve as both Cookbook Stand and a Tablet Holder. Estimated Time – 3-4 hours.
Tools
- Miter saw
- 2bar clamps
- Orbital palm sander
- Drill
Wood and other materials
- New or reclaimed wood (7/8″ thick)
- Eye protection
- Measuring tape
- Combo square
- Wood glue
- 1-1/4″ self-boring wood screws
- All natural hemp oil or wood finish of your choice
- Natural bristle brush or lint-free cloth
- Drill bit and driver bit with countersink
If you’ve got a few woodworking tools at hand, a lot of scrap wood lying around your workshop, and a productive idea, you’ll have a fun time making decorative pieces through wood projects. After making these candle holders from scrap plywood, you’ll surely get a good feeling and a true DIY-er satisfaction from saving your former “trash” and making them into beautiful wood pieces. Estimated Time – 3 hours.
Tools
- Hole saw
- Bench Sander
- Bench Vise (optional)
- Drill bit
- Bar clamp
Wood and other materials
- Scrap plywood
- Wood glue
- Sandpaper
- Clear poly
- Tea lights
Easy to do, cheap, and simple—bird feeders are always among the first projects anyone tries when starting to learn about woodwork and carpentry. It’s a great piece to work on for newbies, as it would challenge your cutting and assembling abilities. As it will be left outside, it will test the quality of your woodwork, too; based on how long can it stand the weather and other external elements. Estimated Time – less than 20 minutes
Tools
- Mitre saw
- Drill
Wood and other materials
- Cedar board
- Wood glue
- Wood screws (1 1/4″)
- Rope
- Bird seed
Let your kids experience the fruit of your hard work when you make this DIY Tree swing. The simplicity of this project will bring smiles to the kiddos and maybe some adults, too! Have a go at it and see how a few minutes of woodwork can make a difference in your family’s way of having fun. Estimated Time – 30 minutes
Tools
- Drill & drill bit
Wood and other materials
- Wood planks (5 ft of 1″ x .75″)
- Wooden beads (1″)
- Braided nylon rope (20ft of 3/8″)
- Sandpaper
- Polyurethane sealer (optional)
- Metal rings (at least 2)
- Hanging apparatus for tree swing
A few items above this project is a bottle holder, yet it can only hold a single bottle at a time. If you’re more of a wine person and you require more storage for your most prized wine bottles, you have to do a bottle holder that can accommodate more than just one. And you need not complicate it: just a simple wood plank wine rack like this can do. Estimated Time – 20 minutes
Tools
- Drill press (can do angled cuts) with forstner bit (1.25″)
Wood and other materials
- Cedar (or wood plank of your preference)
- Sandpaper
- Tape measure
- Pencil
A handmade gift is always a thoughtful gesture, and one of the safe options for gifts to any professional people you know, like your child’s teacher or your colleague, is a pencil holder. This DIY project won’t take you a long time to make and it is the perfect representation of your thoughtfulness, too! Estimated Time – 1 hour
Tools
- Ryobi Drill and Drill and Drive Kit
- Paint Brush
Wood and other materials
- Scrap wood
- Scrapbook Paper
- Mod Podge Satin
- Metallic Paint in Rose Gold
- Mod Podge Tool Set
The doorway to your home is the first thing any family member and guest would enter. While there are many decorative and doormats in stores, a wooden DIY welcome mat has a more homey feel. Besides, it would surely cost less when you have turn your scrap woods into something you can use, too! This project is so easy you can do it while bonding with your little one. Estimated Time – 1 hour
Tools
- Handsaw
- 3/8-inch drill bit
Wood and other materials
- Sixteen 2-by-2s (in your local hardware; or cut any wood by yourself)
- Six feet of 1/4-inch sisal
Closet organization can be tough, but the key to making your closet neat is by designating places for specific types of clothing and accessories. With this DIY project, you can assign specific place for your scarves and also save some drawer space for other clothing items. It’s cute and a breeze to make! Estimated Time – 1 hour
Tools
- Jigsaw or band saw
- Hole saw (1.5″)
- Paint Brush
Wood and other materials
- Masonite (3/8″)
- Paint
A wooden lazy Susan can easily cost you over $100 in your favorite home depot or furniture shop. Why not make it yourself, so you can save up some bucks and be filled with pride everytime you look at your dining table’s centrepiece? Believe us, this wouldn’t take all day. Estimated Time – 1 hour
Tools
- Jigsaw or any saw you can use for circular cut (if you are cutting your own wood)
Wood and other materials
- Pine (Round; prefabbed)
- Rotating spice holder
- Paint or Stain
- Strong glue
Woodworking projects with scraps
Scrap wood woodworking projects
It’s like – larger the project the more piles of wood scrap!
I have a large pile of wood scraps in my workshop that is filled with random pieces of wood in various shapes and sizes . It is enjoyable to think of ideas and projects that can make use of that scrap wood in a productive way.
These scrap wood projects simple and quick to create (hello! instant gratification! ) Also, they provide the perfect gift idea and home decor ideas, as well as organizing projects.
First , let me introduce myself. I constructed an organizer made of scrap wood using scrap wood. However, I’m required to continue to tackle my ever-growing piles of scrap wood in order to manage it.
Scrap wood projects that are easy to make
As I said Scrap wood can be used to make an excellent system of organization!
These scrap wood projects provide great woodworking project ideas for novices.
Below are some projects that were made with scrap wood. Click the project’s name to view the complete details. A majority of them also include printable plans are available to download, and then take along for your next workshop.
Do your piles of scrap wood seems to be getting larger and bigger? It’s not really helpful to you but you’re unable to convince yourself to dispose of it? If that’s the case then you’re not just one of us!
There are a lot of innovative, imaginative innovative, original, fun and exciting projects that can make use of your wood scraps! In this collection we’ve included 100 projects using scrap wood that will make you reconsider the value of your wood scrap pile! Check it out and try out these incredible ideas!
Woodworking scrap wood projects – FAQ
- Wooden signs.
- Wooden pallets.
- Kitchen products.
- A cutting board.
- Furniture.
- Surfboards.
- Boxes.
- Candle holders.
- DIY Laptop Stand for Desk. Make your workspace more ergonomic with this easy DIY laptop stand.
- DIY Wood Wall Clock Using Scrap Plywood.
- DIY Footrest Under Desk.
- DIY Dog Bowl Stand.
- DIY Solar Light Post.
- DIY Lap Desk.
- DIY Mail Organizer.
- Mason Jar Organizer.
Wood is an integral part of our daily lives. It is the building material for our homes, furniture and tall buildings as well as decks and flooring, toys and even kitchen appliances.