5 Tips for Eco-Friendly Woodworking

Wood on table saw - 5 tips for eco-friendly woodworking

Woodworking provides you with a lifetime of challenges, fun, and learning. One aspect that we often overlook, however, is how our hobby affects the environment, both locally and abroad. Let us take a closer look at a few ways you can make your woodworking more eco-friendly and sustain it for years to come.

1.  Be Responsible with Chemicals


VOCs and Alternatives

Woodshops often contain various products with harmful chemicals in them. One group of compounds that is not friendly to the environment are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

These organic chemicals evaporate into the air quickly, producing odors that you can smell. Exposure may irritate the nose or throat, but long-term effects are more serious (organ or tissue damage and even cancers). VOCs are found in products like:

  • Paints
  • Finishes
  • Cleaners and Solvents
  • Fillers

So, how can you go green with these? Find eco-friendly alternatives, like water-based paints or stains. There are also wood fillers and shop cleaners that are VOC-free. Switching to eco-friendly woodworking products in the shop is healthy for you and makes cleanup and disposal a green proposition.

Proper Storage and Disposal of Unused Materials

Proper material storage and disposal is another way that you can become an environmentally-friendly woodworker.

One of the first lessons I learned was to not over-purchase. Buying in bulk might save some money, but in reality, you could end up throwing a lot of unused products away. Purchase what you need for one or two projects, and you will find that your shop produces more items and less waste.

Store unused materials properly so that they will not evaporate, harden, or otherwise spoil. Double-check that your containers seal correctly and that everything is at the right temperature. Inspect containers regularly to avoid leaks (or worse).

Unused chemicals or wood not used in the short-term can be donated to another woodworker, a club, or advertised online for free pick up. That saves you from having to dispose of them and lets you help someone else out.

If you are unable to give something away, for whatever reason, you then need to consider how you will dispose of it in an eco-friendly manner. Begin with researching local government ordinances. Some agencies offer residents drop-off locations for items or have specific laws regarding legal disposal procedures.

Various disposal companies also offer customers services for removing unwanted chemicals or scraps of wood. Manufacturers will also indicate how their products should be stored and disposed of safely.

Taking precautions and preparing ahead of time will prevent damage to your property and injuries to yourself or others. Proper disposal can also keep damage to animals, plants and the environment to a minimum.

2.  Buy Sustainable, Locally Sourced Lumber


Recycling Wood

Salvaging wood, or sourcing it locally, has become a popular way for woodworkers to become eco-friendly. It reduces waste and helps to promote proper forestry.

Many towns and cities are renovating existing buildings. Even more rural areas have properties where old structures are being torn down and replaced with something more modern. These projects create an abundance of used lumber, much of which is sound enough to be used on your upcoming projects.

You might get lucky and have someone give you these waste materials for free. Other times, you might have to pay for the breakdown and removal of the wood. That includes fallen trees or forest areas that need clearing (you will have to pay someone to mill the trees for you).

Local Lumber Mills

The next best green option is to buy your timber at a local mill. Lumber mills will have different wood species salvaged from forests, parks and private property. You can get lumber in various sizes, depending upon the species and how large it grows before harvesting.

Substituting Common Wood for Exotic Species

Another eco-friendly consideration is using local building materials in place of exotic woods. Most beginners will start with firs and pines used for framing lumber, as well as panel goods. Laminations, stains, and paints can disguise these materials as something else (or hide them all together) if you don’t like the look of your local timber.

How Will this Help?

Recycling building materials allows you to repurpose them instead of sending them to a landfill. You will also need fewer pieces of new wood for your hobby.

Buying from a local mill keeps it going while promoting environmentally sound forestry practices. It is easier to verify eco-friendly business practices nearby than at a remote location in another country. Getting material closer to home also uses less fossil fuel for transportation.

It may be nice to work with various wood, but it can deplete endangered species that take a long time to grow. Using common woods like pines and firs uses species that grow in abundance and replenish quickly.

3.  Have A Plan For Scrap Wood


Wood scraps - 5 tips for eco-friendly woodworking

One way you can make your shop green is to reduce the amount of scrap wood waste. Instead of throwing it away, you can:

You can work the smallest pieces of wood into something practical or fun. Games, puzzles, and toys are a favorite. Outdoor decorations, like caddies or window boxes, can be made from scraps.

If you have a chipper, you can turn wood into chips to mulch your yard or garden. That makes a natural mulch that will break down over time, feeding your soil as it does. Just avoid using wood that has been in contact with chemicals.

Finally, a small amount of scrap in your fireplace will keep you warm on a cold winter night!

4.  Borrow Tools


Having a fully stocked woodshop might be nice, but it does you little good if those tools are not in use. You can save money (and the environment) by pooling resources with others and sharing woodworking tools. One community tool takes the place of several of the same tools in each woodworker’s shop.

If you are just starting your woodworking journey, I can say with confidence that the only tool worth investing in is a good table saw which you can buy on a budget. You may be tempted to buy more tools, but a good table saw will allow you to make all the cuts that you need.

5.  Stay Committed


It can be hard to stay the course of going green. The benefits, however, are crucial to all of us.

We can lead healthier lives by watching what we introduce into the environment. Staying committed to recycled or locally sourced materials will improve our planet and allow us to leave something more than some cabinetry behind for future generations.

A Better Environment Starts in the Shop


Woodworking is fun, but it can also present you with problems as you try to live green.

Buy what you need and use it properly. Give extra away or store it. If you have to get rid of it, do so safely.

Recycling, sharing, and buying local are more than trends; they represent a clear path to an eco-friendly woodworking shop.

Feature image: Ivan Samkov; Image 1: Lum3n

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