I don’t believe in scrap. By that I mean I regularly use it to make something else instead of getting rid of it. But this time the scrap became an entire, ready-to-go separate project.

It doesn’t matter how small it is, I firmly believe that if you keep it long enough any piece of leftover wood will be useful. That usually means that it will be cut again to become a smaller part or component of a new project. But earlier this summer I made something where the offcut immediately became a finished project in its own right.

The original project was a hanging circular birdbath made of cross-wise pieces of cedar. A basin fitted into a round opening in the center of the construct holds the water for the birdies to frolic in. To make the opening I first completed the birdbath, and then used a jigsaw to cut the opening in the center. The birdbath came out great, but that perfectly circular cutout of overlaid cedar was just too cool to toss out. As I was planning a cookout for dinner that evening, I stumbled upon the perfect use for it.

Other than sanding the outside edge to remove the jigsaw marks, my new grill trivet required no additional work whatsoever. It was even the right size to fit the side shelf on my grill. Best of all, it actually looks like I made it intentionally for the purpose it ended up serving. (In fact, my wife thought I had.)

Once again, I am vindicated in my faith in the usefulness of scrap wood. Oops, did I say scrap?

“There’s no such thing as scrap.” Say it. Believe it. Live by it.

A.J.