Mark the Waste Side of the Wood.

Another simple handy woodworking tip is to mark the waste side of the wood in a very clear obvious way, the part that is to be cut off.

Mistake: You have just measured out the area, measured out the wood, take it to the saw and cut the wrong side, leaving the work piece short.

Good side of the wood.

Above we see the wood ready to be cut. Its all measured out.

Note that on the Right-Hand side we see a scribble.

The reason for the Scribble is to remind us that this is the side of the wood that is waste, the part that we don’t want. It also means that it is on the scribbled side that we cut with the saw bade to ensure accuracy and the full measured amount is the result.

Image 1

Image 2 & Image 3

Image 2 and Image 3 shows a different way of doing this where the Measured Line is made, and added to the bottom is a “tick” which always points to the side that is waste.

On the Right-Hand Side (Image 3) we only want a small bit of wood, and on the Left-Hand Side (Image 2) we want a larger piece of wood for whatever it is that we are working on.

Waste Side

Some people mark a few “X’s” on the waste side as is seen in Image 4.

The idea is to make an obvious mark that will show you clearly every time what the waste side is and what the good side is. I have measured woo that is nearly identical on both sides, but one has damage on the other side, screwed or nailed it to a project only to realise that I had grabbed the wrong piece of wood and it is not only the wrong size by a small amount of the other side it is damaged.

If I had made obvious marks then I would have instantly known which wood to use.

All the best from

James M Sandbrook.

14th of April, 2021.

Image 4

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