What to do with sawdust

[matt_w]

I've been cutting up wood for a while for our fire now and I always have sawdust left over. At first it got mixed in with compost, then given to friends for use on alotments, but eventually you end up with too much of the stuff. I started to collect it and bung a cup full on the wood burner now and again, but I scared myself with a mini dust explosion. Now what I do is to save any card containers and as tightly as possible pack the sawdust in, then chuck that on the fire. Seems to stay in one piece without the sawdust seperating.

Anyone have any other uses for it or safe ways to burn it?

[MuddyWitch]

We 'wrap' saw dust in old newspapers too, to burn; dampen the news paper, spinkle saw dust on, roll up tightly to avoid the dust explosion. It also gets used on our grass paths to try to soak up some of the mud in the Winter.

MW

[matt_w]

We 'wrap' saw dust in old newspapers too, to burn; dampen the news paper, spinkle saw dust on, roll up tightly to avoid the dust explosion. It also gets used on our grass paths to try to soak up some of the mud in the Winter.

MW

how much saw dust do you put inside the newspaper, are you talking a light sprinking or big fat sausage amounts?
Thanks!

[Green Aura]

I think you can make logs out of it with one of these

http://www.logmaker.org.uk/

[MuddyWitch]

We put a layer about 1/2cm or 1/4 inch thick on each page & wrap whilst the paper is still just damp, so it 'sticks' both to sides in the roll. We then leave it on the hearth overnight to dry, or in the conservatory on a sunny day. (Remember those? )

MW

[indy]

I have to say that at the moment because of the absolutely pouring rain I am sacrificing my sawdust for my hens, the ground round their house has just got so muddy am strawing and sawdusting it everyday both for them and for me cos I'm likely to go tail over tip lol. Gives them something to amuse them too

[Bonniegirl]

Use it as mulch on borders?

[TheGoodEarth]

Hamster bedding?

[Fred Hoggin]

Sprinkle it on BBQ just before cooking.

Not sure if it works for all types we use Oak, fantastic smokey flavour.

[countrygirl]

We use sawdust in our dog kennels. Fresh in a morning. We use it when it is wet, miserable weather. The dogs go out and come back cold and wet. The sawdust dries their coat out and warms them up beautifully. It is cleaned out later on in the day and fresh teabag clippings (the excess edges left from the teabags when they are being made) put in the kennels ready for a good nights sleep.

[Minnesota]

I'm wondering if what you brits are calling saw dust is
more like Chainsaw wood bits ?

ANYWAY, I use the small wood bits (from Chainsawing logs) to make firestarters for the woodstove, I pack the bits into empty egg cartons (the paper type) and then pour molten wax over it (I get half used candles from neighbors and friends, they normally just throw them away), OH and the wax needs to be almost smoking hot, it will foam up as it is poured onto the bits, Do this outside, it's dangerous getting wax that hot, the smoke/vapor is highly flamable.

[Treelover]

nice tips! i mix sawdust - we bought a chainsaw - with coal dust and mix it in with paper pulp and make it into briquettes in an ordinary seive, compressing by hand. slow, but one of those jobs to do a bit at a time through the summer. i like the firelighter idea, and i shall certainly try packing cardboard cartons because the solid fuel stove eats most things happily.