When I process any wood, green or dry, I keep the smaller useful pieces, often ending up with a box or three of pieces cut to size for pen blanks - some nicely figured, spalted, good color, some great exotic woods (cocobolo, olive, etc). I don't turn pens so I save them for the club "Pens for Troops" project, drying first if needed, discarding those that warp too much.
Occasionally I'll tape together bundles of a dozen nice pen blanks for our club auctions. I'm always amazed at the prices these bring. These I lay flat in a row and bind with clear packing tape to let them see the sides of the wood in the bundle.
I also know someone who does wonderful inlays so pieces with interesting figure or color go into another box for him to look through.
Other sizes and shapes not otherwise useful go into tubs. I've taken these to high school art teachers for students to glue together, color, and make masterpieces!. Various thin rectangular pieces are great, keeps them out of the burn barrel. Some teachers may like little burl offcuts, even with bark, to hot-glue into sculptures or 3d pictures. (Tip: some schools struggle with funding and some teachers buy supplies with their own money.)
Even small pieces of plywood with one smooth side don't get wasted. After my 3-year-old grandson saw some in my shop and asked if he could draw on one I prepared several boxes of random sizes for pre-school teachers (I sanded edges and corners smooth - 1/2" Radiata pine is perfect for this). Little kids hardly EVER get to draw with markers on anything but paper!
BTW, this is the self portrait the grandson, at age 3, drew on his piece of plywood. He said he had lightning coming from his hands and fire from his feet! I display it along with art from Italy and prized pieces from other turners!
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JKJ
