Ever Just Throw It Away?

[barehandcustoms]

Yup, Sometimes you just have to accept things aren't going to turn out right. If it happens a lot then I would suggest buying a pack of the thickest art paper you can find. Practice on it before you start laying a blade to leather. Generally you will find most of the flaws in your new design and save yourself some money.

Your time is generally the most expensive resource involved in a project. Don't be afraid to call it quits when something just isn't going to work out right.

[meagain]

I just made a fun little heart shaped coaster. (Bought a bag of 25 coasters for practice). I painted it, then changed the color, then changed it again and.... I wouldn't be surprised if it's still tacky 4 days out.

I have learned to only work when in the right mindset/mood. This is key for me. And yes, know when to step away!

[cgleathercraft]

If I got a dollar for every item I've tossed or scrapped over the past 3 years or so. I'd probably have enough to pay for half my tools. Tossed 3 things in the past month.

1. poor design with a possible salvage, not sure yet.

2. was a mistake, went to the trash

3. a belt I started before I had all the requirements from the customer. salvageable just need to keep working on it.

Learn from every piece, good or bad.

[Grumpy Coyote]

Scrap box is full of mistakes, tests, and really bad ideas. It's all part of the process in my opinion. You can't make something new unless you risk messing up.

I don't toss 'em though... I can usually salvage bits for other projects or more experimentation.

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

Like many of the others, I don't toss my screw-ups. I keep them as a reminder. Usually my screw-ups are saddle parts, which can mean a pretty big piece of really good stuff. There's no getting any useable scrap out of a ruined swell cover, but a fender that maybe didn't get cut perfect or ended up a little too soft at one end or the other can provide quite a few solid useable pieces. I don't think I've ever just pitched a screw-up, but then I hate to throw anything that might possibly have a use or serve as a valuable reminder.

[Goldshot Ron]

My mistakes are used for practice tooling, and eventually end up in the trash. I've torn pieces off of my work days after completing just because I kept thinking about the screw-up. I have a couple of customers that go through my trash when they visit. So not to feel wasteful, I toss practice pieces in the trash before they arrive. Let one man's trash be another man's treasure.

Edited August 14, 2014 by Goldshot Ron