An 'offcut' refers to a piece of material, such as wood, fabric, metal, or paper, that is left over after a larger piece has been cut or trimmed for a specific purpose. These remnants are typically considered unusable for the primary project but may still hold value for smaller tasks or be repurposed. The size and shape of an offcut vary depending on the original piece and the cuts made, often representing the waste product of a manufacturing or construction process. They can also be described as scraps or waste material.
Offcut meaning with examples
- The carpenter carefully measured the timber for the window frame, leaving a pile of offcuts. These smaller pieces, though not suitable for the frame itself, could be used for creating small decorative items or for building birdhouses. The workshop always kept a box to put their offcuts in for later usage rather than just discarding them.
- After cutting the fabric for the curtains, the seamstress gathered the offcuts. She planned to use these fabric scraps to create matching cushion covers or patch smaller items. This prevented waste and made full use of the expensive material. Recycling the offcuts was a more environmentally sustainable practice, aligning with her studio’s ethos to recycle everything possible.
- The metalworker generated several offcuts when shaping the sheet metal for the car body panels. These discarded pieces, which had a distinctive shape from the initial cuts, were likely to be sold as scrap metal, contributing to the recycling efforts. His recycling of the metal offcuts made the business much more profitable, with a steady source of revenue.
- The print shop produced numerous paper offcuts after trimming the brochures to size. These small pieces, too narrow to be used for any further printing, went into the recycling bin. These smaller pieces were recycled, turning into a much greener process.
- I made sure to cut the materials as efficiently as possible, keeping the offcuts to a minimum. That way, I would only create the exact amount of materials required, saving myself both money and time. With my efficient technique, there were very few offcuts to worry about.