Take the Aargh Out of Saving Your Sweeps

If you save your metal sweeps when sawing or filing, this tip can be very helpful.

Buy plastic containers with lids one for each type of metal you use. I have separate ones for sterling, gold, and base metals. Label each lid.

Place the right container under your bench pin to catch metal as you saw, file, or clip.

Be sure to switch containers when changing metals. Catching metal this way is easier than sweeping a drawer beneath your bench pin.

One caution from experience: move the container away when soldering.

When you're ready to recycle your scrap, it's all neatly collected and ready to go.