The Fine Art of Salvage...

[GPW]

With the new Green consciousness, and the need to re-cycle , we've taken to picking up things here and there that might have possibilities in TD construction...Takes a keen eye to find something usable, but you'd be amazed at what you can find for free... Went to a friends guitar shop/factory the other day , in the back was an old warehouse filled with all sort of "goodies" that could be used in TD construction...I talked to the owner,told him what I was making, he said "Help Yourself"...Lots of good wood,accessories...He said all I had to do was bring it by and show him what I had made...
I also pass by home construction/remodeling sites... They throw away what we would have to buy..Lots of good wood in reasonable lengths ....cabinets with perfectly good doors...fixtures...
With a little scavenging, I think we could build a TD for free(almost)...and do our bit for re-cycling too... Very Green!!!!

[Bristol Delica]

I'm a constant emabarassment to my daughter as I find it difficult to drive past a dumpster or construction or demolition site without having a quick look to see what will come in handy for a project I haven't even thought of yet.

From time to time my wife makes me throw some of this stuff away and, dontcha know it, within a week something that's gone would have been really useful!

One man's junk is another man's treasure

IanJ

[kartvines]

I posted a add in freecycle saying that if they had a old trailer they were going to scrap I would like to be able to strip it of usable parts, so far I got one response, he was rather unhappy that I took so few items, he promised to call me when he had another one, being he only wanted the framed, but so far nothing. But you never know who may read my ad some day and decide they no longer wanted their old broken down needed restored trailer and they may still call me and the add was free

[len19070]

I never consider myself a Scavenger, Trash Picker or Scrounger....

I'm an "Agressive Recycler"

Happy Trails

Len

[Mini Renegade]

I'm a constant emabarassment to my daughter as I find it difficult to drive past a dumpster or construction or demolition site without having a quick look to see what will come in handy for a project I haven't even thought of yet.

From time to time my wife makes me throw some of this stuff away and, dontcha know it, within a week something that's gone would have been really useful!

One man's junk is another man's treasure

IanJ

Amen brother Amen.

[bobhenry]

I have well over $1000.00 in savings on my build by keeping my eyes open. The lexan on my see thru roof is well over 100.00 a sheet I got 6 For $50.00 they were weather covers for commercial skylights.

Goodwill has supplied numerious electrical and electronic goodies as well as my propane cook top!

Yard sale windows and lights as well as extra tires on the right rims no less!

Hell I found my matress by the curb waiting for the trash man in front of a beautiful well kept home. I was spotless why it was tossed is beyond me
it was beautiful.

[Jst83]

I never consider myself a Scavenger, Trash Picker or Scrounger....

I'm an "Agressive Recycler"

Happy Trails

Len

Me I'm a dumpster diver
Got a lot of the wood from the dumpsters where they were building my house. Also got a roll of carpet padding. I didn't even pay for the trailer, A lady was giving it away it had sat beside her house in the weeds for years.

[EffieRover]

Passing any junk pile used to be impossible for me ... then I started working out of my house and I no longer pass by them. I almost wish people would post ads when they throw stuff out

[48Rob]

almost wish people would post ads when they throw stuff out

They often do...

Keep an eye on Craigslist and Kijiji.

Here's a recent example;

8 ft. heavy workbench

I am a widow who is cleaning out the garage. I have a very heavy, 8 ft. wood workbench. It will take a good size truck to haul it. It's free to good home. lol call 217 260 2965 Danville, IL free Champaign Oct-16-08

And some RV parts;

Craigslist link

Rob

[jeepr]

Anyone else heard of the "Sheeny Man?"

[BrwBier]

One thing to keep in mind when getting scraps from construction sites is that at least around here copper is a big theft item. Make sure someone knows you are there to pick scraps. Construction sites are watched very closely now.
Brwbier

[eamarquardt]

I have previously mentioned that I like to go garage saleing on Sat. mornings. To me, at 57, I get just as excited about the "treasure hunt" and what we might find as I did as a kid about Christmas morning. As for "dumpster diving", when I pass through a certain town nearby, I always stop at the dumpster of a a cabinet shop there. I've gotten some nice "scraps" of solid hardwood. When I go in the other direction, I always stop by a plywood supplier there. Just recently I got a nice 5X5 piece of 1/2 baltic birch and a 4X8 of 3/4 baltic birch. They were a little banged up, but still verrrrrrry useable!

No I wont tell you where!

Cheers,

Gus

[GPW]

GPW's first law of acquisition... If the objects of interest are in a yard, we always ask first... However, if it's in a dumpster or "on the curb" then it's free game ...
With the current down turn of the economy, salvage and re-cycling take on a whole new meaning...

[eamarquardt]

I am not "patheticly "cheap", just extreemly "cost effective".

Cheers,

Gus

[GPW]

We don't think Cheap is a good word for anyone who has the smarts to save a few bucks , especially in this uncertain economy...Thrifty is a better word....and we consider "scavenging", part of the Fun...

For example ... after hurricane Katrina, there were a lot of boats that washed/blew away... leaving tons of boat trailers that were available for a song..all most suitable for TD building....got one for free... still in my yard awaiting the next build ... Now that's THRIFTY!!!