Got Stuff? Dumpster Diving Time

[Dee Jay]

On this edition of Dee Jay's Dumpster Diving Adventures…

A kickboard. snapped it up…I thought it might have parts for my PCB or DCR but maybe not…My kids are bugging me to let them have a go.. I said No way, Jossers.. not until I extend the board and fit bigger wheels that won't have them flying if they hit gravel. These things are dangerous. I've seen too many little kids here hurt yet manufacturers churn 'em out, they can't give a rat's ass.

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A nice folding "Polder" brand ladder, not a dumpster find. Early in the morning I rode by a mom-n-pop junk shop and it caught my eye in their front yard.

I've been shopping around for one at my fave hardware stores but saw nothing but expensive Made In China crap. The shop normally have stuff that looks like old people's items so I think the they collect properties of the recently deceased.

The ladder must've just arrived cos it didn't have a price tag yet. I walked in asked the shop owner's wife how much so she came out with another elderly lady who she was chatting with and man they were amazed by the PCB. We chatted about the bike for several minutes until I asked again about the ladder and she gave it to me for 8 bucks, NICE! I estimated a new one to be about $40.

The ladies were concerned as to how I'll be hauling the ladder safely home on the bike...I hopped it on the front/rear rack, leaned it between the ape hanger and it worked out nicely! They were pretty impressed A few bows and a gring-gring and off I went into the sunrise. The ladies were loving the PCB. I think the PCB is my lucky charm.

I looked up the maker on the net and I was right, about $38.

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And finally, 13+V 15A power supply! Dumpster Deal..just this evening, too. Now I can break FCC regs on the CB once again!

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[Sancho's Horse]

I have seen dumpster diving that would boggle your mind. Until you have seen a million square foot factory emptied, in a bad auction/economic times, you can't imagine what an industrial dumpster looks like. It was sad in a way, but after the auction and after everyone else had mostly picked through, I brought home all the things I thought I might need for the future. I have a shop on some land out in the country, and it fills that shop from floor to ceiling. Everything from industrial fans, to overhead cranes, to a chemistry hood, to various outdated equipment, to filing cabinets, to water deionizing canisters, to ultrasonic cleaners, to... too many things to list. Someone asked me if I was afraid of things being stolen, and I am not. If you were to try to go in there in the dark, you would, in all likelihood, die. The stuff protects itself. I did have an I-beam stolen from the outside. I thought it was too heavy to be stolen, but I was wrong.

I think most people just got what they thought they could sell. I decided to begin planning. In the auction, I saw the ability to do important industrial processes at a very high level, packaged up and shipped to other parts of the world for paper gain (which could easily disappear the next day). I thought, if they have spare industrial ability just laying around, getting trashed, I am going to pick it up, learn what I can about it, and decide if I can put it to use. Others figured out what I was doing and they just brought me boxes of useful stuff. I am going to put it to use, building business (no, not e-bike business). I do, however, know there is a lot of talent here, and...

I wonder if all this talent could develop some products which a Kickstarter (yeah they do tech too) could move into reality

On a side note, I have this old Verimet eddy current tester.

Oldy but a goody.

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I know the more recent models let you test welds, any idea if this is or could be made capable?

[Sancho's Horse]

Dude,
Sorry for hijacking your thread. I was checking out the dolphins with my son at the zoo today, and felt kind of lousy about busting in with all that. Oh well, that, unfortuantely, is sometimes how I roll. So... to make amends I am going to deliver what I believe may be dumpster gold. Living on a college campus, I see these all the time:

probably been used a bunch on ES, but I haven't seen them

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These things seem to be getting trashed more all the time. Some are part of bigger desks, and you have to dissassemble (Johnny5), others are stand alone, but they seem like they could get a little padding inside... a little puncture preventative outside and provide a good lipo roll cage. Some, nay...most... have a couple of length wise supports. Trim one, and you can bend it into a C or an S or a triangle or whatever. I also think if you lay them over one of your bike bars, you will see that the space that is left over is pretty right on for most of the RC lipo brick sizes.

Pretty decent start for armoring up your lipo, and pretty likely to find 'em...Free!

[Dee Jay]

I have seen dumpster diving that would boggle your mind. Until you have seen a million square foot factory emptied, in a bad auction/economic times, you can't imagine what an industrial dumpster looks like. It was sad in a way, but after the auction and after everyone else had mostly picked through, I brought home all the things I thought I might need for the future. I have a shop on some land out in the country, and it fills that shop from floor to ceiling. Everything from industrial fans, to overhead cranes, to a chemistry hood, to various outdated equipment, to filing cabinets, to water deionizing canisters, to ultrasonic cleaners, to... too many things to list. Someone asked me if I was afraid of things being stolen, and I am not. If you were to try to go in there in the dark, you would, in all likelihood, die. The stuff protects itself. I did have an I-beam stolen from the outside. I thought it was too heavy to be stolen, but I was wrong.

I think most people just got what they thought they could sell. I decided to begin planning. In the auction, I saw the ability to do important industrial processes at a very high level, packaged up and shipped to other parts of the world for paper gain (which could easily disappear the next day). I thought, if they have spare industrial ability just laying around, getting trashed, I am going to pick it up, learn what I can about it, and decide if I can put it to use. Others figured out what I was doing and they just brought me boxes of useful stuff. I am going to put it to use, building business (no, not e-bike business). I do, however, know there is a lot of talent here, and...

I wonder if all this talent could develop some products which a Kickstarter (yeah they do tech too) could move into reality

On a side note, I have this old Verimet eddy current tester.

The attachment Verimet.jpg is no longer available

I know the more recent models let you test welds, any idea if this is or could be made capable?

Woah! You DO "got stuff"....

No prob, you're welcome to show us what you got on this thread. It's fun to see people's level of luck and the stories behind the finds..

..you don't happen to have a Malibu X13 ocean kayak at your Area 51 warehouse do you? Or two? Blue? New one's about $1k. Can't find anything used at a good price here in old japan...

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the funny thing is, ever time I set out to shop for brand new stuff they just seem to appear at our building's dumpster . So I may as well just keep making wishes and wait for the kayaks to fall on my lap!

[Sancho's Horse]

It is your lucky day! Say hello to your new boat!

Just pay the shipping to Japan, and I will even throw in a Wilson volleyball. Wilson!!!!

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It is the bottom half of one of those cargo rack storage pods, which I found in the trash. Do you know the ones I am talking about? Either alcohol was involved, or a mis-estimation at the parking garage, but this dumpster treasure only needs a few of the attachment holes at the bottom sealed up to become seaworthy. You could use an oar, but I am imagining more of a sailing ship setup. Guide wires to a central mast, maybe a sail made out of duct tape? Who knows get crazy with it! Clinically crazy with it! Wilson!!!

The top had some pretty nasty gouges in it, but I decided it might make a good canopy support structure for a trailer I was considering making for my kids. It also had some hinges that would raise the top and lock it in an open position. These will eventually go into the canopy also.

Almost there!! Only a 100 hours left to go!

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I have to spend a lot of time thinking through problems. I always find it is helpful if I can just mindlessly work on something with my hands. I will work until I hit a wall, drop it, pick up something else and keep going, that is...until I reach critical mass on a project. Then I just push through night and day until it is finished. Not quite there yet on my trailer. I live near the stadium and I would love to have my kids cruise around with me for the big games. One day you will come on here and you will see this:

Any day now.

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[Dee Jay]

3 finds in one day.

A folding shopping cart!
And once again, I stopped by another mom-n-pop junk shop, but much more cleaner and with mostly clothes and trinkets. I found the very same folding shopping cart I was looking at a our hardware store that costs $25 new.. got it for 5 bucks in very good condition! And yes, they came out while I was trying to secure the cart on the rack... mom, pop, and teenage girl. The looks I get are priceless I need to get me a spycam soon to start a collection of PCB reactions

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After that I found teh.... BOOMBOX BAG?
It was in a pile of stuff sitting on the sidewalk, along with japanese porn DVD's and clothes ready for pick up.

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A couple of blocks later... teh SISSY BAR!
As i mentioned, the PCB will be converted to a semi-recumbent but I won't be able to use the chrome sissy bar because it is a very thin tube and will surely bend if I apply pedaling force against it. I knew I wanted to make a super sturdy sissy bar to compliment the chrome one but I just didn't know if I could make one that'll look good. A sturdy steel tube folding chair is the perfect solution!

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YOU JUST CAN'T FIND THIS AT BICYCLE SHOPS..For now my 3 year old will use it on short rides to and from preschool so I plan on fabbing a very cool backrest cushion for her.

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Funny thing was..I was trying to take a picture of it when the garbage truck pulled up and almost snagged it from me so grabbed it! MINE ! (see the pickupday.jpg)

[salty9]

DumpsterPunk was not derogatory. I admire your efforts. See http://steampunkworkshop.com/.

Salty

[Dee Jay]

been wishing for one of these so my 3 year old has something to hang on to while I walk the bike

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[Dee Jay]

[Dee Jay]

another handle bar? Ok, whatever...

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an adjustable rolling rack..design is weak but can be reinforced

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[Lebowski]

my most recent find (not dumpster but $150 is a steal) and next project bike for Mac mid-drive:
(seems to be either a Fateba, a Peer Gynt or a home-made)

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[Dee Jay]

my most recent find (not dumpster but $150 is a steal) and next project bike for Mac mid-drive:
(seems to be either a Fateba, a Perr Gynt or a home-made)

DSC00787.jpg

DSC00788.jpg

damn that's a nice bike! lucky basterd...

that's generally what the PCB is gonna end up looking like.

[Dee Jay]

the handlebar stem just-so-happened to fit right inside the rear rack support beam, luckay!

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the PCB is starting to look kinda weird
but I think functionality keeps its integrity in check

[The fingers]

I found a chromoly frame and a Mars air fork. Might use as a ghost bike for a guy that got killed in a hit & run friday on PCH.

[ohzee]

http://ghostbikes.org/

Ghost Bikes

Ghost Bikes are small and somber memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel.

learned something new.

Also nice hauls peeps.. im impressed.