Repurposing. The world needs more of it.

[kokoroko]

That's a great sentiment and a wonderful way to honor your brother's memory. Repurposing items not only showcases creativity but also promotes sustainability. It's inspiring to see how you turn "castaways" into something useful and meaningful. Keep up the fantastic work!

 

[Aaron_W]

 

[WobblyHand]

@ltlvt repurposing is a very good thing. It reduces waste and can save us money. Like a lot of folks here, we have to keep a balance between collecting too much stuff, just because, vs. really examining if this stuff can be reused. If it can be, and we have space, it's very good to keep. Once the stuff becomes too disorganized, it's a sign to clean up or disposition it.

But hoarding just isn't good. I'm experiencing this first hand as I'm cleaning out my mother's estate. It's sobering to see, and I don't want to burden my kids with the same experience as I'm going through. As I pick through things I'm imagining how things could be best put to use - either as raw stock of some sort, stuff to repurpose, or stuff that I simply don't have room or purpose for and should find a more suitable home.

 

[GeneT45]

A side effect of the throw away society is that many people have no knowledge of how to make or fix anything, nor the tools to do so. I'm frequently amazed at how few tools some established families own (2 screwdrivers and a (cheap) hammer?). Hard to repurpose much with so little to work with. I imagine most folks here are avid repurposers, particularly with metal prices where they are.

@WobblyHand brings up a good point though. I inflicted my hoarding on myself and suffered the consequences when I moved some years back. I'm not a "real" hoarder, but I had enough stuff that I try to be a bit more selective about what I hang on to these days.

GsT

 

[Aaron_W]

A side effect of the throw away society is that many people have no knowledge of how to make or fix anything, nor the tools to do so. I'm frequently amazed at how few tools some established families own (2 screwdrivers and a (cheap) hammer?). Hard to repurpose much with so little to work with. I imagine most folks here are avid repurposers, particularly with metal prices where they are.

@WobblyHand brings up a good point though. I inflicted my hoarding on myself and suffered the consequences when I moved some years back. I'm not a "real" hoarder, but I had enough stuff that I try to be a bit more selective about what I hang on to these days.

GsT

Years ago I put together a little tool kit for the car. Not so much for roadside repairs as because I would be visiting somebody, and they needed something fixed, but didn't have even basic tools.

It boggles my mind, as I had bought a basic tool set for myself before I had even moved out on my own.

 

[Batmanacw]

My uncle kindly dropped off a bunch of metal odds and ends. He is 80 now and down sizing to a condo where they don't have as much responsibility.

Sure I scrapped bunch but I kept a lot too. You just never know. Lol

 

[durableoreo]

That's nice work.

I do like re-use but sometimes it can lead to shabby looking results. Also, it often takes more skill and effort than starting with new materials.

Jeremy Makes Stuff takes this sort of thing to the maximum machinist level. It's all pretty good but I admit I hate the scraper he made.

 

[GeneT45]

That's nice work.

I do like re-use but sometimes it can lead to shabby looking results. Also, it often takes more skill and effort than starting with new materials.

Jeremy Makes Stuff takes this sort of thing to the maximum machinist level. It's all pretty good but I admit I hate the scraper he made.

I think you meant "Jeremy Makes Things" https://www.youtube.com/c/JeremyMakesThings There is a "Jeremy Makes Stuff" - but apparently "stuff" doesn't include videos because there are only three of them and they don't fit your description. Jeremy Makes Things however sounds like the right guy. I'd never heard of him, but I'm finding the first video I picked hugely entertaining. Thanks for the tip!

GsT

 

[yota]

4 or 5 years ago, I bent my harbor freight POC supposedly 12-ton hydraulic press. cut the frame up and used some of it to make a platform for a small gas forge I use occasionally for annealing or tempering. found a used US made 20-ton press locally for a great price. haven't been able to bend that one.

 

[IHinIN]

I enjoy repurposing materials. A lot of good stuff gets tossed at work and I have a hard time resisting. These are some of my projects built from free materials that were being scrapped.

Porta-band table


Grinder/sander stand


20 ton press. The channel and angle iron came from machine skids.


Skull and crossbones. Piston and valves from a Kohler engine I rebuilt


Shop clock made from a 24” gear


Cedar bench made from old fence posts. They came from a section of old farm fence along my property that I took out.


3’x4’ hydraulic dump yard trailer built with channel iron from a skid