Cheap recycling for the garage

[Bradley Miller]

I'm not exactly blessed with huge finances to spend on my garage, so I've improvised where possible. Here's some examples of things you can do:

Water bed frame with drawers. I got tired of moving them and we were going to toss it, so I took and old door, stacked the drawer frames and then screwed the whole shebang together with 2x6 scraps. It's my present tool box . . . 6 drawers total.

Barbeque grill frame. THe BBQ was a PITA that was going thru the stainless steel burners every year or so. I threw the cast flame box/lid in the trash and welded angle across the front and sides to strengthen it. That allowed me to take a bunch of 1x6 boards that were too narrow for a shelf. I put them across in two different directions to create a work surface. The thing still has the wheels on it, so it's a portable work center with storage under it.

Typing stand. This was one of those old 1950's type things with the flip up sides. It became a great little stand for the 14" cut-off saw. The legs flip up and down so it will roll.

Anyone else have some nifty projects for the cheapskates amongst us?

 

[4t64rd]

Might be considered recycling, might be considered something else...

Shopping carts with the basket cut off make great engine carts. nice ball bearing hard rubber wheels, ball bearing swivels on the front. put a 4x4 the right length on it and drop it down. Usually sits low enough to roll it under a bench.

 

[milly]

Before I got my roll around tool boxes, I used an old microwave cart as a roll around. It worked great, put a 3 drawer carry around tool box on top. Used to single drawer for larger tools. The bottom 2 door cabinet worked good for saw storage and bulky item. I tossed it as soon as I brought home my older rollcab when I got a new one for work a few years ago.

 

[rodwerkz]

Here are some ideas for free steel that you can find every garbage day... I'm sure you'll appreciate these with today's price of steel...

1. bed frames! Usually they are made of 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 x 1/8 angle.. sometimes even heavier... you can get about 10' to 15' of useable steel out of one frame!..

2. Filing cabinets. Usually made of 22ga to 18ga steel.. you can get 1/4 to one half a sheet of clean flat steel out of one of those suckers depending on size.

Just don't let your wife see you taking them off the garbage.. she'll yell at you!!!

 

[rodwerkz]

...
Shopping carts with the basket cut off make great engine carts. ...

I'd like to try that but my wife would definitely kill me

 

[4t64rd]

bed frames! Usually they are made of 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 x 1/8 angle.. sometimes even heavier... you can get about 10' to 15' of useable steel out of one frame!..
QUOTE]

Be careful what you use bed frames for, they are hardened steel, brittle.