Do you collect them, or are they worth money??
Junkyard finds
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Do you collect them, or are they worth money??
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I think some places give you money for recycling them.
jimvannoy
Well-known member
Man, after reading about you swimming with sharks and becoming disoriented spelunking you make me feel like half a man!
I won't even go into my stories about flying aerobatics then.......
I found a hammer on the side of the road when I was about 12, but have not seen much except a grease gun the other day (I passed assuming it was a cheap-o off a semi). But my dad has found all kinds of **** on the side of the road, he once found a whole tool box, then one day on the way back from taking my mom to the doctor he quickly slammed on the brakes and pulled over. What was sitting on the top of a pile of snow was a top of the like craftsman digital voltmeter, he cleaned it up and still uses it.
-Dan
-Dan
rsanter
Well-known member
a friend and I were driving around running 'errands' one day and he made me pull over to get a broken ladder. I thought he was nuts.
we stopped in at the big box store and they gave him a new one.
it was a WERNER fiberglass with lifetime warranty. looks like it fell off a work truck and the lower leg was broken.
they exchanged it no problem
bob
we stopped in at the big box store and they gave him a new one.
it was a WERNER fiberglass with lifetime warranty. looks like it fell off a work truck and the lower leg was broken.
they exchanged it no problem
bob
SCguy
Well-known member
No but they have codes on them which lead to free stuff when entered on their websites; gift cards, free Cokes, free music, whatever.
RD
Need4racin
Banned
Old thread, but I was searching on junkyards and found it.
Anyway I found 2 $1 bills in a old clear beer bottle in an e-series van. Smashed the bottled and took the $2 and used it to pay towards the p-steering pump I got.
Anyway I found 2 $1 bills in a old clear beer bottle in an e-series van. Smashed the bottled and took the $2 and used it to pay towards the p-steering pump I got.
Found a small Blue Point ball pien hammer in a school playground. Snap-on pilot bearing puller with one broken jaw on the side of the road. An 1 1/8' combination wrench at a stop sign(china's best). And some rusty craftsman sockets in the boneyards.
The best quanity wise find was at the truck dealer that I worked at. We had an old twin post hydro. lift for the medium and heavy trucks. The lift was from the 50's. The cylinder's were in a pit below floor level that would fill with hydro, fluid to almost floor level. They finally decided to pump the pit out and get the cylinders repacked. When they pumped it out there was probably 200-300lbs of tools in the bottom. Most were rusted very badly from the water in the bottom. There was enough tools to fill a toolbox. All of the tools were split up between everybody that worked there.
The best quanity wise find was at the truck dealer that I worked at. We had an old twin post hydro. lift for the medium and heavy trucks. The lift was from the 50's. The cylinder's were in a pit below floor level that would fill with hydro, fluid to almost floor level. They finally decided to pump the pit out and get the cylinders repacked. When they pumped it out there was probably 200-300lbs of tools in the bottom. Most were rusted very badly from the water in the bottom. There was enough tools to fill a toolbox. All of the tools were split up between everybody that worked there.
russlaferrera
Well-known member
That poses another question. What would a shark think if he saw Andy? "Wow he's a big one. I think he will whip my fins off."
Or "that's too much meat for one shark."
Elky
Well-known member
When i was taking the carpet out of my 1963 Fairlane squire i found a pair of snap-on pliers and a full bottle of window cleaner.
thats the extend of my finds
now what i have lost in junk yards and inside body panels is another story
thats the extend of my finds
now what i have lost in junk yards and inside body panels is another story
I used to spend about every other weekend at the 'yards. I still go but not as much.
I've found a 18mm gearwrench (my set went 17 to 19 I think) pliers, hammer, few sockets, breaker bar, screwdrivers. All of these are in my 'yard bag of "tools I won't mind losing".
What i did find and didn;t take advantage of was a stack of old newspapers in the back of a volvo. They were all of the Apollo moon landing or JFK or Iraq war etc. I lugged them around then got tired, distracted and left them. I thought about it later and probably could have made money selling them.
I've found a 18mm gearwrench (my set went 17 to 19 I think) pliers, hammer, few sockets, breaker bar, screwdrivers. All of these are in my 'yard bag of "tools I won't mind losing".
What i did find and didn;t take advantage of was a stack of old newspapers in the back of a volvo. They were all of the Apollo moon landing or JFK or Iraq war etc. I lugged them around then got tired, distracted and left them. I thought about it later and probably could have made money selling them.
Frank
Well-known member
Driving down the highway one day doing 70mph when I see this glint of chrome bounce out from under an RV several yards ahead of me. It hit my front valence so I stopped to check on the damage. I then walked back several yards to pick up the piece.
It was a chrome box shape tail pipe extension exactly like from my car.
The most puzzleing thing of all was that it WAS from my car! I slipped it back on and tightened the screws and drove off.
To this day it puzzles me. How did it get in front of me, hit by another vehicle and then I hit it too?
It was a chrome box shape tail pipe extension exactly like from my car.
The most puzzleing thing of all was that it WAS from my car! I slipped it back on and tightened the screws and drove off.
To this day it puzzles me. How did it get in front of me, hit by another vehicle and then I hit it too?
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Whoa... hope you bought a lottery ticket that day!
Nuit Damnant
Well-known member
Well, just the other day a friend and I stopped to investigate some shiny stuff at the side of the road, a 6" chrome drop hitch. Still had the wrapping on it. Used it later that day.
About 2 years ago a shop up the way was closing. An old shop. They were loading a 73 valiant onto a flatbed, I asked. They were scrapping it! Scrap yard was gonna give them 400, I gave them 6 and they delivered it to my house. Factory 318 with air. All complete. pretty solid, just about 6 different colors, needs some lower rear qtrs, and the ****** was in the trunk. Got a rebuilt 225 slant six too. They had that in the trunk of a crown vic going to scrap. I traded them a blown up GM 3.8L to replace the weight. Gave the car to my dad for Christmas that year (he's the mopar nut, I'm really a ford guy). Getting restored now
I always go with friends to the pick n pull yard, I look for tools while they look for parts. Great stuff.
About 2 years ago a shop up the way was closing. An old shop. They were loading a 73 valiant onto a flatbed, I asked. They were scrapping it! Scrap yard was gonna give them 400, I gave them 6 and they delivered it to my house. Factory 318 with air. All complete. pretty solid, just about 6 different colors, needs some lower rear qtrs, and the ****** was in the trunk. Got a rebuilt 225 slant six too. They had that in the trunk of a crown vic going to scrap. I traded them a blown up GM 3.8L to replace the weight. Gave the car to my dad for Christmas that year (he's the mopar nut, I'm really a ford guy). Getting restored now
I always go with friends to the pick n pull yard, I look for tools while they look for parts. Great stuff.Packard V8
Well-known member
In Kalispell, MT, my FIL was riding his horse along the road and found a nice Snap-on SL 715 long 1/2" ratchet. He didn't want it because it was too long, so I traded him a standard length Craftsman.
In Oakland, CA, 1973, my neighbor was walking his dog by a corner on the freeway exit right-of-way. In the tall grass he stumbled over two Kennedy #525 boxes full of tools. He was afraid to pick them up because they were obviously cached there by thieves. He came to get me to help retrieve them and watch his back. We drove up, tossed them in the trunk of the car and took the long way home. Anyone who suggests we should have turned them over to the police doesn't know Oakland.
The guys who score big time are the laborers for moving companies. One I know had to trade his econocar for a full-size van to haul home all the freebies.
thnx, jack vines
In Oakland, CA, 1973, my neighbor was walking his dog by a corner on the freeway exit right-of-way. In the tall grass he stumbled over two Kennedy #525 boxes full of tools. He was afraid to pick them up because they were obviously cached there by thieves. He came to get me to help retrieve them and watch his back. We drove up, tossed them in the trunk of the car and took the long way home. Anyone who suggests we should have turned them over to the police doesn't know Oakland.
The guys who score big time are the laborers for moving companies. One I know had to trade his econocar for a full-size van to haul home all the freebies.
thnx, jack vines
BanjoSavesTheDay
Well-known member
I was going to make a thread to ask a couple questions about scrap yards, but this one will be perfect. How does one go about looking through a scrap yard? Do you go to the office and check in or just start walking around? Then what do you do when you find something you want? Basically just give me the whole spiel of what you'd do if you saw a scrap yard that you'd never been to and wanted to check it out. Thanks a bunch!
FoMoCoPower
Well-known member
They really don`t let you just walk in look around. It`s more like if you have a load of scrap metal to drop off,theres your chance to see what others left there. As your weigh-out is less than your weigh-in,then you shouldn`t have a problem. However some yards are really **** about things and have guys that watch what you do.
It's best to check in, most places require it I would think. The place I go is in the local town of about 5-600 people. A place 30- miles away wont let anyone do anything except bring scrap in to sell.
If I find something I throw it in the back of the truck and go see the owner and never usually pay more than 20-25 for a fair bit of stuff (read alot)
Latest find; aluminum semi truck box (1/4 smashed) and some 6' alum. angle and square tubing about 68lbs for 20$ (for my tool cart project).
selohssa
Well-known member
Being that this thread is a little OT anyway, I will share a story of ditch finds from this past summer. My brother in law manages a construction company, he had to fire a guy for being an idiot. The idiots girlfriend was my BILs seceratary, she said that if her boyfriend couldn't work there, then neither could she. Crying, she hopped into her truck and was driving home. She ran out of gas along the highway. She started to walk to town thinking that her day could not get any worse, that was until she found a dead body in the ditch. It had been there for several weeks. She was the type of person that would freak out at the sight of a paper cut. It was funny watching her being interviewed on TV because she could not keep it together.
TheDukeofDeere
Well-known member
Huh?
'Nuff said, there goes the scrapyard thread from 2 years ago, ruined it in it's prime. How dare you?
arkangel06
Banned
Wow thats messes up.
I have never found anything worth while
I have never found anything worth while
K5blazer83
Well-known member
Maryland junkyards ****. The closest one to me is run by idiots...when I used to go there the guy at the front desk would always ask me "ya got any otta parts in ya bag?" He couldn't say "auto".
Then the mother of all junkyards across the state line shut its doors to people wandering in the yard when a bunch of illegal immigrants from you can guess where, set numerious cars on fire and dashed out of the yard.
It's the few that ruin it for the many.
Then the mother of all junkyards across the state line shut its doors to people wandering in the yard when a bunch of illegal immigrants from you can guess where, set numerious cars on fire and dashed out of the yard.
It's the few that ruin it for the many.
selohssa
Well-known member
Huh?
'Nuff said, there goes the scrapyard thread from 2 years ago, ruined it in it's prime. How dare you?
Okay, okay.
To bring it back on track, I was at a scrapyard of sorts last week. The guy collected 800 or so cars back in the 60's and 70's with the intentions of starting an auto wreckers. He ended up starting a storage company and the cars just sat. I have bought 3 cars from him (1956 Parklane, 1957 Ranchero and 1960? Austin mini woody). I have been friends with him for the last 18 years, so he lets me just wonder around the yard. Most of these cars came from police and towing auctions and had not been cleaned out when they were parked in the yard. My finds last week were a 1968 rule book from the local drag track, a cool old car sized fire extinguisher, a few sockets, and a full set of curved glass stewart warner gauges. My price for all of it? $0.
NJHandyGuy
Well-known member
was at the scrap yars this morning they had a set of rims with ferrari logo's (not sure if they were actual ferrari rims) on them i offer to buy one as a conversation peice but they wouldn't sell it
Have found many things, in the fifties, I found a Cresent double ender wrench, a three pound ball peen hammer (that needed its handle shortened and re-installed) and a few other wrenches that are still used today.
In the seventies I found a six inch vise (Record) with the front jaw broken, got it welded and used it for about 25 years. It finally broke again, so I inquired at Princess Auto about parts, and was informed they have/had a lifetime warranty (on Record vises). I explained the circumstances (fully) but still walked out of there with a new one.
Have found tape decks, CD players, computers, and more. Used the code from one computer to install and validate XP on a spare basement system, that I use to play/copy music.
Most recent good find was a 1.14L of un-opened bottle of Crown Royal in a local park. Not being a big fan of that, took it back and traded for a jug of Iceberg vodka (plus $2).
Wife and I exercise by walking our neighbour's dogs around local parks and school yards. I ride my bike and last year brought home $1000 worth of cans and bottles (beer,whiskey, wine) Year before the tally was $1600 (was a hotter year). Just used to ride right on by all that kind of stuff......................
The world is full of discarded stuff, if you have time to slow down and see it..................I do now.
In the seventies I found a six inch vise (Record) with the front jaw broken, got it welded and used it for about 25 years. It finally broke again, so I inquired at Princess Auto about parts, and was informed they have/had a lifetime warranty (on Record vises). I explained the circumstances (fully) but still walked out of there with a new one.
Have found tape decks, CD players, computers, and more. Used the code from one computer to install and validate XP on a spare basement system, that I use to play/copy music.
Most recent good find was a 1.14L of un-opened bottle of Crown Royal in a local park. Not being a big fan of that, took it back and traded for a jug of Iceberg vodka (plus $2).
Wife and I exercise by walking our neighbour's dogs around local parks and school yards. I ride my bike and last year brought home $1000 worth of cans and bottles (beer,whiskey, wine) Year before the tally was $1600 (was a hotter year). Just used to ride right on by all that kind of stuff......................
The world is full of discarded stuff, if you have time to slow down and see it..................I do now.
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kindyr
Well-known member
in terms of being able to walk around a junk yard, it really depends on the yard. we have two in town, one that won't let you near their yard because of "company Policy" and another where you stop at the office and will get the speech about not climbing on the piles, etc and are free to wander. Needless to say I go to the second one so often I'm on a conversational basis with most of the guys in the yard and the office guy just waves me in. If a yard will let you in, I advise to play by their rules and cultivate that relationship. things get a bit looser on the rules after some time. Their rules say they don't resell old street signs. I buy em when they have em and I'm looking for the aluminum.
for tool finds, I've found some nice sledges in there(after making sure they aren't the yards) a few wrenchs(nothing special), A nice 75lb post vise, and yesterday I came across a slightly busted up portable forge. I do metal work as a hobby, so this is a very impressive find for me. The pan has a small crack and the tuyere is missing, but having only ever worked on a brake drum or dirt hole forge, this should be a nice rehab project.
usually I'm in there looking for bits of metal that will become tools, so in those instances, my luck is usually pretty good. Once I get my garage more cleaned out, I'll probably grab some of the compressor stuff to put together a nice compressor for the garage. they had a nice horizontal tank in there yesterday but no compressor or motor.
for tool finds, I've found some nice sledges in there(after making sure they aren't the yards) a few wrenchs(nothing special), A nice 75lb post vise, and yesterday I came across a slightly busted up portable forge. I do metal work as a hobby, so this is a very impressive find for me. The pan has a small crack and the tuyere is missing, but having only ever worked on a brake drum or dirt hole forge, this should be a nice rehab project.
usually I'm in there looking for bits of metal that will become tools, so in those instances, my luck is usually pretty good. Once I get my garage more cleaned out, I'll probably grab some of the compressor stuff to put together a nice compressor for the garage. they had a nice horizontal tank in there yesterday but no compressor or motor.
Art From De Leon
Well-known member
Maybe she got a newer more powerfull toy!!
It might have been 'squirted' out the window in the throes of passion.
Or, I just thought of this, there weren't any brown stains on it were there? After all, and I hate to ruin your fantasy, BUT, maybe it wasn't a woman?
And you were a brave man for picking it up and checking it out.
mdbeck1
Well-known member
Back in the days of the dinosaur (when I was a kid). I rebuilt cars with my Dad. I think he knew the owner of every salvage yard in town. They would let us in and we would look over all the cars. We would always find stuff, cheap wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, ... We'd split them with the salvage yard owners.
We had more than one car that Dad bought that we would bring home to rebuild. The first thing that came out was the back seat. That's where the change was that slid out of your pockets. The next place was in the trunk on the sides of the body panels. It seems we always found something (screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets, pry bars, ....).
Usually when I go to a salvage yard I'm looking for something specific but once you show the yard help that you aren't going to be a jerk they'll let you poke around through some of the cars looking for interesting stuff. If I find something interesting I usually ask the yard help about it before I drag it to the office. Usually if I find tools I'll gather them up and either let the yard guys have them or ask them about them....
We had more than one car that Dad bought that we would bring home to rebuild. The first thing that came out was the back seat. That's where the change was that slid out of your pockets. The next place was in the trunk on the sides of the body panels. It seems we always found something (screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets, pry bars, ....).
Usually when I go to a salvage yard I'm looking for something specific but once you show the yard help that you aren't going to be a jerk they'll let you poke around through some of the cars looking for interesting stuff. If I find something interesting I usually ask the yard help about it before I drag it to the office. Usually if I find tools I'll gather them up and either let the yard guys have them or ask them about them....