While creativity is the Mother of invention. An ounce of creativity is worth a ton of statistical analysis. I save most everything,,, The old "Waste not is want not" syndrome... That was passed on to me from my father. Maybe I’m just a pack rat? But there isn’t a project that I work on that I don’t reuse something that I just knew I was saving for something...
Take my TIG welding setup... The table was made from an old discarded steel workbench. I cut it down and added a 1/2" steel plate and sides. The shelf above the table is made from the foot rest. The welder stand is made from old angle iron that I had. I used salvaged aluminum down-spouts to hold my welding rod...
The two side table extensions for my radial arm saw came from old tables I was saving. The steps were salvaged from a lumber yard that were returned because they were not to specifications...
The rolling library ladder was entirely constructed from old stuff I was saving... The ladder was from someone’s trash. I machined the rollers from an old piece of nylon that I had. The rail was made from 2" EMT that I had. Along with the pieces of angle iron, wheels, nuts and bolts..
I wasn’t about to pay the $600.00 that John Deere was asking for a sunshade for my tractor. Instead I used a golf cart cover that a local dealer took off old carts..
My 10 ton hydraulic press was made from left over steel I was saving...