The repurposing thread

[rdsk8ter]

forgot my oiler flex light. surplus yardwas throwing a couple of these away off their saws so I took them and made some lights off old track heads

 

[dadsEH]

Use yogurt containers for mixing paint, works awesome and free.

Warning!!.. dont use acrylic thinners in the mix, it goes straight through plastic tubs...ask me how I know this.

 

[sberry]

An appliance base I found, put a brace iin the shelf and some old wheels on and a top that was a sink countertop cutout from my office, took about 30 minutes and is still there, just kind of "fits"

 

[Kevin54]

I spend a lot of time in salvage yards looking for parts to use in my project builds. I welded up a quick "bolt on" for my two wheeler to make moving rear ends out of the yard and back" to my truck a little easier.



I used the cabinet from an old Air Force vacuum to make a roll around work bench. Welded on a steel top, bolted on a vise, shot a lacquer base coat and top coated it with some 35 year old Imron that I still had stored away. I use this thing all the time.

Drewski......you have more than one build????? I thought all you had was the truck in your avatar WHICH SHOULD BE PAINTED BY NOW!!!!

 

[Kevin54]

I went to the "repurpose" link that Doghouseforge posted up, looked around on there (great ideas on there also) and ended up on a FBook page and ran across this. Although I would not imagine the concrete culverts were cheap, BUT it's a pretty cool idea.

https://sphotos-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/21386_542038339165952_205035102_n.png

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I made this air jack from swapmeet air bag find 2 for $25 and swapmeet car dollies $20 a pair. works great for our Baja Bugs that have lots of space under them and jack is not tall enough and they work fast. I do add support after lifting.



I also bought a bucket of wheel at a garage sale from wheels cut from floor jack got them for 25 cents apiece and made these car movers on concrete.



they stack one on top of the other and take up little space.

repurpose old lead weights and make the BEST DEAD BLOW hammer one hammer built 2 Baja Bugs.



the mold was purchase on ebay. the lead is repurposed from old wheel weight and scuba weights for $30 and sold one hammer on ebay for $30. if you haven't used a lead hammer before, they put to shame all these plastic hammers even with the lead shot in them.

 

[drewski]

Drewski......you have more than one build????? I thought all you had was the truck in your avatar WHICH SHOULD BE PAINTED BY NOW!!!!

Old habits die hard. Motorcycles, old cars and trucks, boats, woodworking. I've always got something going on that I should have left alone. That's why the truck has been on the back burner so many times. Still hoping to drive it this year.

 

[TheGr8erG00d]

I had this old, metal cabinet from a kitchen back in the day that I recruited for tool storage and the like. It was white with a fair amount of surface rust.

 

[sberry]

I like the cabinets. I like that you get a lot of cheap. Anyone that has built a tool box knows the amount of work, when you salvage you got a shot at having so much done for near free.

 

[nine4gmc]

Here is a tool box I made from a datamation notebook security cart and a lateral file cabinet that I got from auction for cheap. I took the bottom off and used it for a top, then framed up some thick wall 2" square tubing for a frame and fit it underneath with new casters. I left one deep drawer but cut the rest down to 6" and a few 3" with a 8" side cabinet.

Post #30 in this thread. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2371975&highlight=datamation#post2371975

 

[zkling]

Nine, I'm curious, how big is your shop? It seems to be a black hole of good garage sale deals. You and Outlaw, I don't see where you guys have room to store all of your stuff.

Do you have a picture thread of your shop on the forum?

 

[IMCA38]

Here are a few of my offerings. First my workbench. Two 4' long cabinets out of a chemistry lab. Got them for $20 or 30 each at a surplus auction at the university. I built a steel framework - an angle top rim on top of channel legs to support the weight of the top. The top is 2 2X12's with plywood screwed down on top. As you can see from the photo, this thing can hold tons of junk, both on it and in it!!!
Next, two school lockers, again from an auction. Got these for under $10 as I recall. Have them by the door of the shop. The left one is fixed up like a regular school locker with hooks and a top shelf. It holds tool belt, chainsaw chaps, some gloves, a pair of shoes, my supply of paper towels, etc. The right one has a bar across it and I hang all of my tie downs, ratchet straps, bungees, etc. on that. Very handy having them right by the door.
I've also hacked together two stands for my bench grinder and a vise to use for welding etc. Base is an old car wheel with a piece of heavy pipe welded to it and then the top of the wheel is filled with concrete for stability. A 1/4" plate is welded to the top. These have worked great for me.

 

[Craptain]

I have re-purposed beds. First a king sized water bed frame was converted into a bench with drawers and I still have wood left over. And regular bed frames are converted into all manner of things. The very first thing I used a bed frame for was my welder cart. It even uses the casters. Don't look at the welds. That was my very first attempt before I decided to "Learn" how to weld, back when I thought "how hard can it be"? And no comments on the state of my shop and bench which needs a real good clean out.

There is a Columbian 3050 just about visible on the end of the bench.

 

[Toxicscrew]

Turned an old steel kitchen cabinet into a kitchen island for my loft.

Made a desk out of a length of roller conveyor, old workbench supports & wood from a tear down for a friend:

Took Ducati shipping crate square tubing, offal from roll bar builds from Izzy's Custom cages and wood from a 100 yr old rehab and made a side table:

 

[Kevin54]

Turned an old steel kitchen cabinet into a kitchen island for my loft.

Made a desk out of a length of roller conveyor, old workbench supports & wood from a tear down for a friend:

Took Ducati shipping crate square tubing, offal from roll bar builds from Izzy's Custom cages and wood from a 100 yr old rehab and made a side table:

Okay......I'm really thinking that we need to see some better, larger pics of this repurposed materials. So far I am VERY impressed.

 

[DoghouseForge]

QUOTE]

Just looked at your web site.. VERY COOL! I like your work!

JP

 

[Toxicscrew]

Okay......I'm really thinking that we need to see some better, larger pics of this repurposed materials. So far I am VERY impressed.

QUOTE]

Just looked at your web site.. VERY COOL! I like your work!

JP

Thanks guys, appreciate the compliments. Kevin54, there are more pics on the site/blog. http://architecturalelements.co/

Also the FB page, sees more "in process" pics: https://www.facebook.com/ArchitecturalElement

Have a reception desk and bench upcoming.

 

[mattlago]

Bought a set of lockers from a college at an auction. Got both for $100.00.

Sanded them down. Tacked in some shelf ledges from scrap angle iron and then repainted them. Total investment about $150.00 including paint.

They are great. I now have tons of storage and they are lockable so in one I keep ammo with a padlock on it. I can see what I have and where I have everything and I think they look pretty cool. They happen to fit into an area in my garage where the wall had a cut out, so worked out pretty well.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

Can't afford a name brand box so figured I would repurpose a flat file cabinet. Found it for a good deal locally and its almost in mint condition. Rails are ball bearing and glide so smooth!

Drawers are 43X32X2, so roughly 41,000 cubic inches of storage. I have another box for bigger things that need deeper drawers.

​

Bought a roll of outdoor carpet and made liners and have plenty left over for when these get worn.

​

Yes I know, too many dup drivers. I will be giving a few away soon, but these are the ones I got from a garage sale with a massive craftsman kit for $35. All new USA.

Sorry for the crappy pics!

 

[zkling]

VERY NICE Mr. brooks. That is like my dream box setup. Sady (and don't let the truck brand fan boys know) most of those cabinents are built much better than standard "tool boxes". That thing has actual ball bearing rollers. What are the external dimensions? I found a stack one time that I really wanted (only $100 for all 3 sections) but it was ~48" deep x 55" wide. I couldn't even reach the back of the drawer, let alone fit them in my garage.

Mind if I ask what they set you back?

There is a guy on here from Indiana, can't recall his name off the top of my head, but he converted a few thin drawers to a large deep drawer at the bottom. May be an option to consider.

 

[evintho]

Here's a few. Most I've posted before.

Funnel storage. Some old PVC pipe and a SS trench drain remanent found in the dumpster.................

An old gun rack used to hang extension cords............

Made a frame rotiserrie from a pair of used, cheap 3-wheeled HF engine stands. One I've had since the 80's and the other I got off of CL for $10...........

Bandsaw conversion using a $2 garage sale vise and 1" square tubing............

A nearby business tossed out this Hon file cabinet. Makes an excellent power tool storage locker..................

 

[PCO6]

... file cabinet. Makes an excellent power tool storage locker..................

I do the same. File cabinets make for great power tool storage.

 

[MillerMav]

Not 100% repurpose but I did quite a bit of modification to my old C-Man bottom box.
It sat unused for a few years. It was my first bottom box that I got back in 2000. No ball bearing drawers and it basically just held **** I never used.
So; I cut off the cabinet bottom an kept just the drawers. I welded in some 1/4" square tube to brace it as well as 1/8" plate for the middle post to weld to. It's not very tall but its final use will be for my 3/4 height drill press. I figure this way I can put all my bits and metal fab stuff in the drawers and get it out of my main box.
It's still just tack welded and not painted but I will post some pics of the final product later this week maybe....

 

[R.Anderson]

Four welding wire spools and some 1/8" round from political sign frames.
With a little cutting and welding got my self a stock organizer.

 

[thundermug]

I've built a (very) small business around repurposing stuff. Right now my work is represented by a local gift shop. Some of my work is repurposing, some of it just restoration:
http://ostinatistudio.tumblr.com/

I cobbled together a little garbage can from an old potato chip tin, chunk of butcher block, and some casters:

And I got a dozen of these storage bins from an ACE Hardware that closed down. I don't need them all, so the wife uses some for storing fabric.

 

[PCO6]

thundermug - I love the jack stand lamps. Great idea.

 

[Thumper68]

I went to the "repurpose" link that Doghouseforge posted up, looked around on there (great ideas on there also) and ended up on a FBook page and ran across this. Although I would not imagine the concrete culverts were cheap, BUT it's a pretty cool idea.

https://sphotos-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/21386_542038339165952_205035102_n.png

You can get these as seconds from any casting plant.

I "bought" 12 4 foot dia x 6 foot for a$100 and a case of bud light. The bud light was for the guys to fire up the fork lift and load them.

There is a guy around here that made 15 or 20 of the 8 tall by 12 foot wide by 12 foot deep square ones into his doomsday shelter.

 

[NAPPY]

Here's a few. Most I've posted before.

Funnel storage. Some old PVC pipe and a SS trench drain remanent found in the dumpster.................

I love this idea!

I too have tools in a file cabinet.

 

[1953mercury]

Here's a few. Most I've posted before.

Funnel storage. Some old PVC pipe and a SS trench drain remanent found in the dumpster.................

I love this idea!

I too have tools in a file cabinet.

The only problem with the funnel storage is that it will attract dirt unless you clean the funnels after every use and even then I would wipe it out before use for an engine, etc.. I keep mine in a plastic diaper pail left over from when my son was a baby (he's 27 now). They stack inside of each other and hardly ever require cleaning. I keep two different size funnels at the shop sink for dirty jobs. Mike

 

[Kevin54]

Thanks guys, appreciate the compliments. Kevin54, there are more pics on the site/blog. http://architecturalelements.co/

Also the FB page, sees more "in process" pics: https://www.facebook.com/ArchitecturalElement

Have a reception desk and bench upcoming.

TOXIC......where are you picking up your unique bulbs from? Just like this one, I have never saw one with the reflector like that. I mean we made bulbs at work for aircraft, but nothing like you are showing. I did go to your site and I have to say that you do over the top work. Absolutely fantastic!!!!



.

 

[bullfrog123]

Old trampoline frame legs work great as adjustable folding work stands.
Trash incinerator... WAY old water heater tank, well casing for chimney, and of course..... trampoline frame legs. I use the ashes in winter to melt huge snowbanks and on the driveway to melt ice, good thing about ashes.... they dissapear and won't eat concrete like salt will
Welding table.... used to be a floor grate from closed down school ag shop. Legs are scrap pipe laying around, and castors from HF toolbox I built into my workbench. Slag and **** falls right thru to the ground.
Shop stools from old tractor seats and junk office chair frame and barstool frame.

 

[NAPPY]

i scored the tall cabinet on CL for $25. it's an old clothing closet with one shelf. had some 60's drawer liner material inside and on top. had to replace the bottom cause it was rusted out. used some aluminum angle and plywood for shelves.

the small cabinets stacked together were free-99. i welded square tubing on the bottom of all the cabinets to keep off the ground and to slide easier. i use the 3 cabinets at work.

the table is made from leftover metal and a front adjustable leg from a 5th wheel trailer. good for working on refers, water heaters, etc. got tired of standing next to coaches and having nowhere to put my tools.

 

[deltaphisig]

I really like that frame rotisserie! Cheap and compact!

 

[thundermug]

This pair of lamps is from my Etsy shop. Those bulbs are called silver crown G25 and measure about 3" in diameter. They also go by silver bowl, mirror bowl. There is a larger version called G40, and measures 5". They aren't too expensive if you look around.

 

[don long]

Just finishing up a sand blast cabin.
Ordered an old shipping container had it cut down to 10'.
Welded up the open end to fit a roll up door.
Cut a hole in the side to fit a man door.
Put an exhaust fan on the roof and hung lights inside.
Painted the box to match the barn.
Ran the hose from the sand blast pressure pot thru a round hole in the side
of the box and made a holder for the hose from 2 1/2 " pipes

Still need a table to work off of and I am looking for some grate material for that
and I am ready to start cleaning up old gas pumps, compressors lubesters etc.

 

[ithaca00]

Kitchen Knives mad from rasp and files -

Do you have any more info on these knives? That is an amazing repurpose!

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Just finishing up a sand blast cabin.
Ordered an old shipping container had it cut down to 10'.
Welded up the open end to fit a roll up door.
Cut a hole in the side to fit a man door.
Put an exhaust fan on the roof and hung lights inside.
Painted the box to match the barn.
Ran the hose from the sand blast pressure pot thru a round hole in the side
of the box and made a holder for the hose from 2 1/2 " pipes

Still need a table to work off of and I am looking for some grate material for that
and I am ready to start cleaning up old gas pumps, compressors lubesters etc.

Awesome idea. I would definitely do something like this if I had the room.

 

[DoghouseForge]

Do you have any more info on these knives? That is an amazing repurpose!

Thanks! The whole process is in the blacksmith project thread. Links in my signature .

JP

 

[dittle fart around]

Old soccer goal posts into workbench legs.

View media item 10146
Cast iron 50's sink and old redwood picknick table top into potting table

View media item 32212

 

[sberry]

I had considered the sandblast idea but we got cheap sand and no one watching, ha so I can let it rip outside. A bud might bring a nice little portable comp to live with me but the urge to get more equipment may pass.