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The repurposing thread

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Legba

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Jul 11, 2013
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Please tell me you are not going to be hammering on that tail gate!

:evil: It's a work bench? I imagine I will be doing a lot on it. Doesn't look in good enough shape for anyone to want it for a truck, ugly old welds and such.

I will just be improving the patina!:evil:
 

Hephaestus29

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thank you for taking the time to research. I was not thinkking Tapper as in tap and die. I must admit, that would be a good repurpose project.
Well here's my soon to be Hand Tapper, I'll post a full array of pics when i'm done.

It's an old Craftsman Scroll Saw I bought off C.L. with the intention of re-purposing it into a hand tapper. I've already stripped most everything off of it. Since I don't do much wood working it's not a loss to change the intended purpose.
 

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nine4gmc

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I'm sure you can sell the motor and unused parts to recoup some cash, Ill be watching this one!
 

Hephaestus29

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I'm sure you can sell the motor and unused parts to recoup some cash, Ill be watching this one!
Well I only gave 40 bucks for it, but that was still more than I wanted to give. I don't think the parts are worth much except for maybe the motor & I believe it is original. I have seen others like it on C.L. & Ebay without motors for more money than what I paid. I have no idea what the motor would be worth. I guess I could put it on ebay but the shipping would probably cost more than it's worth.
 

MillerMav

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What was once an aquarium stand became my new materials rack last night. You can see the architectural pieces hanging off the side. Sorry no before shots.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1379243743.459422.jpg


I post most of these from my toilet.
 

rdsk8ter

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Northglenn Colorado
Shower caddy into can holder
IMG_20130915_144446_794_zps4c25aa9c.jpg

IMG_20130915_144551_111_zps4318f609.jpg
 

ilovevocs

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How do you like having a can holder on the door? I made a mock up one for mine a while back, never hung it, got buy with other things, and then the project lost momentum. So do you like? More effective use of space or limiting space?
 

rdsk8ter

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How do you like having a can holder on the door? I made a mock up one for mine a while back, never hung it, got buy with other things, and then the project lost momentum. So do you like? More effective use of space or limiting space?

I actually just hung it there but I kinda like it so far it helps rather then having them laying in cabinets now I can see whats what. Those are just mock up cans lol first ones I could find laying around
 

Debriefer

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I keep my chemicals in a filing cabinet. The height is perfect for the vast majority of containers. It may seem like not having a good side view is an issue; it turns out it's not. Best $10 I ever spent.

chemicals.jpg


I keep my chains in a......
chain barrel! I have a carabiner that manages one end of each chain, except for those that have hooks; they just hook onto the top somewhere.

The chains don't tangle or anything. The only thing I don't like is not being able to see the lengths easily. I could maybe label them.

chains.jpg
 

mikegt4

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sw ohio
My project is actually a re-re-purpose with a bit of a story.

Back in the late 1950's I befriended a new kid in the neighborhood, we were to become lifelong friends. His dad had re-purposed an old wooden office desk into a workbench by extending the legs and attaching 2x10's to the top for a more durable work surface. My friend and I did many projects on that bench including dioramas for school when Alaska and Hawaii became states. The workbench also was used for automotive projects such as valve jobs on his 1965 Pontiac LeMans 326HO and his 1955 Jaguar XK-140.

About 15 years ago I was helping him clean out his parents house after they had passed and he was about to trash the old bench when I decided to use it in my garage. Finally this summer the 2x10 board top had become too ragged and the gaps between the boards just too wide which tended to swallowed small parts. I decided to replace it with a new bench as I was going to making one for my son's garage anyway. I wanted to reuse the drawers for storage if possible.

I disassembled the old workbench down to the office desk and then saved the two side drawer carcasses for reuse. I was able to extend the framework enough to add another drawer on each side (matching the original drawers) and then sawed up the original desk top to make a couple of shelfs in the center of the new bench. The drawers and shelves fit into the framework of the new workbench nicely and the additional storage is a bonus.

No pictures of what I started with but here are the old 2x10s (propped up against what would become my son's bench) that have seen a half century of projects. They are tight straight grained boards that you don't see today. A 36 cents price tag is another thing that you don't see today.

In the final photo you can see that I re-mounted the old Craftsman/Dunlap small woodworking vise that was on the original workbench.
 

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kbs2244

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I too like the desk drawers.
The work tables started life as roll around book shelves used by the repairmen in maineframe computer rooms in the 1970's
When CD PICs came along the paper books and their shelves where junk.
 

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zenon52

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Palmer, MA
I have a section of 4 inch PVC pipe on one of the uprights of the loader of my tractor to hold chain in. To manage the lengths I have the hooks painted different colors as to the length. I only have a few sections so it is not hard to remember the length.
 

MetalMangler

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Upstate NY
I have a section of 4 inch PVC pipe on one of the uprights of the loader of my tractor to hold chain in. To manage the lengths I have the hooks painted different colors as to the length. I only have a few sections so it is not hard to remember the length.

Do you have a picture? I'm having a hard time visualizing it, which is annoying because it sounds simple enough.

MM
 
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zenon52

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MetalMangler her are a couple pictures hopefully they post.
 

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Kevin54

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IMG_7796_zpsf359329b.jpg


That's some pretty cool ideas, although I have to admit when I first read about your buddy being a fencer, I thought this was something to hold supplies. It looked like two pieces of PVC pipe in a wood box. :lol_hitti

I have got to get me some new glasses :spit:
 

Thumper68

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Duluth MN


That's some pretty cool ideas, although I have to admit when I first read about your buddy being a fencer, I thought this was something to hold supplies. It looked like two pieces of PVC pipe in a wood box. :lol_hitti

I have got to get me some new glasses :spit:[/QUOTE]

I thought the same thing until I looked closer.
 

KPSquared

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Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada
I thought "fencer" like guys in white with swords. Then I thought they must use the two tubes to store the swords in. THEN I realized what it was and what kind of fencer he was talking about.

Great projects!
 

ratdoggy

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Akron-Canton area OH
Here's mine.....Old oxygen cart into a handle for a tombstone welder. Cut off the fluff and welded a plate on the bottom (to bolt it at the bottom) and a tab (to bolt it to the top)
 

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AnEv942

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Central Coast Ca
Re: The re-purposing thread

Fun stuff-making something from nothing, junk or doing something it was never intended to do. Usually several items combined to make something or, simply repurposeing for 'new' usage.

Couple of recent ones for storage. Though we added 'bout 30sqft to the shop approx. 2 years ago-rebuilt benches and at least doubled the cabinet space-running out of room. Stuff accumulates.

- First, for needed space wanted to move welding supplies out of shop, needed to be be damp proof. Re-purposed a broken dish washer. Once stripped of external box, internals/mile of wire/switches I sealed with aluminum tape. Amazing for something that holds water how many holes. Built a stand to elevate, gas welder sets underneath. The roll out dish trays are nice & make easy to retrieve stuff.

Nice-stuff stays dry-easy to get to & out of the shop.

- Other is a drawer cabinet converted for small items. I don't know what it was originally. Was setting outside for recycle at local Antique store. I took one home to see if I could use for something. Each drawer had couple of dozen flip over metal dividers-much like a photo flip over album. I assume for index cards or something. When fully opened the drawers will flip over so you could browse the what ever was between dividers-odd. Hi tech back in the day. Anyway cut cab in half & stacked, gutted the dividers. 12 drawers 1"x9"x15". When I figured out I could actually utilize I went back for the other one-gone.

Its great for organizing small like items that seem to get buried, in larger drawers or piles on the bench:dunno:

- Last storage item was repurposeing a microwave. When it died I saw a dry /safe box so eagerly replaced for 'her'. Its mounted on a shelf thats 5' off the floor, hidden latch is at over 7'. Stood on its end, mounted to shelf and wrapped in wood. After soaking with a hose I had removed the magnetron and electronics. Rewired so light still functions when door opened.

First pic you can kinda see where turn table was..

- One of my early re-purposing efforts-our 70's Montgomery Wards arc welder. Made a base out of some angle & robbed wheels from a baby carriage, welded some old water pipe to front for the casters. I then cut up one of our old kitchen chairs to make handle and surround. (Oddly, one of the reasons I picked up this welder was to fix those chairs, constantly ripping the welds.)
Welded on piece of flat bar to hang cords and mounted the tray which is a chain guard from old mower.


I did recently buy new wheels for it-the original carriage wheels I kept having to re weld spokes. used wheels only lasted 30 years-go figure.

I still have them... looking at another thread, thinking I might make a clock out of it? Least remind me of all the time Ive squandered...

- And my mig welder cart. Its an old folding grocery cart that Margaret had bought and proved more trouble than it was worth. Welded it ridged, added an empty wire spool for cord hanger, made the tray that drops in. The welder is held in place by some old jeep top quick release cam locks. Dropped 2 pockets for the small bottles, add some chain to contain, several assorted hooks and stuff.




Save enough stuff sooner or later it comes in handy-or parts are parts. Sometimes fills a need, but seems as often as not just an excuse to play with the tools...till the next 'project'.
 
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nonhog

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Was a display at work. Was headed to the dumpster. Now its a light duty smash station. :lol_hitti
In it a total of $10.00. Including RR track and HF post dolly.
If I don't like it or find myself not using it. I can burn the maple and repurpose it all over again as something else.
 

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Tucko

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Whittier, Ca
That's pretty swooft, my buddy used one for working under his hood but he had a single one with a piece of 3/8 plywood on top, screwed to a scrap 2x4 inside to hold it on and had some skateboard grip tape on the plywood to keep from slipping when oily. He also had a couple stools he made the same way but they were 2 crates high and instead of grip tape, he cut some pad and wrapped the tops with black vinyl, awesome seats for cheap.

That's too much work. I just let the air out of the front tires.....:lol:
 

MillerMav

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Was a display at work. Was headed to the dumpster. Now its a light duty smash station. :lol_hitti
In it a total of $10.00. Including RR track and HF post dolly.
If I don't like it or find myself not using it. I can burn the maple and repurpose it all over again as something else.

I apologize for my newb metal working status but what is the chunk of i-beam for?
 

nonhog

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Arizona (Tucson)
That's a chunk of rail! My question is: how do you get something like that, legally?

A local place near me sells them. I kept the receipt (somewhere) just in case.

That small piece is removable so its a small anvil or a very large dolly.
I couldn't beat on it as is or the Maple would likely split or blow out.
I have a couple larger pieces (as seen on the floor) for heavy hits.
 

alwaysFlOoReD

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Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
I joined specifically to post in this thread. I find it great to see so many ideas and the sharing that goes on.
Here's my contribution;

I bought this already done,on left, a table-saw converted to 6" wire wheel/grinder, on the right, an unknown purpose table holding the 8" wire-wheel/grinder;


A walker I found in the dumpster converted to hold my oxy-acet. It has been upgraded since this pic to make it more stable;


The obligatory rim/driveshaft/vice;


Outdoor grill converted to hold my 110V mig;


A bigger frame zip-tied to a smaller generator for the wheels. I have since cut and welded the two together;


A small hand-truck carries my 240V arc welder;


Thanks for looking,
Richard
 

nine4gmc

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Dallas
I joined specifically to post in this thread. I find it great to see so many ideas and the sharing that goes on.
Here's my contribution;

I bought this already done,on left, a table-saw converted to 6" wire wheel/grinder, on the right, an unknown purpose table holding the 8" wire-wheel/grinder;


Thanks for looking,
Richard

Hi Richard, and Welcome to the greatest place on the net! The unknown table on the right is a Tiffany Typewriter Table. :beer:
 

Erampu

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Waterford NY
Always, that "unknown purpose table" is an old typewriter table, I believe. The drop leaf on the left held the work.
 
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