The repurposing thread

BMB · Jul 22, 2013

I don't believe I've seen a thread like this so I thought I'd start one.
Show off your repurposed items.
Prefer "useful" things versus scrap turned into "art".

I'll start with my plasma cart made from an old pressure washer cart.
Welded some shaped round stock around various places to hold the torch, ground and power cord. Made a big U bolt to hold the cutter on there which is secured by wing nuts for easy removal.

zkling · Jul 22, 2013

O shoot, where is sberry? He is the master of repurposing. :lol_hitti

Nothing real note worthy, sorry no pics, but I have off the top of my head.

Old table saw turned into a welding table
File cabinets into tool storage
2 wheel dolly into outboard motor stand
Oxygen cylinder into small forge
Old tanker desk into workbench
1950's typerwriter side table that is now a folding side shelf for my tool box.
Coiled wire for pliers and wrench storage, idea off this forum.

This should be a good thread. Lots of creative and cheap

folks on here. :beer:

MarkG · Jul 22, 2013

This is probably old to some of you (posted before), but here's what happened to my old compressor when I bought a MIG welder! The stove works great, BTW. Adjustable air intakes go all the way through the fire chamber to pre-heat the air and supposedly burn more efficiently. That square intake tube has holes covering both sides. Once it gets going, you can't see any smoke, so I guess it works. The bolt in the front foot is for leveling. It has acquired the name 'Scrappy' since I built it entirely with scrap or donated stuff (other than the stove paint)

rdsk8ter · Jul 22, 2013

oil container dividers

parts drawers from old index card cabinets

old desk topped with 1/4" plate workbench, 2" blue steam cleaner hose longer better flowing shop vac hose, another index card cabinet parts bin.

Lots more but its a start I LOVE this thread idea

rdsk8ter · Jul 22, 2013

MarkG said:
This is probably old to some of you (posted before), but here's what happened to my old compressor when I bought a MIG welder! The stove works great, BTW. Adjustable air intakes go all the way through the fire chamber to pre-heat the air and supposedly burn more efficiently. Once it gets going, you can't see any smoke, so I guess it works. The bolt in the front foot is for leveling. It has acquired the name 'Scrappy' since I built it entirely with scrap or donated stuff (other than the stove paint)

what size tank is that that is brilliant :beer:

arkansawer · Jul 22, 2013

zkling said:
O shoot, where is sberry? He is the master of repurposing.

Nothing real note worthy, sorry no pics, but I have off the top of my head.

Old table saw turned into a welding table
File cabinets into tool storage
2 wheel dolly into outboard motor stand
Oxygen cylinder into small forge
Old tanker desk into workbench
1950's typerwriter side table that is now a folding side shelf for my tool box.
Coiled wire for pliers and wrench storage, idea off this forum.

This should be a good thread. Lots of creative and cheap folks on here.

Zk- I would love to see the converted file cabinets. I am always seeing those cabinets going for a song at auction always thinking I wish I could figure out a way to re-work them. Great thread.

BMB · Jul 22, 2013

Here's another.
Gutted commercial electrical panels that were being thrown out.

Mounted to the wall, made some shelves and they have been great for my paint, bottles, a few stack on part boxes, etc.

rdsk8ter · Jul 22, 2013

terrible pic but here's my file cabinet converted

bar grate and folding table bade to a portable plasma table

drewski · Jul 22, 2013

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.

Thumper68 · Jul 22, 2013

Old weather proof phone box now out side weather proof storage for commonly used stuff.

PCO6 · Jul 22, 2013

Hand trucks converted to oxy/acetylene and plasma cutter carts.

Zeke · Jul 22, 2013

This is some good stuff. I have some school lockers I use to hold paint, but that's not nearly as creative. 2 drawer file cabinets under my bench mill, but that's nutin. And of course the old grease drums as trash cans; everyone has those.

OccupantRJ · Jul 22, 2013

Very well done, PC06!

theoldwizard1 · Jul 22, 2013

rdsk8ter said:
oil container dividers

I like this one enough I may have to start buying my oil in quarts again instead of the 5 quart jugs !

rdsk8ter · Jul 22, 2013

theoldwizard1 said:
I like this one enough I may have to start buying my oil in quarts again instead of the 5 quart jugs !

I have a buddy at a used car lot I get average of 20-30 a week a lot of the smaller mom and pop oil change stations will give them away too.

PCO6 · Jul 22, 2013

rdsk8ter said:
oil container dividers

Nice job rdsk8ter. Show everyone your custom made cutter. After seeing yours I made one too. I can now cut down the juice bottles I use in about a quarter of the time that I used to. :thumbup:

PCO6 · Jul 22, 2013

OccupantRJ said:
Very well done, PC06!

Thanks RJ.

jabberwoki · Jul 22, 2013

There is an older thread like this from about 4 years ago. Bout time for a new one.

nine4gmc · Jul 22, 2013

This was a medical exam table, I removed the padded top, ripped a restaurant table top to make a top with backstop for a small lathe.

Wire shelf cut down and reused for tool rack in pegboard, used the other half of the cut for a plier rack. Also using a Chevy grille for a speaker rack.

Here is a set of drawers from a steel desk on the left and a flat file cabinet on the right, framed with scrap server rack steel with an old workbench butcher block on top for my lathe table.

All can be seen in my Projects, Restos and Blunders Thread in my sig.

purplezr2 · Jul 22, 2013

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

rharman · Jul 22, 2013

Converted a whole house fan into a box fan w/filter for my garage. 2 speeds.

MarkG · Jul 22, 2013

rdsk8ter said:
what size tank is that that is brilliant

I'd say 5 gallon---from the ground to the top of the tank is about 25" and diameter about 10". It's little! Here's a few more pics of it's 'first burn' (I sat out there in the middle of winter and baby-sat this thing for a few hours probably, just fiddling around with the adjustable air intakes, etc. After all the paint burnt off, painted it with stove paint, which so far, is holding up great. It responds instantly to any slight adjustment in how far open you open the flapper door intakes. Fun project!

(BTW, you can see a little revision in my hinge design in these pics---started with little tiny box hinges, but it just wasn't 'right' on a stove, so I made some out of bar stock)

zkling · Jul 23, 2013

arkansawer said:
Zk- I would love to see the converted file cabinets. I am always seeing those cabinets going for a song at auction always thinking I wish I could figure out a way to re-work them. Great thread.

Ask and you shall receive. I love the 20 drawer cabinet. I call it my poor man's lista. It is built on the same design style as a lista with radial ball bearings. Extremely heavy, hasn't moved in years. :lol_hitti

Actually the individual drawers have a handle on the back so they can be removed easily.

Looks like Nine has the same one. Much more organized and well stocked than mine though. I primarily keep heavy stuff like files, hammers, scrap cuttoffs, c clamps. All drawer even fully loaded still slide with a single finger. The only downside I would say is that the bottom of the drawers aren't flat, since it was designed for library cards and had a divider system in it. Other than that they are great. I haven't found a second one or I would own it. :lol_hitti

Same with the 4 drawer file cabinet on the left. Neighbor was dragging it to the curb, I grabbed my dolly and wheeled it to my garage. :thumbup:

Ain't pretty, but solid and the price was right.

One thing I think most people overlook about file cabinets is that they are actually designed to handle lots of weight. Paper is pretty dense and adds up very quickly. Standard file cabinets like the black one are great for bulky, heavy items. Same dimensions as a standard side box, but MUCH cheaper and more useful IMHO.

:beer:

nine4gmc · Jul 23, 2013

I have a couple like that zkling, and one with single slightly wider drawers not shown. My double wide cabinets both have the original caster dolly's under them making it easier to roll them around. The bottom drawer of my double wide has over 215 lbs of hardware in it alone, the entire cabinet weighs almost a ton...literally :lol_hitti

The file cabinet on the right is lightweight, I use it for my shipping supplies.

zkling · Jul 23, 2013

nine4gmc said:
I have a couple like that zkling,

Why am I not surprised. :dunno:

I like your drawer of casters.

I would love to tour your and outlaw's shop. Just to see what all kinds of random goodies you have stashed away.

EDIT Rdsk8ter, I like those file cabinets you have. What are their dimensions? The drawers look to be a really useful size.

PCO6 · Jul 23, 2013

Here are my card file cabinets. They were "repurposed" from the Peterborough Hospital autopsy room.

These cabinets hold an incredible volume and weight. The 2 drawer file cabinets on the right are great for power tool storage.

astroracer · Jul 23, 2013

Gotta love those discarded bathroom vanities and kitchen cabinets!

Add a steel top and they become quite versatile.

Got TWO of these for 30 bucks at a yard sale.

Here is another vanity I picked off the side of the road. It is painted white now with a 1/4" steel plate top. I added 2 x 6"s to the top to make it easier on my back and create some storage for those plastic shoe boxes.

I need to load pics but my main computer at home is being worked on .
That's just SOME of the stuff I have repurposed... I have the requisite file card and file cabinets also...
Mark

KCarGuy · Jul 23, 2013

I took a Large steel Storage Box that was welded to a Tongue of an Old Homemade Trailer that I had Years ago, and an Old 3 Drawer Craftsman Tool Box...

Cut the Top off of the Tool Box,
Cut a Hole in the Front of The Storage Box,
Welded up some Old legs from another project,
added some casters and some other parts,
added a Side Box under...

To make a Very Heavy Duty Rolling Tool Cart.

astroracer · Jul 23, 2013

KCarGuy said:
I took a Large steel Storage Box that was welded to a Tongue of an Old Homemade Trailer that I had Years ago, and an Old 3 Drawer Craftsman Tool Box...

Cut the Top off of the Tool Box,
Cut a Hole in the Front of The Storage Box,
Welded up some Old legs from another project,
added some casters and some other parts,
added a Side Box under...

To make a Very Heavy Duty Rolling Tool Cart.

Very Nice!

Kevin54 · Jul 23, 2013

KPSquared · Jul 23, 2013

Ok, that's cool. Hmm... I've got old grills, and I've got speakers! Let's do this.

PCO6 · Jul 23, 2013

Here's my "multi-purpose stool". It's an old metal stool that I use for sitting on when welding, clamping things to when welding, painting things on, etc. On top of it is a an old brake rotor. On top of that is a turn table from an old record player which makes it easy to rotate parts while I paint them. The rotor/turn table can be lifted off and stored away.

sberry · Jul 23, 2013

Fan shield, legs from a utility sink. 2nd, paint area. The 3rd must have been a cooling rack in bakery maybe??? Was great for paint supplies.

sberry · Jul 23, 2013

Welding booth from 2 electric dryers. I think the tool cart was also 100% scrap, even used screws.

zkling · Jul 23, 2013

^ The master. I love the dryer / welding booth. Seen it a few times. :beer:

CRXPilot · Jul 23, 2013

Here's an awful cell phone pic of my buddy's "kitchen vent hood cabinet miter table station, Inc." I think he got the cabinet for free.

sberry · Jul 23, 2013

Dug this fuel tank up, converted it to a septic.

DoghouseForge · Jul 23, 2013

This seems to be mostly repurposing for storage so far so I hope this stuff counts in the threads specific function...

Ill take more photos when Im a the shop this wekend of some other things but heres the stuff I have pictures of.

WWII gas lamps converted into electric lamps -

Work Bench From Pallets - (I forgot how much space there was in there when I first moved in )

Kitchen Knives mad from rasp and files -

Just posted this but Heres the Media Console from shipping crates and pallets -

Ive got a bunch of filing cabinets and such as storage, some old doors as work bench tops, and some more furniture Ill photo this weekend..

Thanks
JP

DoghouseForge · Jul 23, 2013

If anyone is interested this web site always has great ideas and actuall products to facilitate them...

Repurposed Materials Incorp..

http://www.repurposedmaterialsinc.com/store/products/category/product-type/

rdsk8ter · Jul 23, 2013

DoghouseForge said:
If anyone is interested this web site always has great ideas and actuall products to facilitate them...

Repurposed Materials Incorp..

http://www.repurposedmaterialsinc.com/store/products/category/product-type/

they just actually moved really close to me

great people there too

The repurposing thread

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

MEMBER EMERITUS

Well-known member

Well-known member

Banned

Attachments

Banned

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Banned

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member