I never, ever throw anything away.

[matt]

Is it just me that keeps every odd bit of hardware (including stripping stuff off things before they go to the dump)?
Is it just me who has odd quantities of every conceivable size screw, bolt, washer, thingamajig, and other?
Is it just me who struggles to organise and store all this stuff so it can be found later?
Is it just me that goes out and buys something only to find I have one/some in the garage already?

What bright organisation and storage methods people come up with to manage this wide assortment of "stock"?

 

[Paul Chapman]

Blimey, Matt, you'd get on well with my wife - she never throws anything away

Just accept that most of it is junk, will never be used again and take it down the dump. Trust me, you'll feel a lot better and be amazed at the space you have.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[mailee]

No Matt, you are not alone. I tend to keep most fittings off old furniture. Lucky I do at times like this week I needed some more of the small screws for concealed hinges for a kitchen fit I was doing and had plenty myself. I usually place them in small tins with masking tape on with a description of it's contents. :wink: Yes I may be a horder but it sometimes pays off.

 

[Woodmagnet]

No don't do it Matt, ignore Paul.
You can guarentee if you throw something away
next week you'll need it.
And i'm a 1st. class, A1, Hoarder. And i love it. :lol:

 

[maltrout512]

And I thought I was the only one who would strip something bare before throwing out. Nice to know that I am human. (I think)

 

[CHJ]

Been salvaging "useful" stuff for years unfortunately it's the stuff that made it's way to the dump last year/month/week that I could use most of the time.

 

[aldel]

I am fortunate to often be given plank ends or off-cuts of all sorts of timber from my mate who has a joinery business. Just perfect for boxes etc. etc. I am well known for having all sorts of salvaged screws fittings etc "in stock"! Small bit of maple, ash, teak, oak.........yes sir I have it, but where? It will be under a large pile up on shelves, in the shed, under the house floor, behind the planer.

The problem is I can't move for the stuff and when I do find some oak/ mahogany/elm/walnut it is either just too short/thin/not enough.
Do you know somewhere I have 4 bags of black piano keys (ebony) and strips of ivory but please don't ask me to find them just now.
About once a year I have a huge clear out and revel in the new found room.
I can guarantee not long after it will be " hey Al, can I scrounge some brass screws/ wood, plastic"?

Come back in a couple of weeks as I will probably have some more "in stock"
Being an honoury member of the tool protection league I have gathered so many planes and chisels which are all fettled and sharpened but why?
I really don't need them all, and many never get used but they do look good in the drawers don't they!
I have managed to stop housing more tools but I have yet to be cured of the timber habit.

 

[Woodmagnet]

:lol: :lol: My missus calls me "Woodmagnet", cos' i
always seem to bring bit's of wood home. :lol:

 

[Rich]

I'm always in the skip at work, nuts and bolts, angle iron, etc etc, I wish I could find an alternative use for zimmer frames, they get thrown away by the dozen :shock:

Rich.

 

[tekno.mage]

No, you are not the only one at all. I remove anything useful from stuff before taking it down the dump - including the mains plug from anything electrical & any knobs/feet etc that could be reused. I've even been known to strip old computer equipment of screws/washers etc - there are some amazing tiny screws lurking inside old hard disk drives! If you take the drive apart, (keeping all the useful little fittings) then bend & break the platters it's unlikely anyone will be able to read any data on there again!

Like you I wish there was an easy way of organising all this stuff so I can find the thing I want when I need it! The box I want is always the one at the bottom, at the back and with something big & heavy stood in front of it!

I don't keep everything salvaged myself but hate to throw away anything potentially useful - I have a friend who is a blacksmith/sculptress & she takes any interesting bits of scrap iron/steel, other friends wanting bits for specialist hobbies etc & there are a couple of local charities who collect & reuse stuff as well - one refurbishes unwanted tools to send to Africa and another collects stuff to be used in art projects with disadvantaged kids.

tekno.amge

 

[Digit]

alternative use for zimmer frames,

Save one for me!
I've a large plastic container of knobs and other fittings from skips, and for the inveterate jig maker they are invaluable.

Roy.

 

[Paul Chapman]

The trouble with keeping loads of stuff is that you can never find it anyway.

If in doubt, throw it out

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Rich]

The trouble with keeping loads of stuff is that you can never find it anyway.

If in doubt, throw it out

Cheers :wink:

Paul

I can never find it to throw it out, I always come across what I wanted whenI'm looking for something else.

Rich.

 

[Hitch]

I keep a couple of thoose stacking boxes of odds and sods, castors, knobs, hinges... but small screws and bolts, if i drop a box on the floor, ill pick up the easy ones, the rest go with the floor sweepings.

Very rare i will take hardware off things, unless its something very unusual, like a bristol lever.

 

[wizer]

The only thing I can not stand to throw away is hardwood. I have got shed loads of tiny offcuts that I simply refuse to get rid of. Heaven knows what I'll use it for... but you never know.. ? :roll: :wink:

 

[Hitch]

I often pick up tiny odd bits at yandles just for the sake of 50p :lol:
Normally end up cutting contrasting plugs out of them.

 

[bobscarle]

Interested to see the comment about stripping hard disks. The best thing about an old disk is the magnets. Two very strong magnets mounted on plates, ideal for fixing to the wall to hold something when you get round to finding that something that needs it.

Bob

 

[Rich]

I use the magnets from speakers, I attach them to my pillar drill and morticer and hold the chuck keys there.

Rich.

 

[Lee Brubaker]

I dunno why anyone would have trouble using up their hardwood cut-offs/scraps. I keep mine under control by making wood toys which get donated to the children of needy families at Christmas. I made my first toys 8 years ago & discovered that I like making them. Now, nothing gets thrown out that is larger than 3" square x 1/2" thick( I can make a wheel outta that).

Lee

 

[Woodmagnet]

I've seen your toy's Lee, and i must say they
are absolutely brilliant. Well done to you for
taking the time to help out the less fortunate. 8)