A week in the life of a thrift store "auminer"

This might seem miscategorized, but I chose this section for a reason: Some were seemingly dubious of the opportunities available to a guy that contacts local thrift stores to haul off their non-working/non-selling/unwanted items.

So I decided to post a weeks worth of pics, every day's haul from the ONE thrift store I go to every day. There are a couple of other stores I have arrangements with, but this one is a very busy location, and by FAR the best hookup I have.

So, of course, the first day of the picture-taking would be the lightest day on three months.

I just realized what your username ment! :facepalm:

Nice little haul. Looks like your the "blender king"

I knew what his name was referring to.

But that's probably because I deal with that particular element on a regular basis.

By the way, I like your name!

Scott

Originally Posted by NobleMetalWorks

By the way, I like your name!

Scott

THANKS!

I have used it ever since I started internetting back in the mid-90s. At the time, I lived in the mountains of Colorado, near Breckenridge, and my absolute FAVORITE hobby was recreational gold prospecting. You can never quite get enough of that special excitement in the pit of your stomach when you see that yellow glint against your green pan at the trailing edge of the black sand.

I can only guess... well, at least, I certainly HOPE... that you experience a similar sensation as you near the completion of your refining processes.

But I still think it's a different kind of special to be the first human to sieze that gold from where mother nature put it millions of years ago. (Well, OK, technically, she put it in the spot from which I was getting it just a few thousand years ago, but whatever )

It is a very shine name , if you know how to get to it.



Edited


auminer
I just miss, your last post.

Originally Posted by auminer

THANKS!

I have used it ever since I started internetting back in the mid-90s. At the time, I lived in the mountains of Colorado, near Breckenridge, and my absolute FAVORITE hobby was recreational gold prospecting. You can never quite get enough of that special excitement in the pit of your stomach when you see that yellow glint against your green pan at the trailing edge of the black sand.

I can only guess... well, at least, I certainly HOPE... that you experience a similar sensation as you near the completion of your refining processes.

But I still think it's a different kind of special to be the first human to sieze that gold from where mother nature put it millions of years ago. (Well, OK, technically, she put it in the spot from which I was getting it just a few thousand years ago, but whatever )

I still, to this day, get very excited when I precipitate gold out of solution, it's very exciting. I understand why people who practiced alchemy were also thought to be witches and wizards. There is something truly magical making gold appear out of a solution, and then watching it fall to the bottom.

I use a novel method to extract gold from acidic solutions, I use a special solvent that removes just the gold from the solution, even in dirty solutions with many types of metals. Then I precipitate. the gold, from the solvent with an acid. The resulting gold falls out of solution looking beautiful, it can be fluffy and gold in color, and never ever do I get bored of it, each time is like I am seeing it for the very first time. It's an incredible, magical experience.

When I get the chance, I'll post a video sometime...

Scott

I suppose I may as well show yall where all this stuff goes while it awaits recycling. Here are a few shots of my messy lab... errrr...garage. You'll recognize the rolling media carts from a previous post. I can not overstress just how handy those things are. They're very heavy duty, they have wheels, they hold totes & buckets, what more could you want?

Anyway. First spot we hit it was my music shop (yeah, Sublime had a stop before that in their song, but admin doesn't want me going there )

My iPod hooked up to a thrift store reject Kenwood receiver hooked up to thrift store reject Cambridge Soundworks speakers. We be rockin' the Smoke!



Then we have the resale/high value cart. For some reason the AC adapters tote ended up fitting best on this cart too.



There's a PCScrapper in the Dakotas that's LOLing at my pitiful stash...



Next, power supplies, heavy metal batteries, and my heavy scale. The gram scale is hooked to the computer in my office.



Then various PC pieces parts...



My OCD itches to reverse the positions of these tubs, but I resist. Call it aversion therapy...?



Fingerboards, lead, aluminum, and unidentified white metals are next.

more 'white' metals... the bottom shelf is Al wound motors & diecast (zinc)



Brass, copper-wound motors & transformers, wire I won't strip; and my most-used breakdown tools here. I do most of the breakdown on the truck tailgate right outside of the garage here.



A hot mess of totes, buckets, and a file cabinet I just can't bring myself to scrap even though I really don't need it.



My wife's pride & joy. Her late father made her this trailer. This thing means the world to her but she lets me use it for scrapping, and even let me mount the wire stripper on it. As much as it means to her, she understands that he made it for her so she could USE it, not make it a shrine. She's said that he'd be happy & proud that we're using it to make money.



Last but not least, my favorite bucket of all.

Originally Posted by scrapping4ever

Thats a nice load of printers,

That's 12 days. Counting today, and as you see above I didn't get any today. Glad I found a yard that'll take them whole. They just ask that the ink be removed. They don't pay much, but oh well.

OK, folks. Strap yourselves in & enjoy this post. I kinda mentioned that day 1 was a little light as compared to usual. Made up for it today:

Pic 1. Some interesting stuff here. A bit of fluff... this batch of Xmas stuff is nothing collectible, but that 75-100 bucks I was pondering dropping on a bench grinder can stay in my pocket now!



Lamps, keyboards, don't let the patina on the trashcan fool you, it's steel. Arrow points out a nice brass & steel HIS & HERS keyhook. That'll be going by the front door. There's also a mismatched tray & lid. Stamp says Godinger, and I think it really is silverplated. I wonder if Scott could tell us if silverplate is able to be/worthwhile to be recovered at ~20/oz Ag?



Almost all of it now... The fireplace tools weren't brass (drat) but that snowhouse is a Dept 56 Ridgewood. Only one completed listings on fleabay @ 16 bucks, but several listed up to $50+. I think I'ma take it back to the thrift shop tomorrow & ask them if they keep high-ish value Xmas stuff in storage to try & sell during the holidays.



Now the last of it. Here's where it kinda sucks to be an honest man. I could make lots more if I was crooked. LOL Those lamps aren't brass, just brass toned. But what they ARE is Stiffel Model 6242. The store has an upscale boutique in another location, I'll take them back & suggest they send them there marked $50 for the pair. Someone who knows what they're looking at will jump on that. The brass & copper fireplace bucket is MINE, though!!



Great haul today! Even if I am hauling some back to them tomorrow. It lets them know I'm watching out for them & on board with the good work they do in the community.

Another light-ish day today. Googled the 1976 Snoopy & Woodstock phone, going to take it back tomorrow. That happens a bit, as you've seen. Chandelier was thin-walled brass mostly, found the short they mentioned when I had it almost all the way apart. 2 pounds of brass in mah bucket! Tub thing on the left is one of those foot wax things with wax still in it. T i v o smoked when plugged in. Bummer cuz I want one, or something like it. Oh, well. should be a good board or two in there.





Edit: When I spelled the word t i v o properly, it made a hyperlink in my browser. I don't like that, I don't TRUST that, so I changed it.