Any Recent Finds for Anyone? Anybody here?

I have to tell a story about a find I had in August that was REALLY SOMETHING. A street that I drive up and down quite a bit has an assisted living facility on it. There was a BUNCH of stuff sitting on the curb in front of the facility. I figured someone new was moving in and the person guarding the stuff had to take a bathroom break.

The next time I drove by the same stack was there and, when slowing down and looking very closely, I saw a sign with the magic word “FREE” on it! What made things even better is that there were three vehicles parked in front of the stuff so it would be easy to drive by and not see it.

I’d be done working in an hour or so and would stop by after work. GLAD I DID! Got a nice black crosscut shredder and a few other things. But, the first thing I picked up was an AWESOME LEATHER RECLINER AND OTTOMAN. I noticed the brand Stressless on it and decided to do some research. I found an upscale furniture store called Copenhagen which sells that brand and my wife and I decided to pay them a visit. They didn’t have the exact same thing, but in piecing things together carefully, I figured that the chair and ottoman likely cost a total of $2,800-$3,400. Even gently used, they should be worth $1,200-$1,500. Oh yeah, four people who have sat in the chair so far have all said it is super comfy! Nope- not selling!

Oh yeah, the owner’s son was out front when I came back. He said his dad passed away and he didn’t want any of the stuff. I’m sorry for his loss, but this was TREMENDOUS for my wife and I!

I work pretty hard to find $5-10 of copper and aluminum. It is REALLY NICE to have an occasional windfall!

What is everyone else finding out there? I’d love to hear some good war stories and see how much activity there is on this fine site.

Few weeks back I scored 2 1972 PTAC hvac units from a old hotel converted into condo center. heavy stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5gRZY82DbM
Also a 3x3 5 slot vending machine that sits on a counter top for cold pop last week. Got a tip from the UPS guy about that... when its not so hot out one weekend ill make a video of breaking that down.

Hvac co i pick up from sometimes did a church not too far. got the condenser, furnace and evaporator coil from that job.

Not much of a story.... but i did go pick up a water heater from my buddies plumbing co. local jobs today. When i was there the homeowner asked if i can take a microwave... thats about it for the more interesting stuff.

Caught a lucky break today. An elder gent dropped of a 2011 Craftsman Lawn Tractor at the local transfer station this morning. It's in good shape. He just didn't need it anymore.

It really helped out. The year 2000 Craftsman Lawn Tractor that i bought new finally gave up the ghost a couple of months ago. It just wasn't in the cards to buy a new one this year.

I should be good for another 5 - 10 years with this used one if i take care of it right. :)

There is a local computer repair place that calls me every 4-6 weeks to pick up everything they don't want. Two weeks ago it was 15 computers, 3 laptops and 50-60 computer power supplies.

After scrapping the power supplies I got 9lbs aluminum and 6 pounds of copper wire. I only pulled the copper torrids they are very easy to pull the wire.

This is a recent find but from a yard sale. At yard sales I look for old postcards and magazines. I ask at every stop. One guy said he had some old playboy magazines. I stay clear of those but he insisted I look at what he had. He made me an offer I could not refuse, all for $25. There was just over 210 magazines and other playboy printed items. The oldest ones were 1974 and the youngest was 1996. Just think every "lady" photographed is now OLD. Some old enough for medicare. There was even the 1992 Trump issue. Any way I listed all of them and sold 85 already for several times what I paid for the lot.

I saw a comment on Facebook that a local gal had a 2005 Kia Sedona van for sale/asking $150. I happened to know her in this small community. She said it overheated and suspected the water pump was "out" (or something worse),plus it wouldn't start. I scrap cars anyhow so said I'd take it. When I got there, she said I could also have a Buick LeSabre .....no extra charge. I took the 'cat' out of the Buick which I haven't sold yet...it's a good one. I sold the Buick to the scrapyard for $260 after taking the battery out (scrap value $10).

We found out that the Kia only needed water in the radiator and it wouldn't start because the battery was ''shot'' and the anti-theft system wouldn't let the starter make connections because the $1.75 battery in the key fob was also shot. It's a beautiful van with 122,000 actual miles and runs great. I don't need it and will advertise it for sale for maybe $4995.00 or more. Best of all, I didn't get stung by the nest of wasps in the door of the Buick. Thanks Facebook :)

We had our city wide clean up day recently. Besides scrap I got a $400 bike that is like new, a nice Toro push mower that only needs a carb cleaning, a 37" Sharp LCD tv with remote to take the spot of the 32" Sony LCD I had gotten at curbco prior, and an unopened bag of cow manure!

Thought I had just finished cleaning up a farm that I put off for four years because of the amount of tin and wire. Went to pay the farmer, (I give the owner 1/3 of the gross) and getting ready to move onto the next farm. He rejected the check and said I had done a great job and wanted to show me something. We go to a barn that was over 100 years old filled with antique machinery and personal items. He said he was going to bulldoze it in and that I could have anything I wanted.

After thanking him I explained there was an obligation to work on another farm and I would have to pass. He said he would give me until spring to remove items. The value of items in the barn is beyond my knowledge, but it is a priority this spring.