Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 53
  1. #1
    auminer started this thread.
    auminer's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Allen, TX
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    579
    Thanked 2,301 Times in 857 Posts

    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.

    Last edited by auminer; 07-22-2013 at 06:47 PM.
    Out of clutter, find simplicity. --Albert Einstein

  2. The Following 10 Users say Thank You for This Post by auminer:



  3. #2
    Gravitar's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    1,086
    Thanks
    1,258
    Thanked 1,431 Times in 525 Posts
    I just realized what your username ment! :facepalm:

    Nice little haul. Looks like your the "blender king"
    Last edited by Gravitar; 07-22-2013 at 08:51 PM.
    Made in China, Recycled in the Republic of Texas!

    "When the mind fails, brute force prevails" - CTSSolutions

  4. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by Gravitar:


  5. #3
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
    Posts
    198
    Thanks
    243
    Thanked 206 Times in 75 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Gravitar View Post
    I just realized what your username ment! OMG! :facepalm:

    Nice little haul. Looks like your the "blender king"
    I never gave it a second thought until your post. Now I too know the meaning! Thanks

  6. #4
    NobleMetalWorks's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2012
    Location
    East Bay California
    Posts
    687
    Thanks
    301
    Thanked 1,943 Times in 529 Posts
    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
    At the heart of science is an essential balance between two seemingly contradictory attitudes--an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive they may be, and the most ruthless skeptical scrutiny of all ideas, old and new. This is how deep truths are winnowed from deep nonsense. -- Carl Sagan

  7. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by NobleMetalWorks:


  8. #5
    auminer started this thread.
    auminer's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Allen, TX
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    579
    Thanked 2,301 Times in 857 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by NobleMetalWorks View Post
    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 )

  9. #6
    ginofrater's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    May 2013
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    506
    Thanks
    921
    Thanked 254 Times in 160 Posts
    It is a very shine name , if you know how to get to it.



    Edited


    auminer
    I just miss, your last post.
    Last edited by ginofrater; 07-22-2013 at 09:32 PM. Reason: auminer I just miss, your last post.

  10. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by ginofrater:


  11. #7
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    OK
    Posts
    5,728
    Thanks
    6,814
    Thanked 3,464 Times in 1,989 Posts
    I once worked in Homestake, still have a very few of the little souvenirs that "followed me home" ; )

  12. #8
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    OK
    Posts
    5,728
    Thanks
    6,814
    Thanked 3,464 Times in 1,989 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by auminer View Post
    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.

    You could almost start your own store with all that! ; )

  13. #9
    Sirscrapalot's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    A sandbar off the atlantic..OBX,NC
    Posts
    6,123
    Thanks
    11,885
    Thanked 8,783 Times in 3,854 Posts
    Dibs on the blender..if you send it an bottle of tequila my way!

    Also, glad I'm not the only fan of thrift stores. Look forward to the posts for the rest of the week.

    An I caught your name after the first couple posts I read by you, course it helped, that I had just got done joining GRF an studying..lol.

    Sirscrapalot - Actually prefers his margaritas on the rocks..not frozen.

  14. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by Sirscrapalot:


  15. #10
    NobleMetalWorks's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2012
    Location
    East Bay California
    Posts
    687
    Thanks
    301
    Thanked 1,943 Times in 529 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by auminer View Post
    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
    Last edited by NobleMetalWorks; 07-22-2013 at 10:50 PM.

  16. The Following 5 Users say Thank You for This Post by NobleMetalWorks:


  17. #11
    auminer started this thread.
    auminer's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Allen, TX
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    579
    Thanked 2,301 Times in 857 Posts
    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.


  18. The Following User Says Thank You to auminer for This Post:


  19. #12
    auminer started this thread.
    auminer's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Allen, TX
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    579
    Thanked 2,301 Times in 857 Posts
    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.


  20. The Following 11 Users say Thank You for This Post by auminer:


  21. #13
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Toledo, Ohio
    Posts
    550
    Thanks
    551
    Thanked 323 Times in 200 Posts
    Thats a nice load of printers,

  22. #14
    auminer started this thread.
    auminer's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Allen, TX
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    579
    Thanked 2,301 Times in 857 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by scrapping4ever View Post
    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.

  23. The Following User Says Thank You to auminer for This Post:


  24. #15
    Sirscrapalot's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    A sandbar off the atlantic..OBX,NC
    Posts
    6,123
    Thanks
    11,885
    Thanked 8,783 Times in 3,854 Posts
    Really organized...OCD will do that for ya! I also have a stereo I got from the thrift store. Two actually just replaced the old one with a better one, as the speakers on the new one are better, an it came with a remote! I just wish I knew how to fix the cd player..nice 6 disc.

    I hook the mp3 to it an rock my Smoke that way. Otherwise it's radio all day everyday unless I'm upstairs at the computer where all my music is, that isn't on the MP3.

    An no..I don't do Ipods,Ipads, etc. Only thing I like about Apple is that quote I post now an then. Dun know why, they just always bugged me, think it goes back to when I was more into gaming..every game I enjoyed wasn't available on a apple/mac product till way later. haha!

    I'd post a shot of my shop but I'd make half you go "WTH! A tornado blow through there?!"

    Sirscrapalot - In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order. - Carl Jung

  25. The Following User Says Thank You to Sirscrapalot for This Post:


  26. #16
    auminer started this thread.
    auminer's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Allen, TX
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    579
    Thanked 2,301 Times in 857 Posts
    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.

  27. The Following 9 Users say Thank You for This Post by auminer:


  28. #17
    ginofrater's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    May 2013
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    506
    Thanks
    921
    Thanked 254 Times in 160 Posts
    Thanks for sharing ,i will be waiting for the new pics, tomorrow.

  29. #18
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Aug 2012
    Location
    On, Can
    Posts
    101
    Thanks
    56
    Thanked 35 Times in 31 Posts
    Filing cabinets are quite handy actually, ....for storing those larger power tools such as circular saws,grinders etc that just won't fit in regular tools boxes.
    Also handy for your oil/lubricants as well as cutting/grinding discs, or maybe even some file folders with receipts too, lol.
    Come to think of it, I even keep my smaller battery chargers in a drawer as well.
    Convenient storage is always good, ...besides, ...look at it this way also, ...that storage space for tools,etc that you got for less than shred price, would be way more to by it new, nevermind how much a tool box would cost with that capacity

  30. The Following User Says Thank You to Jvcr1 for This Post:


  31. #19
    auminer started this thread.
    auminer's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Allen, TX
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    579
    Thanked 2,301 Times in 857 Posts
    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.
    Last edited by auminer; 07-24-2013 at 06:28 PM.

  32. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by auminer:


  33. #20
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Toledo, Ohio
    Posts
    550
    Thanks
    551
    Thanked 323 Times in 200 Posts
    Is that a game boy below them speakers? Don't scrap that!


  34. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Replies: 11
      Last Post: 07-08-2013, 03:11 PM
    2. Wow, just googled some of the "scrap" that I tore apart this week...
      By andrew1990 in forum General Electronics Recycling
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 12-19-2012, 01:39 AM
    3. last week"s boiler job
      By Libertytow in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 12-06-2012, 12:06 PM
    4. Replies: 3
      Last Post: 06-27-2012, 10:00 PM
    5. Found this in a thrift store
      By TrashPickingAusKid2 in forum Off Topic Discussions
      Replies: 1
      Last Post: 03-24-2012, 06:50 PM

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook