landman Posted October 28, 2018 Share Posted October 28, 2018 The microwave died the other day. I took it apart and salvaged many little items which may become model parts some day. For example the timer display has the makings of a fine table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren B Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Very good sources to find parts, also that wound copper thingy has a lot of good copper wire on it, just snip one end and spool it out. great detailing for wires and hoses..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuces Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 (edited) Had a 6 foot long cellphone charger cable go bad on me so I decided to cut out the 4 wires out of it..... That's enough plug wire to last me for quite a while..... ? Edited November 3, 2018 by Deuces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren B Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 (edited) On 11/2/2018 at 9:07 PM, Deuces said: Had a 6 foot long cellphone charger cable go bad on me so I decided to cut out the 4 wires out of it..... That's enough plug wire to last me for quite a while..... ? That is me, my apple phones always goes thru the charging cables, as slow as I build mine will last a lifetime.... Edited November 8, 2018 by Darren B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren B Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 (edited) I love scrounging around for everyday items for model building. Years ago I had a large projection tv take a dump. Took out all the guts and have a lifetime of wires and do dads. Right after that I used a lot of those items to super detail my mpc/amt snow speeder. The possibilities are endless.... Edited November 8, 2018 by Darren B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bainford Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 No fallen electronic items get thrown out of my house without first harvesting the model parts from inside. An old VCR provided a great pile of gears and similar components that only need the rust treatment to make a cool junk load for an old truck. Wires and diodes aplenty, of course. An old CD player had some perfect rubber suspension air bags. On a project a few years ago I needed an orange wire of a specific gauge, but could find nothing useful in my stash, so I started ripping apart electronic items in the house. Several sets of airplane headphones and an old DVD player bit the dust, but an old lap top provided the exact bit I needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gramps46 Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 On 10/28/2018 at 2:09 PM, landman said: The microwave died the other day. I took it apart and salvaged many little items which may become model parts some day. For example the timer display has the makings of a fine table. Please be very careful with Microwaves. My cousin's son was fatally electrocuted try to fix one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flat32 Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 I pick up and save every discarded disposable cigarette lighter I find. Was taking them apart for the springs, but the other parts are interesting as well. I hang onto disposable razors, take them apart and study their construction. Likewise ballpoint pens. My Dad used to say "Never trow nuttin away" and never throw anything away without saving all the screws, washers, bolts, nuts and springs. He'd bring home shipping crates that we kids had to take apart for the lumber and had to save the nails. Spent many hours as a kid straightening nails. He never threw away a baby food jar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted November 29, 2018 Share Posted November 29, 2018 On 11/15/2018 at 5:25 PM, Flat32 said: I pick up and save every discarded disposable cigarette lighter I find. Was taking them apart for the springs, but the other parts are interesting as well. I hang onto disposable razors, take them apart and study their construction. Likewise ballpoint pens. My Dad used to say "Never trow nuttin away" and never throw anything away without saving all the screws, washers, bolts, nuts and springs. He'd bring home shipping crates that we kids had to take apart for the lumber and had to save the nails. Spent many hours as a kid straightening nails. He never threw away a baby food jar. My father is the same way. I think many folks that lived through the "Great Depression" of the 30's have that mindset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olsbooks Posted November 29, 2018 Share Posted November 29, 2018 (edited) Just found this thread and am jumping up and down with joy. Re purposing provides such a rewarding sense compared to pulling out the wallet. Brains over bucks I say. A really good one recently discovered is for mica samples from Lowes or home depot. In building a diorama, I wanted nice looking wood floors in a 1/87 building. Also, flexible drinking straws make great air intake ducting going to air cleaner housings. I use it extensively on 1/25 semi trucks. Peace Edited November 29, 2018 by olsbooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landman Posted December 1, 2018 Author Share Posted December 1, 2018 On 11/29/2018 at 5:36 PM, olsbooks said: Just found this thread and am jumping up and down with joy. Re purposing provides such a rewarding sense compared to pulling out the wallet. Brains over bucks I say. A really good one recently discovered is for mica samples from Lowes or home depot. In building a diorama, I wanted nice looking wood floors in a 1/87 building. Also, flexible drinking straws make great air intake ducting going to air cleaner housings. I use it extensively on 1/25 semi trucks. Peace I truly agree with this. I do that with my woodworking too. I use a lot of recycled, salvaged wood. For example this mahogany chest was made with old door jambs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89AKurt Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 I have a good stash of salvaged parts! Springs primarily. I have taken apart every dead electronic device, the older stuff has cool parts, not so much for newer. I used a VCR head to make a turn-table. Here is what CD player laser readers are good for, projector headlights. The orange turn signals are LEDs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chariots of Fire Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 On 11/8/2018 at 6:26 PM, Darren B said: I love scrounging around for everyday items for model building. Years ago I had a large projection tv take a dump. Took out all the guts and have a lifetime of wires and do dads. Right after that I used a lot of those items to super detail my mpc/amt snow speeder. The possibilities are endless.... That looks like the beginning of a neat spacecraft model! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belugawrx Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 (edited) I love salvaging Most of this interior came from a portable CD player and a couple WiFi sticks Edited December 2, 2018 by Belugawrx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted December 3, 2018 Share Posted December 3, 2018 Another great thing to have is the drive belts from old junk computer printers....they make great looking blower drive belts. Small capacitors make nice looking scale oil filters as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBcritter Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 (edited) Take a close look at these shirt button extenders: Should be some use there for smaller flexible exhaust or radiator hoses.O/D looks to be 1/16". Edited December 26, 2018 by ChrisBcritter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteski Posted December 27, 2018 Share Posted December 27, 2018 Excellent tip! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spex84 Posted December 27, 2018 Share Posted December 27, 2018 Love this kind of thing! It's a real kick to find just the right item in the stash, a piece of wire etc that was removed from a tape player 20 years ago and socked away for a rainy day Electronics trash is truly treasure to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 (edited) On 12/27/2018 at 4:57 PM, Spex84 said: Electronics are truly treasure Indeed. I picked up an old radio, disassembled it, and found plenty of useable bits inside, like this .011" thick copper wire and this .027" thick fabric wrapped braided copper wire, which seems just about right for vintage spark plugs and wires. The fabric wrapped wire was used to slide the frequency pointer inside the radio. ? Edited March 5, 2019 by Casey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCRWDRVR Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 I have to admit that’s something that never crossed my mind but it’s there now and there to stay... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBLNG Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 My wife just got her guitar re-strung and I asked her to save the old strings. I read on here that some guys use the solid strings and hypodermic tubing for radio antennas. I noticed that the wrapping around the other strings can be removed to make very tiny springs as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 3 hours ago, NOBLNG said: My wife just got her guitar re-strung and I asked her to save the old strings. I read on here that some guys use the solid strings and hypodermic tubing for radio antennas. I noticed that the wrapping around the other strings can be removed to make very tiny springs as well. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DumpyDan Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Nice work, I like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren B Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 15 hours ago, NOBLNG said: My wife just got her guitar re-strung and I asked her to save the old strings. I read on here that some guys use the solid strings and hypodermic tubing for radio antennas. I noticed that the wrapping around the other strings can be removed to make very tiny springs as well. I also use the little brass looking thing that is on the wire for engine pulleys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bainford Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 23 hours ago, NOBLNG said: I read on here that some guys use the solid strings and hypodermic tubing for radio antennas. I use guitar strings a lot. It's one of my favourite scratch building materials. Brake lines, fuel lines, suspension bits, various rods, pipes, & tubes,1000s of uses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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