response 1 of 42:

Feb 10 12:13 UTC 1998

One seasonal way to get lumber and other things free is when the students move
out at the end of a term, esp. when year leases run out.  Old lofts and other
goodies, right on the curb!  If I have my wits about me this spring (happens
rarely, though), I'll try to take my Dad's pickup around and try to get a full
load or two.

There's the Reuse Center on South Industrial.  Lots of doors and windows,
along with lumber (not that cheap), sinks, toilets, etc. and misc. plumbing
and wiring.

I've heard there is a scrap place near the Broadway bridge; anybody care to
elaborate more?

response 3 of 42:

Feb 11 00:38 UTC 1998

Let me know when that magic move-out is, ok?  I live a sheltered life.

response 5 of 42:

Feb 11 05:17 UTC 1998

Freedman's on Broadway deals in non-ferrous metal, including an occasional
kitchen sink, odd lots of copper plumbing fixtures, electrical wiring,
stainless steel mouse cages, etc., all by the pound.  They also buy by the
pound - aluminum, copper, stainless.  Will recycle old computer boards,
aluminum legs of chairs, etc.
        Fingerle's will let you take an occasional 4' 2x4 when you buy
something.
        Dumpsters around downtown often have old drywall, insulation, and
computers, and oscilloscopes, and bookshelves, and swivel chairs, lumber with
nails in it, electrical outlets.
        Once found a dumpster full of irregular socks, just waiting for the
toes to be sewn together, outside the factory.  They sell new for $8.
        BIkes are often thrown out by departing students.

response 7 of 42:

Feb 12 03:55 UTC 1998

In general, just keep your eyes on the curbside when you're out walking, and
you'll see all sorts of great junk you never realized you needed up until that
moment.  This coming from the guy with a metal plate in his pocket 'just
because', of course.

response 9 of 42:

Jun 2 18:05 UTC 1998

Walking a lot tends to get you close to sources of things.  On my way to work
today, I trash picked a VCR.  There's a repair tag indicating that the owner
had it looked at and decided to buy a new one, so it is going to need some
kind of work.  However, I peeked in the tape door and noticed a toy car in
the works!

response 11 of 42:

Jun 2 20:58 UTC 1998

Scott, if you get good at VCRs we could certainly use your help fixing the
easy ones, at least, for Kiwanis.  About 10 have accumulated, the donated ones
never seem to work.  Sorry we did not have time to do more than say hello to
you last Saturday, can you make it in Mon or Thurs?
        I hope the owner did not get charged $20 for the look-at.  We sold a
phonograph to someone who had been charged $20 to be told their was some tape
stuck in her tape player, which was why it did not work.  You would think they
could have taken 5 minutes to fix it for the same charge.
        You are welcome to donate the toy car to Kiwanis, we can display it
with some pertinent comment, in our top shelf museum.

response 13 of 42:

Jun 3 18:43 UTC 1998

I am curious what type of maintenance the old one needed which the new one
might not need.

response 15 of 42:

Jun 8 00:52 UTC 1998

Could you give us some ideas what sorts of things break in VCRs, as we are
trying to fix a bunch of them.  Cleaning the head and belts often helps, but
we have an odd one with a wavy picture that is okay when there is only one
line of text across the middle of the screen (and that is also the only time
it is in color), same problem using either a tape or the tuner.  It appears
to be some electronic problem in the output, but what do we do next, other
than give up on it?  Check transistors or capacitors?

response 17 of 42:

Jun 16 02:33 UTC 1998

We have another one that might need a height adjustment, the top quarter or
so of the picturee is in color, the rest has a white overlay with short black
streaks.  (The repair book says to consult the specifications - hah!- and use
the adjustment gigs.  We can't make it any less usable by trying.)

response 19 of 42:

Jun 19 18:07 UTC 1998

No, if it is Mon or Thurs 9-12 the door is unlocked, if it is Mon or Thurs
pm, call us first at 665-2211, we may be there until late, or call us the day
before and we can be sure to be there for you Mon or Thurs.  (Jim does not
have a way to get in other days).  Sat afternoon is also possible.  Let us
know today whether to stay longer tomorrow.  995-9463

response 21 of 42:

Oct 23 03:28 UTC 1999

Jim thinks it looks more like a junkyard than Kiwanis, which is more selective
and has more volunteers putting in more sorting hours, but the prices are
lower at Reuse Center (if you can find what you are hunting for).  They have
a much better selection of building materials - doors, windows, sinks,
toilets, lumber, plenty of paint, sand, concrete, light fixtures, etc.  The
clothing is by the bag, the computers are as is.  They have the advantage of
being open every day (Kiwanis only Sat am), but are not well heated.  The
people working there are very nice and simply cannot keep up with it all. 
Also have lots of very part time volunteers.  They do not take beds, but they
seem to accept nearly anything else (so far, they will fill up soon).

response 23 of 42:

Oct 26 00:21 UTC 1999

We needed 3" PVC and they only had the grey electrical type.
Cheapest prices in town for paint, and a large color selection.