Gallery of Lights

Lamps => Modern => Topic started by: Vince on November 07, 2010, 01:14:24 PM

Title: Dumpster diving 101!
Post by: Vince on November 07, 2010, 01:14:24 PM
So, here's a new article, this time about dumpster diving! This article is divided into several questions to cover as much as I know about this interesting hobby.

What is dumpster diving?

The term dumpster diving covers any method of looking for stuff in any kind of trash. It doesn't necessarily, and rarely does, mean sticking your head in the neighbor's trash can ;D As lighting collectors, we especially look for scrap metal containers, since those can hide all kinds of lighting fixtures.

Where to dumpster dive?

About any place where trash is thrown away can hide something interesting. We have the luck here in North America to be legally able to dumpster dive. Although many owners of stores or other places may not like to see people getting into their trash. We shall look for two possible places where you have the greatest chances to have a successful hunt:

- Metal recyclers.

If you can afford it, you can ask a metal recycler to take specific stuff. More often than not, they'll charge you, but it's gonna be really cheap, especially if you look for a very specific part, like a preheat choke. You can also just dive into their public dumpster, but from personal experience I don't recommend you to do so ;D

- Recycle centres.

It is always worth it to ask for lighting stuff in such places. Just by saying you don't resell it, you put all chances on your side. That is how I got a privileged access to the fluorescent tube stash, an area that is usually prohibited to take anything from. You may also have the chance to get as many fluorescent fixtures or other fixtures as you want.

- Various dumpsters.

The easiest way to get started is to look for dumpsters in your area. A good start would be to check if your garbage picking company places public dumpsters. Generally it is tolerated to dive in such dumpsters.


***

What do I need ?

Of course you need some basic equipment to make sure your hunts will always end on a good note. First off, some gloves are essentials. Not only they prevent injuries, but they keep your hands warm if you're brave enough to dumpster dive in winter!

Another good addition to your equipment is a pair of steel cap boots. Especially for us who are prone to dive into scrap metal, they can protect your feet against potientially dangerous injuries. Finally, T-Shirts and shorts are not the clothes to wear during dumpster diving. ;)

You will also need some tools. If you choose your tools in a smart way, it can be as few as 2. Personally I bring 3: a set of screw bits with a screwdriver, a screwdriver with a set of very small bits, and a pair of standard pliers. With such a set, you can take apart virtually anything you could find in a dumpster, from a cooking range to a computer, anything!


***

I guess there are dumpster diving "techniques" right?

Yup! It is useless to bring home a whole cooking range if you only want the preheat fluorescent circuit inside! In that case, you will need to....

TAKE IT APART!

As stupid as it may sound, it takes some practice to be able to take things apart properly!

...

No, store that sledgehammer ;D Actually, each time you disassemble something you have to figure out how it's been assembled, because a sledgehammer will break it open, yeah, but you'll most certainly break what you want inside, too.
Title: Re: Dumpster diving 101!
Post by: Vince on February 10, 2011, 08:44:26 PM
How to take things apart?

It depends of various conditions: the place where you are, what you want to take apart and the tools you have available.

First, if you are at the recycling centre, chances are you'll be allowed to disassemble your article on the spot. If you are at a scrap metal recycler, you should take it apart once back home. Finally if you are at a public dumpster, you can do both, but if you stay there to harvest your pieces, make sure not to leave any junk on the ground. Dumpster owners are much more likely to allow you to come back again if you are a civilized dumpster diver ;)

Disassembling things is usually simple. Look for screws on the back or bottom of the device, but there may be screws somewhere else! Chances are you may hit a special screw, like a Torx screw. These are common on microwaves and hard drives. A few of them may even have a central pin to prevent standard Torx bit to fit! Fortunately those special Torx bits are fairly easy to find. You may also hit foreign screws, like the several kinds of triangle screws found on Asian imported goods. Those are gonna be harder to remove...

Be careful when you are about to remove a cover or a part of the device. Removing it too quickly may release springs or other pieces that could then fly dangerously! You could also break the precious stuff you're looking for!

[Not completed so far]
Title: Re: Dumpster diving 101!
Post by: Jace the Gull on February 18, 2011, 02:48:42 PM
To help Vince here, I will share what I have that Vince was talking about...

Here it is....BEHOLD!!!!

(http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/8563/screwbits.jpg) (http://img407.imageshack.us/i/screwbits.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Title: Re: Dumpster diving 101!
Post by: SeanB~1 on February 20, 2011, 08:10:51 AM
And the nice thing is that it fits in a pocket, and can be carried with you easily. Add to it a pair of combination pliers to handle both rounded off nuts and to cut wire, and you are ready to go.
Title: Re: Dumpster diving 101!
Post by: ilovelamp on December 19, 2011, 12:32:51 AM
Awesome!
Title: Re: Dumpster diving 101!
Post by: CrazyLamp on March 24, 2012, 06:46:42 PM
 I find bissness/industral parks best places to find florescent fixtures and tubes.
while you are dumpster diving might as well take any metal as you can cash them in
at least it pays for your gas and some bucks for lighting stuff. i been doing this since i was 8 years old. for me i look for lighting related stuff, metal , electronics,

on contruction sites it 1 out of 10 dumpster they will let me dive in. must contact the forman of the contruction site first.  the best time for that is very early in the morning.

average dumster diving day i make about 40 to 75 bucks from scrap metal and few full wattage tube to bring home. I used my Ohm meter to weed out T12 tubes. and T8 visual inspection have to first pass for vacume loss then ohm meter check.