Well a guy has to get lucky once in a while. Today i scored a bunch of free leather working tools and other random stuff. A school was cleaning out some unused classrooms and storage areas and throwing stuff away that had not been used for years. Just so happened one of the people tossing stuff came across these leather tools and thought of me so they saved the box and asked if they could keep it for me. The admin at the school said sure its no good anyway since nobody will ever use it again. They kept the box and brought it to me next time they were in the area. The date stamped on one leather keychain that is unfinished is 1978!! One of the oldest teachers there has worked there for 25 years and said she didnt even know they had the stuff. So far what i have found are 6 new swivel knives, 32 different stamps/punches, two plier style hole punches, tons of lacing needles, a tandy 1/2 inch alphabet set, a tandy numbering set, and 6 1/4 inch thick rubber work mats, and about 10-15 keychain kits. A great score for me, and what would have been a real shame if it ended up in the dumpster. Just makes a guy wonder what else these places toss in the trash.
That's awesome. Congrats on that. Sometimes I wish I was a garbage man just so I can find some of the things people throw out.
Right on man! At six bucks a stamp retail I would say you got a killer deal! I have seen and heard of some really good stuff getting thrown out. Kinda buggs me lol.
Never chopped a padlock in my life. Well.... there was that one time i chopped a padlock off a shed to get a motorcycle out, but that was my own shed and my own bike haha (forgot the shed keys at my cabin). Actually given the fact that i have lived in this area my whole life most people know me, and the small town atmosphere usually helps. When people spy something like that its common for them to call up someone they think might want it and pass it along. Regardless it was a good score, now all i need is some leather to play around making some sheaths. Garage sales are your friend buddy. Scored a 1 year old 18 inch Poulan pro gas chainsaw two summers ago at a garage sale for 50 bucks, because they cut all the trees they needed and had no use for it. I even saved a GIANT of a Stihl chainsaw from the dump when a guy said he was throwing it away because it was old and he didnt want to pack it up when he moved away the next week. It is huge with a 30 inch bar and solid steel body. I have never even used it its so big, but at least i can say "my chainsaw is bigger than your chainsaw" lol.
I know a guy that gets anvils dropped off in front of his shop and another guy that gets anything on it's way out the door of the mills down East. Come to think of it, he also feeds his coal forges for free. It's all who you know.
