Credit: Discovery Channel
I spoke with Gordie Wornoff today. He’s a carpenter and freecycler. On September 14, you’ll be able to watch him and six others convert an old loft into a high-end live/work space with found materials only. The show is aptly called Junk Raiders.
Currently, I have a broken granny cart on my front lawn. I asked Wornoff if it was something he would salvage.
I’ve taken granny carts before, but they’re not very sturdy. I only take things that are worth it or that I’ll use. If I needed wheels for a dolly, I might take those.
It looks like it’s up to me to take care of that cart.
Here are Wornoff’s top five tips for freecycling:
- Be safe. Wear gloves. Wear long sleeves and pants if you are jumping into Dumpsters.
- You should ask permission before you go through someone’s trash.
- Look strategically. For example, wealthier neighbourhoods are usually hotbeds for renovations in the summer and a good place to find old 2×4 studs. For pine, look for discarded futon frames around the end of April in the student neighbourhoods.
- A search for a particular item rarely succeeds. If you need angle brackets now, the store is the place to go. But, if you have a lead on some old Ikea furniture, problem solved.
- Be prepared and keep and eye out. You never know what you’ll find or when.
Do you have any salvaging tips or tales? Share them in the comments section below.
The judges have narrowed it down to three finalists. Now it’s up to you, CHW readers, to pick the winner. Go to our forum and vote for your favourite. You’ll make someone very happy.
The winner of our most recent Dream Deck Contest is Leanne Cheung from Calgary. Congratulations! Leanne wins a bunch of stuff including Kayu Batu Indonesian hardwood for the deck, a Softtub portable hot tub, Bosch tools, a Broil King barbecue and Echo yardwork tools. Not bad, eh? She’s going to have a busy summer turning her ambitious plans into reality. You’ll see the results in our April 2010 issue.
File this one under “What took took them so long to figure this out?” Bernzomatic’s trigger-start hose torch gets the flame away from the tank and makes things a lot more manoeuvrable. I mean, you’ve been there too, right? Moving a propane canister and tube into an awkward corner. Just the thing you want to be doing with a flame, eh?
I’ll give the hose torch a try and keep the flame right where I need it.
Credit: Cove Studios
This oldie but goody was very popular last year. (I blame the release of The Dark Knight.) And this year, we’ve had a few calls for bat house plans here at CHW central. So, here’s a 17-year-old classic: plans for a bat house.
One of the disadvantages of working at CHW is that you can’t enter CHW contests. And I really wish I could enter this one.
But you, you lucky CHW reader, can enter to win a weekend in the workshop with our master craftsman Ryan Shervill. You need to fill out some personal info and upload a sketch and brief description of the project you’d like to build in Ryan’s shop. Once all the entries are in, our judges will select the top projects. Then it’s up to you, you lucky readers, to vote for the winner. Think of it as CHW Idol. Or So You Think You Can Build. Or CHW’s Next Top Cabinetmaker…I’m sure you got the idea.
If you are thinking of entering, you better hop to it. The contest closes Monday. Enter here because under Ryan’s guidance, you’ll definitely expand your shop knowledge.
If you are looking for inspiration or some help for your weekend projects, check out Jay Somerset’s Weekend DIY column. He’s covered such practical stuff as taking the wiggle out of your chair (something I really should get to), installing baseboards and organizing your garage. On the leisure side of things, there’s the guide to setting up a horseshoe pit. There you have it: a little business and a little fun for your weekend.
