Treasure is where you find it!

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Treasure is where you find it! (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 8/4/2016 9:51:16 AM EDT

Today: 4 each 1x4x4' treated boards someone was throwing away and a lead wheelweight.
Yesterday: Several wheelweights, a quarter and a nickel, and a copper fitting.
I have started walking on a daily basis, and this is just the first two days.
To fit in with the forum theme, I am practicing scavenging, and the practice is going well.

Posted: 8/4/2016 10:00:30 AM EDT

[#1]

Can you elaborate on what you're doing exactly? Walking the road? What are you scavenging for exactly?

Seems like a cool exercise though; def would like to hear more.

Posted: 8/4/2016 10:06:14 AM EDT

[#2]

Years, and I mean years ago I had a 1 mile walk to work from where the bus let me off. Every day for about 6 months I picked up aluminum cans and other scrap metal. Eventually I cashed it all in and bought a matching M96 Swedish Mauser...
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For $38 at the local Woolworths...

Posted: 8/4/2016 10:10:11 AM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
Can you elaborate on what you're doing exactly? Walking the road? What are you scavenging for exactly?

Seems like a cool exercise though; def would like to hear more.

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Just taking a walk along town streets early (before it gets hot) with my dog, and keeping my eyes peeled at intersections for wheelweights for bullet casting. I also keep my eye peeled for tools, change, or anything else that might be valuable.

End use for wheelweights:

Posted: 8/4/2016 10:14:24 AM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
Years, and I mean years ago I had a 1 mile walk to work from where the bus let me off. Every day for about 6 months I picked up aluminum cans and other scrap metal. Eventually I cashed it all in and bought a matching M96 Swedish Mauser...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
For $38 at the local Woolworths...

View Quote

That's the way it's done, something for nothing. I check the coin returns on vending machines and coinstars. Three pre-64 silver dimes and lots of other change have I found. You're there anyway. It's not like it's out of your way!

Posted: 8/4/2016 10:25:05 AM EDT

[#5]

Here's an Eastwing hammer I found the other day while driving. It's not new, but the price is right, Bob!

Posted: 8/4/2016 10:38:20 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Today: 4 each 1x4x4' treated boards someone was throwing away and a lead wheelweight.
Yesterday: Several wheelweights, a quarter and a nickel, and a copper fitting.
I have started walking on a daily basis, and this is just the first two days.
To fit in with the forum theme, I am practicing scavenging, and the practice is going well.

View Quote

You sound like the start of a hoarder.

Posted: 8/4/2016 10:49:00 AM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:

You sound like the start of a hoarder.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Today: 4 each 1x4x4' treated boards someone was throwing away and a lead wheelweight.
Yesterday: Several wheelweights, a quarter and a nickel, and a copper fitting.
I have started walking on a daily basis, and this is just the first two days.
To fit in with the forum theme, I am practicing scavenging, and the practice is going well.

You sound like the start of a hoarder.

I conserve, you hoard.

Lead hoard:

Posted: 8/4/2016 11:55:50 AM EDT

[#8]

I was walking down Hwy 99 north of Yreka,California back in the early 70s and found a 62 lb lead ingot with Perth Amboy stamped on the top.I lugged that thing half a mile home. Wonder what i did with it.

Posted: 8/4/2016 2:57:21 PM EDT

[#9]

in before... it hadn't been laying there long but now it's lunch

Posted: 8/4/2016 3:03:56 PM EDT

[#10]

I draw the line way back from road kill.

Posted: 8/4/2016 3:47:23 PM EDT

[#11]

True treasure is not physical but hey, physical loot is good.

Posted: 8/4/2016 4:29:14 PM EDT

[#12]

Living in Houston and driving to work on I-10 I see all kinds of tools on the side of the freeway. I always see them too late for me to stop.
I keep telling myself I'm going to drive around one day and just scavenge stuff from the side of the road.

Posted: 8/4/2016 6:04:09 PM EDT

[#13]

Spain will soon come to this thread to claim their lost items.

Posted: 8/4/2016 11:12:38 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Living in Houston and driving to work on I-10 I see all kinds of tools on the side of the freeway. I always see them too late for me to stop.
I keep telling myself I'm going to drive around one day and just scavenge stuff from the side of the road.

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Who doesn't like free tools?

Posted: 8/4/2016 11:13:31 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
True treasure is not physical but hey, physical loot is good.

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I agree. I have sort of made a game out of it.

Posted: 8/4/2016 11:16:16 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Spain will soon come to this thread to claim their lost items.

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They better pack a lunch!

Posted: 8/5/2016 12:47:27 AM EDT

[#17]

Also keep an eye out for the thin metal street sweeper bristles when looking along the road. They are steel and can be used creatively for quite a few things.

Posted: 8/5/2016 12:52:19 AM EDT

[#18]

I'm a hawk when it comes to spotting bungee cords on the side of the road. My wife gets so pissed when we stop...

Posted: 8/5/2016 8:12:55 AM EDT

[#19]

Are modern wheel weights even suitable for casting bullets anymore? I read somewhere that they contain too much zinc or something? Don't know, that is why I am asking.

Posted: 8/5/2016 9:29:20 AM EDT

[#20]

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Are modern wheel weights even suitable for casting bullets anymore? I read somewhere that they contain too much zinc or something? Don't know, that is why I am asking.

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Some are steel, some are zinc, and some are lead. You have to crimp them with pliers to see how soft they are. The soft ones are lead. Those are the only ones suitable for casting. All are free, and since I was in the neighborhood anyway.....

ETA: Only one ww today, but it was lead, and it was free.

Posted: 8/5/2016 9:35:44 AM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
I was walking down Hwy 99 north of Yreka,California back in the early 70s and found a 62 lb lead ingot with Perth Amboy stamped on the top.I lugged that thing half a mile home. Wonder what i did with it.

View Quote

That's almost 1900 .45 bullets.

Posted: 8/5/2016 6:52:53 PM EDT

[#22]

I picked up a 1.5 gal. plastic gas can almost full of chain saw mix fuel from the road side. Maybe I should have looked a little closer for the chain saw.

Posted: 8/5/2016 7:06:20 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

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I picked up a 1.5 gal. plastic gas can almost full of chain saw mix fuel from the road side. Maybe I should have looked a little closer for the chain saw.

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I found a big ol' Husqvarna chain saw in the melted snow at the side of the road many years ago. It had sat there all winter. Cleaned it up and have been using the old dog ever since. Keep wondering when the thing will die, but it just keeps on running.

Posted: 8/5/2016 10:37:36 PM EDT

[#24]

Who doesn't like a free Husky chainsaw?

Posted: 8/6/2016 8:16:00 AM EDT

[#25]

My best recently while walking is a Snap-on 7/16" combination wrench.

Best find ever was a 1929 silver quarter while walking to the barber.

Posted: 8/6/2016 8:21:06 AM EDT

[#26]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMWE4_ihu3Y

Posted: 8/7/2016 9:06:30 AM EDT

[#27]

Today's finds: Several lead wheelweights, 2 flat washers, and two sockets. One of the sockets is a Craftsman that will be exchanged on my next visit to Sears. The pup found some grass burrs, so I had to carry her the last 1/4 mile.

Posted: 8/7/2016 10:14:05 AM EDT

[#28]

While driving along the highway one day I noticed a single wide track in the snow running away from the road. At the end of the tack was a brand new roll of pink fiberglass insulation. It helps keep me warm now.

Posted: 8/7/2016 10:47:04 AM EDT

[#29]

My wife came home the other day with 2 rolls of sod that had fallen off the sod truck. They're going on our lawn today.

Posted: 8/7/2016 10:22:16 PM EDT

[#30]

Wheel weights, pocket knives, gas cans, coolers, minnow buckets, life jackets, tarps, bungee cords, hammers, pliers, chains, ratchet straps, 50 lb bag of soybean seed.....the list goes on. ROAD GOLD!! We make a game of it on road trips. A friend of mine found a Stihl gas blower several weeks ago. Typically Monday is the best day because the convicts from the pen pick up trash on Tuesdays. They get all the good stuff.

Posted: 8/8/2016 1:46:13 PM EDT

[#31]

I stopped for a igloo ice chest several years back. I opened the lid and about shit myself. Inside was a dead coiled up rattle snake. I don't stop for ice chest any longer. Still makes my skin crawl.

Posted: 8/8/2016 2:14:41 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
I'm a hawk when it comes to spotting bungee cords on the side of the road. My wife gets so pissed when we stop...

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Exactly like my parents.
My father has dozens by now.

Posted: 8/8/2016 2:53:04 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

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I stopped for a igloo ice chest several years back. I opened the lid and about shit myself. Inside was a dead coiled up rattle snake. I don't stop for ice chest any longer. Still makes my skin crawl.

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I found 3 different coolers when I was driving to/from work. A little bleach water and you would have been in business. You also turned down the free hatband or belt. How wasteful! For shame.

Posted: 8/8/2016 3:11:39 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:

I found 3 different coolers when I was driving to/from work. A little bleach water and you would have been in business. You also turned down the free hatband or belt. How wasteful! For shame.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I stopped for a igloo ice chest several years back. I opened the lid and about shit myself. Inside was a dead coiled up rattle snake. I don't stop for ice chest any longer. Still makes my skin crawl.

I found 3 different coolers when I was driving to/from work. A little bleach water and you would have been in business. You also turned down the free hatband or belt. How wasteful! For shame.

I'll buy my hatbands and belts from the western wear store thank you very much. I'm sure I didn't realize it was dead until 10 or 15 minutes later after I regained my composure many miles away. My dad was in the truck when I pulled over. He said he watched me toss that cooler 15 foot in the air and I near levitated back to the truck at high speed in record time.

Posted: 8/8/2016 3:19:15 PM EDT

[#35]

Shopping carts... especially those 25 cent ones from Aldi.

Posted: 8/8/2016 4:29:26 PM EDT

[#36]

The owner of the company I used to work for was notoriously cheap. He rode a bicycle everywhere and frequently picked up tools and other odds and ends. Rumor around the office is that he once was riding along and spotted a pair of underwear beside the road. They were nicer than the ones he had on, so he dropped trou and did the swap right there.

One night after a tradeshow when we'd had a few beers, I got brave enough to ask about the story. - "Well I didn't put them on right on the roadside ... "

Posted: 8/8/2016 5:21:22 PM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
The owner of the company I used to work for was notoriously cheap. He rode a bicycle everywhere and frequently picked up tools and other odds and ends. Rumor around the office is that he once was riding along and spotted a pair of underwear beside the road. They were nicer than the ones he had on, so he dropped trou and did the swap right there.

One night after a tradeshow when we'd had a few beers, I got brave enough to ask about the story. - "Well I didn't put them on right on the roadside ... "

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Some things need to be left right where they are. Underwear would be on that list.

Posted: 8/8/2016 5:23:06 PM EDT

[#38]

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Quoted:
Shopping carts... especially those 25 cent ones from Aldi.

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I think we've got the working title to a novelty song-"I'm building my fortune, one quarter at a time."

Posted: 8/8/2016 7:40:40 PM EDT

[#39]

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Quoted:

I think we've got the working title to a novelty song-"I'm building my fortune, one quarter at a time."

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Quoted:

Quoted:
Shopping carts... especially those 25 cent ones from Aldi.

I think we've got the working title to a novelty song-"I'm building my fortune, one quarter at a time."

Crappie beds man crappie beds!

Posted: 8/8/2016 8:57:38 PM EDT

[#40]

Quote History

Quoted:

Crappie beds man crappie beds!

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Shopping carts... especially those 25 cent ones from Aldi.

I think we've got the working title to a novelty song-"I'm building my fortune, one quarter at a time."

Crappie beds man crappie beds!

We use former Christmas trees down here.

Posted: 8/8/2016 9:09:00 PM EDT

[#41]

Reading this thread is making me regret not stopping on the way to work this evening. Someone had a double stand-type shop light and a couple other things sitting out at the end of the driveway for grabs.

Figured the bulbs would probably be broken or burnt out, etc etc.

But ya, kinda regretting not grabbing that.

Posted: 8/8/2016 9:57:10 PM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:

Living in Houston and driving to work on I-10 I see all kinds of tools on the side of the freeway. I always see them too late for me to stop.

I keep telling myself I'm going to drive around one day and just scavenge stuff from the side of the road.

View Quote

You need a scoop on the front of your ride.

Posted: 8/24/2016 10:34:31 AM EDT

[#43]

Went to a different area today. Cleaned up:

Posted: 8/26/2016 1:09:23 PM EDT

[#44]

Quote History

Quoted:
My wife came home the other day with 2 rolls of sod that had fallen off the sod truck. They're going on our lawn today.

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She's a keeper!

BTW- I believe we have certain rules on ARFCOM

Posted: 8/26/2016 7:34:37 PM EDT

[#45]

I pick up wheel weights whenever I take a car/truck to the shop for annual inspections, or when I see one while crossing a parking lot. I've got a couple buckets I need to melt down into "ingots" in my old cupcake pan. I need to get the "kids" over one Saturday this fall and cast some bullets for the 1911's so they will have at least seen it and might remember it if they ever needed to do the same.

It's amazing what people "lose".

Most of my "scavenging" these days is picking up pistol brass at the range that someone else left on the ground. I got a nice bag of it a couple weeks ago and a fair sized bag yesterday.

Posted: 8/30/2016 3:23:12 PM EDT

[#46]

Today was tiny tool day:

Faithful Mitzi was flagging, but made it:

Posted: 9/1/2016 7:03:10 PM EDT

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:
Here's an Eastwing hammer I found the other day while driving. It's not new, but the price is right, Bob!
<a href="http://s62.photobucket.com/user/MarkypieP/media/001_zpsdl5a2pjc.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MarkypieP/001_zpsdl5a2pjc.jpg</a>

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It is actually Estwing. I found one of those years ago and still use it.
Snap-On/Sears and many other shit tools.
Steel folding work horse.
Gas Cans.
Eastern Box Turtle.
Scrap Aluminum/Brass/Steel/Stainless. <-- Hardly worth stopping for now.
Commercial landscape garbage cans.
Lawnmowers/Edgers/Weed Whackers. Some needed work, some needed gas.
Commercial air blower with ServPro on the side.<-- Use it about once a year when we have torrential rainfalls and the corner of the basement gets wet.
I cannot remember half the shit I have picked up.

A friend of mine found a Yorkshire Terrier without a chip and kept it for years.
This should be a picture thread!

Bill

Posted: 9/1/2016 7:04:47 PM EDT

[#48]

Quote History

Quoted:
I stopped for a igloo ice chest several years back. I opened the lid and about shit myself. Inside was a dead coiled up rattle snake. I don't stop for ice chest any longer. Still makes my skin crawl.

View Quote

That was fucking dinner! I guess the shock of seeing it would be too much for me also.
As I was reading your post, I thought of Jeffrey Dahlmer!

Bill

Posted: 9/1/2016 7:11:56 PM EDT

[#49]

Quote History

Quoted:
Wheel weights, pocket knives, gas cans, coolers, minnow buckets, life jackets, tarps, bungee cords, hammers, pliers, chains, ratchet straps, 50 lb bag of soybean seed.....the list goes on. ROAD GOLD!! We make a game of it on road trips. A friend of mine found a Stihl gas blower several weeks ago. Typically Monday is the best day because the convicts from the pen pick up trash on Tuesdays. They get all the good stuff.

View Quote

I like the term Road Gold but, I consider myself to be a Curbside Connoisseur!

Bill