- Joined
- Jun 15, 2015
- Messages
- 38
Since I knew I'd be getting a lathe one day I started pricing material to practice on and was a little shocked at the prices locally (Canadian). Anyways, one day I was at a thrift store looking for deals and noticed some big brass candle holders for 2 bucks a pair, and no tax. Solid brass.....hmmmmmmmmmm. Needless to say I now make a point checking the knick knack section for solid brass, aluminum, stainless or whatever things. You would be surprised as to the diversity of usable materials that make up ash trays, platters, candle stick holders etc. from the 60's and 70's .You can also get a LOT of brass/copper shim stock out of thinner platters and wall plaques etc. Next time your at a thrift store or yard sale, pick up the shiny "crap" and see how heavy it feels. You might be suprised.
I've also started a collection of small cast iron barbells (dumbells) The one piece cast iron ones with the bar and bells cast as one. I've read the cast can have a thick skin on these but for a buck or two a piece, I'm game. They look an awful lot like two flycutters etc attached together to me. Some come dipped in plastic but are cast underneath. Careful they aren't the cement ones. Pretty obvious when you look close. LOL Ever looked at a microwave transformer?? The common "laminated" steel ones are made up of thin strips of steel that will make awesome shims for my 4 way tool post and look awful close in dimensions to one another. Probably close enough to use as thin parallels for some of us on a budget. Nice size if your trying to make do with a drill press vise on a mill. Solid brass round drawer handles are cheap and common as well. They make easy awesome tiny brass hammer heads for sensitive pounding. Ever need a nice piece of stainless flat stock. Look at butter knives or those giant barbeque tool sets everbody gets rid of. Those big bbq burger flippers have a lot of material in them. Got an old lawnmower. The engines crank is usually nice cast as are most automotive cranks. Got an old transmission around? They are full of cool gears, beautiful shafts etc. Automotive axles are usually really nice steel. Bearing races for precission parallels. Shafts out of electric motors. It goes on and on. We throw beautiful stuff away every day. Look around. Happy hunting. Feel free to add to this post. Cheers
