Interesting story about scrappers back in August in the paper. These are the guys you see picking up the scrap metal on garbage day. Some of them have arrangements with big box stores/walmarts to pick up there scrap metal merchandise. With the proviso that it goes directly to the scrap yard to be recycled. Now what do you think happens to all those unsold bikes at walmart at the end of season. Yep. squashed.

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/4026560-going-hard-and-heavy-in-the-scrap-metal-game/

Here is a simple one this morning. Classico brand and Presidents Choice brand spaghetti sauces are pretty popular now days. They are also Mason jar compatible. Walk around on Blue Bin recycling days to pick up a supply of canning jars.

OK. Im not getting much Bricolage from you guys...so I am waiting to get into the really weighty, save your life, Meat, of the subject matter until I do.

Here is a simple one this morning. Classico brand and Presidents Choice brand spaghetti sauces are pretty popular now days. They are also Mason jar compatible. Walk around on Blue Bin recycling days to pick up a supply of canning jars.

OK. Im not getting much Bricolage from you guys...so I am waiting to get into the really weighty, save your life, Meat, of the subject matter until I do.

Funny you should mention that. I just canned 6 jars of applesauce using those Classico jars. Keep in mind that they are an odd size...half way between a pint and a quart. I just process mine at the quart jar times and all is good. Never had on break yet.
Now, I have to get back to shredding some eggplant for marinating and canning.

Classico does not recommend using their jars for home canning. They have a scratch resistant coating added and they may not respond the same way as home use canning jars do in boiling water canners or pressure canners. I use mine for storing dry ingredients in the pantry, but I wouldn't trust them with my home canning. They fit really well in my pantry and hold about 1 pound of dried goods. They are a great size for dried beans or split peas for soup and hold dry soup mixes that you can buy in bulk. Canning is labour intensive and with power factored in to the costs, I want to make sure that I don't have a failure or a jar blowing up (I have had that before and it makes mess).

Of course they dont for lawsuit purposes (and they are thinner). Eventually canning will disappear, altogether, for dehydrating at some point, anyhow, but that has its own problems. I have trays over the wood stove at the moment and must build a better system over the winter. Just a heads up. We used recycled canning lids this year with pretty good results, which is also a no-noh . Canning will always have some failures. Luckily, gardens produce BULK. Eventually, we all have to can over wood and that's going to have its own problems. Speaking of which...Ive seen wax canning in years past. Seems a waist of wax...but does anyone know anything about how to use this. Enlighten us.

We use the classico jars with used sealer lids to store dried ingredients.

Now here's a question for the group. Who has a good use for cd's that are garbage.

Personal experience has shown me that the Classico jars have a lower failure rate than typical canning jars. Yes, I have also reused lids if the seal looks to be in really good shape, unfortunately, I don't track how many reused lids have failed...I really should do that though.
I know my mother does the wax seal for jams and pickles...and back in the day when she canned tomatoes they were always processed.
I hear you about the canning on a wood stove, and next year I want to start practicing that with a home built rocket stove.
Anyhow, seems we are getting a tad off topic here, so let's try this...
Has anyone ever thought about making trades with the guys who go around picking up scrap metal?
I was thinking about asking them to keep an eye out for certain things like BBQ grills and side burners for a few projects.

"Bricolage" and "meat" reminds me of a project I made years ago. I wanted a smoker but could not afford to buy a commercial unit nor build a wood smoke house. So I built my own.

I took the outer casing off of a 40-gallon electric water heater and removed the wiring and elements. I drew the outline of an oblong door on the inner tank. I cut the left side with a jigsaw. After centering small hinges on the cut, I welded them in place. After making the right hand saw cut, I welded a small handle to what would become the door. After completing the top and bottom cut, I swung the door open.

I had some old 1" firebrick around so I stood them up around the inside of the bottom of the tank. Pouring a couple of inches of concrete in the bottom secured the brick, leveled the floor of the tank and added stability. The round grill out of an old charcoal BBQ and two 3/8" rods to hold it up and we were in business. (The rods were out of an old wood spool for holding wire.) I build small fires in the bottom and this tends to make a "hot" smoke. We eat the meat or fish that day. This could be modified to use an electric hot plate and wood chips for a "cool" smoke for better preserving.

Who has a good use for cd's that are garbage.

String old CDs around the garden - better than a scarecrow.

Has anyone ever thought about making trades with the guys who go around picking up scrap metal?
I was thinking about asking them to keep an eye out for certain things like BBQ grills and side burners for a few projects.

Spring cleanup day in any town is a treasure trove for old barbecues. Most folks throw them away rather than fix 'em. Same for 20lb propane cylinders. The 16-year old at the gas station said it was no good because it was rusty so out it goes. If it has any paint at all on it, I put the blue plastic mesh around it (from a newer tank) and take and get it filled. Never had one refused and now I have several spares. I just make sure they have the newer style valve on them with the large thread on the outside.

My next acquisition will be a MacCoupler EZ propane filler. It connects a "non-refillable" 1lb cylinder to a 20-lb tank. I'll be able to recycle the 1lb cylinder by filling it with a buck's worth of propane instead of sending it to the landfill.

Has anyone ever thought about making trades with the guys who go around picking up scrap metal?
I was thinking about asking them to keep an eye out for certain things like BBQ grills and side burners for a few projects.

Gosh, man, I am glad you brought this up and I wanted to respond right away but am too far done for a good response. Quik response, "YES" but only if you have REALLY good STREET SMARTS. They want to open up markets, often at pennies on the dollar. GOOD GEAR IS TO BE HAD...BUT... One of MY worst life experiences was having one of them pinned to their bed by the throat with an ax in my hand, having to judge weather they should live or die. I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone. Dealing with potential addicts is both, rewarding in seeing yourself in them...and harsh for the same reason. If you are a Nice trusting family guy, best not to take this path. If you are a good hearted, But suspicious, jaded F@c# like myself, Its a good call. If you have a trusted guy, You can offer 25C for a mason jar and he'll remember it because its far better than 5-10c a beer bottle. If these guys know I want an old CB radio...and plenty are in the trash...They really want to get it to me, and show up with all sorts of unusual items. I don't have any of these street connections any more, living in the country, but they are often good people. You just need to know who to trust and how much.

I guess it would also depend on where you live. I remember in the city there was a mini war going on between 2 guys that picked up bottles and cans. One of them had been doing it in a certain area for a long time, and another guy tried to do the same area. This was obviously met with resistance from the first guy...a territory thing for sure.
Here, where it is a lot more rural, scrap guys no longer go around with liberated shopping carts or bicycles & trailers, but with pickup trucks. They are generally nice enough and quite respectful.
I recently tossed some badly damaged aluminum poles from an old tempo near the road. Usually this kind of stuff is gonzo within a day or 2 at most, but after a week, it was still there. I realized that I had placed it on the property side of the ditch, indicating that it was not junk. A few hours after I moved it to the road side of the ditch...POOF! One other time, they saw my wife and I in the process of dragging stuff to the road side and even offered to help...of course putting anything metal directly into the truck.
I have tried going around myself a few times and have come up with a few old but still useful windows, a BBQ grill, and some sheet metal from an old metal shed, but these guys are super efficient and do regular rounds. I would much rather offer them cash for what I am looking for than to try to beat them to the punch on their regular routes, which could easily cause animosity.
Oh ya, I too am somewhat of a jaded F@c#, but usually quite likeable...usually.

Great topic C5. Here we have fall clean up and the streets are lined with junk. I am amazed the wonderful stuff people throw away. I am amazed how people throw out good quality built stuff that could be repaired or re-purposed and replace it with cheap toxic crap from china.

If you want to see a great series check out http://www.youtube.com/show/kevinmccloudsmanmadehome this English series shows how a off grid cabin is built with locally sourced or recycled stuff. Interesting Ideas for preppers like making your own wood shingles, using manure made methane to cook on gas burner, or even recycling shopping carts into lobster traps. Alot of good idea we may need to use if the western economy goes bust because of our card card funded addiction to Chinese junk.

Well, since I am so comfortable with breaking social TABBOOS, Im going to do the Big One. The Survival Science Of Dumpster Diving For Food....

But it really deserves its own post...and its a big subject. It could take me several days to write. Im not going to abandon this post as there is still lots to say on the subject.

In the mean time....Window screens. Preferably the metal ones. Main purpose, Dehydrating trays. The two subjects tie in. The last few days, Ive been drying stuff over the wood stove. Hopefully this winter Ill build a permanent system that fits over the stove that I can slip trays into. Dual purpose cloth drying wrack. I use window screens in the solar dehydrator for smaller stuff like like beans, corn and sunflower seeds. They can also be place on black painted corigated metal, out in the open, for the solar heat factor. Low heat and air circulation. Also placed over a lamp or on a sun facing widow sill or heating vent.

My apologies folks. Its going to take me a wile longer to finish that one. Big subject.

In the mean time, here is one that relates to the first post. Tarps, since exposure kills faster than starvation or dehydration.

Most cities have an awning repair company or two. Let your fingers do the walking. When a store front company changes owners, they usually change the awnings. These are usually heavy rubberised material. (Some are better than others). The first time I recycled this material, I simply asked the manager if I could pull some out of the dumpster to recycle it to cover a lumber project. He replied, " That's a great idea. Sure saves me having to pay to have it hauled away. Don't bother going in the dumpster. WE have plenty inside waiting to chuck. Ill have my guys bring it out to you. " I packed the car and roof. Every one I knew, got tarps and I bartered some for barrels.

If you find you have to live in a tent, worst case, building a structure of tarps surrounding your tent, greatly increases your survivability. It keeps the direct rain and wind off, keeping heat in. You can even put blankets on the tent as insolation to keep body heat in. The space between the two also acts as insolation.

This material is also fantastic if you want to build a yurt. You may want to paint it though as it will be covered with advertising.