repurposing industrial/engineering items- ideas...

[Dez]

as much as I hate that word, I'm stuggling to think of what else to call this thread.

I'm talking about taking old cool looking chunks of metal, and turning them into something new- lamps, seats, etc. partially inspired by the tractor-recliner on man made home, but something ive been hoarding 'interesting' looking things for for a while. now weve got a house, ive got somewhere to out them

ive already got designs on a seat similar to the one they made (i happened to pick up half a grey fergie today, but I don't really want to just copy them, I'm thinking something clever with an I-beam axle and leaf springs) and ideas for a standard lamp and an awesomely cool fire grate. I will post up some pics of some of the things ive got tucked away, and id appreciate ideas of what to do with them. we'll see if anyone had the same ideas as I do for stuff

heres some stuff-

aforementioned bits of grey fergie. the rocker cover off its quite nice too, nice details and ID tags-


a little villiers single cyl engine that seems unsellable, and a petrol pump nozzle-


various hand crankwheels. the two big ones are 15" across and ally, so should buff up nicely-


a lathe chuck. 12" across, weights a f-king ton! ive got a few smaller ones too that are worn out/damaged-


big spanners. lots of em-


big gauges. 10" across-


BIG valves. 2 foot tall and the stems are an inch diameter! ive also got some halfshafts that are roughly the same dimensions.


ive also got a redundant 1-beam axle or two kicking round somewhere.

then ive got a good supply of all the 'usual'- fire extingquishers, gas bottles, cogs, chains, flywheels, brake discs etc.etc.

I just need more ideas of what to do with em...........

[composimmonite]

I cut the side off a Rolls Royce rocker cover and made it into a small wall mounted planter -
painted black with the RR logo polished.
Old lathe chucks make great work holders for round items on a pillar drill where accuracy isn't essential. The one you've got would make a neat floor lamp base or even hold up a Xmas tree.

Paul H

[optimusprime]

Valve candle sticks? or that a bit to obvious?

Interesting water feature with the fuel nozzle?

[Mystery Machine]

I'm SO glad you avoided the use of one of my current terms I hate: "upcycling"

I'm also very much looking forward to seeing what you do and what you make.

[optimusprime]

bodge the the small handwheels on to the bath taps when you have guests staying over ? worth a laugh ....

[Dez]

Nov 8, 2012 19:53:19 GMT composimmonite said:

I cut the side off a Rolls Royce rocker cover and made it into a small wall mounted planter -
painted black with the RR logo polished.
Old lathe chucks make great work holders for round items on a pillar drill where accuracy isn't essential. The one you've got would make a neat floor lamp base or even hold up a Xmas tree.

Paul H

i like the rocker cover idea. might nick that one, but i have an idea other than a planter

i already use a chuck for just that, mounted on a weighty baseplate for more stability. ive still got 3 or 4 spare though!
and you guessed right, thats exactly what i want to use this one for- the base for a standard lamp.

Nov 8, 2012 20:20:54 GMT optimusprime said:

Valve candle sticks? or that a bit to obvious?

Interesting water feature with the fuel nozzle?

yeah it is a little obvious. would work though, ans i think that is quite a 'sellable' item. either side of the fireplace, that sorta thing.

i did think about having it as one of those flexy-taps in the kitchen, but i think id struggle to get even my very understanding other half to go for that!!
I'm currently envisioning it as a desk/table lamp, with the tigger as the on/off switch (it locks down), and a lampshade made to look like a spurt/splash of liquid coming out the end. i can envision it in my head, just not quite worked out the details yet.

Nov 8, 2012 20:39:24 GMT Mystery Machine said:

I'm SO glad you avoided the use of one of my current terms I hate: "upcycling"

I'm also very much looking forward to seeing what you do and what you make.

i hate repurposing only slightly less than upcycling they're both really fashionable townie terms for just making rusty old wibblepoo cool again.

i need to come up with me own term for it. unforunatelym the de-rigeur c*nting wont quite work if i want to sell any of it- which i do. i see people doing this sort of stuff and think 'i know i can do better'. so i may as well have a crack, even if its only for my own enjoyment. if i sell any of it, its a bonus.

which leads me to my next problem- how the hell am i even gunna begin to market this stuff to people who will pay good money for it?

[optimusprime]

Retrocycling? nah sounds like olde push bikes ...

Dejunking?

[optimusprime]

Valve bog roll holders?

[Dez]

Nov 8, 2012 21:02:05 GMT optimusprime said:

Valve bog roll holders?

already got a better one than that

and the name needs to be something subtler. and not involving the prefix 're-' i think. it'll come to me.

[optimusprime]

Re the lamp idea , like it alot .... but could you not find some LED type stuff you could fit inside the 'spout' so to speak, negating the need for a shade ?

[Mystery Machine]

BENGINEERING!

Sorry...Area 52 slang for anything along these lines, but it doesn't really translate outside of those blue doors.

If I think of anything, I'll be sure to let you know.

Oh..and anyone who suggests markets and car boot fairs to sell it will be shot. I have some ideas for you for marketing it, but will call you about that.

[optimusprime]

Dezmech..... cos its worth it.

[MiataMark]

Bit obvious but spanners would make great handles for cupboards/doors/draws etc according to size, or a door knocker.

[grizz]

LOVE the nozzle.

[Davenger]

Nov 8, 2012 21:05:34 GMT Dez said:

Nov 8, 2012 21:02:05 GMT optimusprime said:

Valve bog roll holders?

already got a better one than that

and the name needs to be something subtler. and not involving the prefix 're-' I think. it'll come to me.

Bodgifying

Bodging/modifying ;D

[Mystery Machine]

Without meaning to sound funny, I'm really enjoying the suggestions for 'items' to be made.

If I know Dez like I think I do. And I think I do. I think? .....then all these suggestions are pretty much a 'water off a ducks back' scenario because most of the sourced items posted up so far will already have been planned, plotted and designed into their final form. Obviously some tweaks and amendments along the way, but the purpose and design will be there nonetheless.

[Kyle_Reese_voice] That's what Dez does....that's ALL he does. [/Kyle_Reese_voice]

[Mr S]

Slip one of the handwheels over one of the valves, hey presto you've got an interesting umbrella holder

[CR500Dom]

Those valves need to be made into like a big angle poise lamp with a large cibie or Lucas headlamp as the light source

[ben711200]

The word upcycling makes me feel a bit ill. Especially as in its televised "Kirsty & Phil" form; it seems to mean little more than hitting a manky chest of drawers with some badly applied gloss that has been in the shed for years.

I can't think of a word that conveys the quality of the work AND that it's recycled/reused/repurposed/c*nted. I'd maybe aim for something that involves the words custom made, engineered, hand made and antique (in reference to the materials being used in the manufacture, rather than end product, obviously).

Have you got any pretentious boutique sort of shops that would buy from you, or sell on a commission basis? It'll maybe be slower moving but more lucrative than trying to deal with mongs on eBay.

Look forward to seeing where this goes



*Also, I'm really sorry, I found the V5 for the Passat under a pile of court paperwork on my desk today. I guess I hadn't sent it.. Will stick a stamp on it ASAP!

[chairchild]

Guessing you've seen my car-B-Q before? 2 A series flywheels, crankshaft, conrods and pistons. Jag V12 torque converter chopped in half, and an old metro wheel. amazingly sturdy!

Can't find the pic atm... will delve into the "archives" tomorrow (2 folders of ALL my camera pics... far far FAR too many pics)