Let's talk CHEAP

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member
MR Wilson taught me everything I needed to know about being cheap. What you see is recyandcled. Free work bench on wheels the height I like. George
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You don't know cheap until you find something that you built for the wife that she says she's not gonna use anymore,and take all the screws out so you can put the lumber up to use for something else if you need it.
I did that two days ago. No sense wasting good 1x4s.
 
Your story is like mine. I "inherited" this thing destined for the trash. Didn't have the heart to do that, instead added 3/4" plywood underneath for extra strength and wheels from another freeby. Wheels and bench were already matching black. Handy little roll around bench.
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You are right, nothing wrong with being cheap. I have a building at my place in the north end of the county where I store all my recycled lumber, call it my mini Menards warehouse. Used lumber is priceless
 
Yeah, we were Mennonite cheap growing up. Cheap Mennonites are a whole new league.

We went around the county taking down old granaries to build a new barn. We literally straightened every nail and reused it. When we were done we had a barn built with 2x8 studs on 12 inch centers, sided with tongue and groove, and then sided over the top of that. We also poured all of the cement one mixer at a time. That barn will still be standing when all that's left on earth is giant roaches and styrofoam cups.

It needs a new roof - we did actually buy new shingles.
 
Especially if it's older and has tighter grain. If it's too small a piece to use then it goes in the wood pile. If it can't fix the house then it can heat the house!
 
Don't know you might need to come down and see me so you can really learn to be cheap. LOL Both my hay barn and my shop building where built form all used stuff and most of it was free to me. I used mobile home from and dock section frame and used roof tin to make them both. Big cost on both where the welding rod I used to do the welding and the nuts and bolts to hold the roof on. Probably have less then $300 tied up in both of them
 
You guys need to meet my Dad, He's so cheap he will climb over a gate so he don't ware the hinges and latch out opening it. Or he will spend all morning or longer in the shop messing with a pile of old parts, to make a "Good" one. The kicker is he will be going to town the next day and a new part was only $15 ready to use.

What he doesn't take into account on these project is his times worth $11 an hour minimum in the real world if he had a job off the farm., and stuff like that doesn't really save any money in the end, for how long it took or lasts afterwards.
Regards Robert
 
Those metal desk like the government used make great mobil benches or tool storage along the wall. various configurations by removing the legs or the drawer units etc.
 
(quoted from post at 10:03:12 05/15/16) You guys need to meet my Dad, He's so cheap he will climb over a gate so he don't ware the hinges and latch out opening it. Or he will spend all morning or longer in the shop messing with a pile of old parts, to make a "Good" one. The kicker is he will be going to town the next day and a new part was only $15 ready to use.

What he doesn't take into account on these project is his times worth $11 an hour minimum in the real world if he had a job off the farm., and stuff like that doesn't really save any money in the end, for how long it took or lasts afterwards.
Regards Robert
I've never wanted to work an $11/hr job to buy stuff I could make while staying home and not putting up with butt heads. And since I'm retired, making $2 per hour is better than spending $20.
 
There is noting wrong with re purposing old wood and pallets. I have a pallet that is about 8 foot long that I am going to use for building a shed for my lawn equipment. Found a metal hood laying the middle of the road last week that is similar to those on the old A/C Roto-balers but longer that will be the roof.
 
I was out hunting last year and found a walnut table in a ditch somebody threw away. took it home and ripped it. Made a rifle stock out of it for granddaughter. Took my time and measured carefully the barrel is free floating. And it did cost me $5.00 for the brass I used for trigger guard. My dad use to say if you don't make it you will never have nothing.
 
Have made several roll-around worktables from old gas grills picked up for free. Pop off the grill, put a piece of scrap plywood, countertop, MDF, or other top where it was, and you've got a nice sturdy little table (they'll hold 200+ pounds as I've stood, sat, or kneeled on them many times) with a shelf below and often a fold-down shelf in front as well--perfect for putting your tools on when you're using the top as a sawhorse.
 
HAVE TWO lIKE THAT FOR YEARS another is like similar but has cage around top part and use it for forklift manlift
 
My cheapness....I have $10....I need a $10 whatever....if I make it for nothing...I can spend my $10 on something I want.
And if I do that trick 100 times...wow, I can buy a tractor :D

Make it a game...need a 'X-$' repair/part.
Make something that will work.
If successful, put that money you would have spent in a jar.
You will be shocked on how fast that jar fills up to tractor buying $ levels.
 

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