Free Prop supplies

[indamudd]

Hi everyone, I am new here and you guys probably already know this but just in case and for the new folks here like me. I am in the trades (painter) and if you go to a new construction site (where they are building houses) It's a play ground for supplies! PVC, wood,wire nuts,wire,screws,nails, conduit(metal electrical pipe) and a ton more. Of course you cannot take the new stuff but there are plenty of SCRAPS laying around. You might have to ask the contractor for permission. And tell them what you are here for and assure him that you will not take nothing that is new and you are here just for the scraps. I just stop and walk around on the outside of the building and if you catch it at the right time before the clean up it is a play ground for supplies. I went to a construction site yesterday found some 3 inch pvc and 1 1/2 also,some 2x4 and 2x6 wood about a half of coffee can of drywall screws that I were scattered on the floor,and some wire nuts. The contractor did stop and I approached him and told him I was just getting some scraps for some halloween projects and I told him I would not take the new stuff and he actually told me to go into some of the houses and look around but do not take the new stuff. Of course if there is a house full of workers trying to get stuff done it is not wise to go in and really get permission from the builder to enter but as the outside goes it should be pretty good to go.Keep a eye on the houses that are in the early stages (with no drywall and they are just starting to do the plumbing and electrical thats the gold mine)and go back from time to time. but not to long because they work fast and clean up quick also. Also dumster diving on the sites is great place to find GOLD!! But be real careful because there will be sharp tin from the duct work, nails in boards,etc,etc.AND OF COURSE YOU CANNOT GO IN THE DUMPSTER AND THROW STUFF OUT WHILE SEARCHING AND LEAVE A MESS OUTSIDE THE DUMPSTER!!! But If you want to brave the elements of the mighty dumster it is a pandoras box for goodies. Also last thing once you gain the trust of the contractor he might even start to give you some stuff.(build him a cheap prop from the scraps and garaunteed you will be in with him like gold, hey one hand washes the other).
I know what I just found yesterday saved me at least 50 bucks from buying it at Home Depot. Scott

[ShadyHallows]

Ah ha they call that dumpster diving here.

[Dr Morbius]

That's some good advice, Indasand...Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[slightlymad]

You forgot the most important advice to give new construction dumpster divers. NEVER OPEN DRYWALL BUCKETS!!!

[Dr Morbius]

Why?

[Beepem]

say what bout buckets?

[indamudd]

OHHH YEAAA, Trust me never open a drywall bucket from the trash because lets say there could be Mr. hanky our corn and peanut covered friend waiting to say hello. Scott

[Dr Morbius]

AHhhhhh...gross.

[Beepem]

aahh i dont get it

[Haunted Neurons]

aahh i dont get it

Uh, If you really dont get it then just think of it as a personal porta potty.

Sadly it is illeagal to go through the dumpsters at contruction sites here. They say its tresspassing. They have even posted signs on them to keep people out. I guess people have made a mess going through them and pissed the contractors off.

If I see something sticking out I will still do a driveby grab though.

[madmax]

If you really want to hit the jackpot....check the dumpsters behind the thrift stores. If it's in the store and doesn't sell, it goes in the dumpster. And A lot of times the workers are lazy and will throw whole bags of things away without opening them to see whats in it. No "trash" just goods gets dumped in the 2 thrift stores I check.

I've got DVD Players, CD Players, PC Speakers (around 30) Wall warts (way over 100) motion detectors, strobes, masks, enough clothes to dress more zombies than I can make ....for the next 5 years, light fixtures, working TVs, projectors, spiders (fake), snakes, 100s of dolls and stuffed bears, doors, wood, exercise machines, old PCs (I got over 20 power supplies from them), pictures, chairs (I got a great old looking rocking chair) gas masks, I even got a straight jacket, tons of lights, garland, and other Christmas things, figurines, Game systems (play station 2, game boy, game boy advance) and games and tools.

I can't name all the things I got from those two dumpsters but it's a gold mine. Not just for Halloween but a money making gold mine. Almost new name brand jeans and shirts....toys toys toys. My wife and 2 sons made almost $400.00 last year in one yard sale....just from the things I found in those dumpsters.

One other thing I got last year....4 big boxes of comic books. Some 1st editions and a lot of Super Hero's from the early 60s (Superman, Spider man, Fantastic Four and Batman) most are old looking and turning colors. We checked on line auctions and 3 of the comics we have went for over $40,000 but they were mint.

Here's a picture of some of them,,,, the ones in my hand and in plastic are the 3 that sold for over $40,000 each.

And just so I keep this on topic.....looking at comics can give you some good ideal on prop making

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f117/wkuyoungguns/comic001.jpg

[indamudd]

unfortunately I been going behind the stores to the dumpsters here and wal mart, toys r us and a few others have inclosed dumsters that are attached to the store and you cannot get into them. Bummer. No free pickins here, shittttt!!!!