When do parts become junk ?

I was just reflecting on all those (junk) parts I threw away 50 years ago,they were better than the knock offs they sell today,who knew!
 
It's junk when I finally toss it. It only becomes valuable when I realize I need it and should have held on to it for one more year.
 
Parts become junk when no body wants the stuff. But there again one man's junk is another's treasure. Back in 2001 I bought up a huge warehouse full of Model A parts that came from 3 wrecking yards that specialized in Model A parts. I've sold most of the desirable stuff that everyone wants. I had tons of double "AA" stuff no body wanted & it took up lots of room. I gave it all away to a guy who drove up from Calif. with a dually one ton truck & huge trailer. I gave him complete front ends, rear ends, wheels, transmissions, gears, brake drums, spindles, axles etc. I could have gotten scrap prices but hated to see it melted down.
 
I have given stuff away recently as I am downsizing to move house.

These bits were inside at my place, and I then see them chucked outside at the other person's house.

They only take it because it is free.

Like leaving an old lounge suite out the front with the word FREE on it.

It sits there for a month.

Put a FOR SALE $20 on it, and it gets stolen the first night.
 
Great discussion. I have a lathe, Milling Machine, Drill Press etc so I can fix, make or fit many parts, but I still cringe when I have no use for an extremely worn or broken original part and ask myself why am I saving it.
As brought up before, I know one day the supply of original parts will be gone and almost everything can be fixed, perhaps not economically.
I hate throwing these parts out and would rather donate them, ship them to someone with a boneyard, anything but throw them out. A shame we don't have a place to store all these old parts. We are going to miss them one day.
 
It's still good!
Jeff
 

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When I consider whether to throw away an original but imperfect or damaged part, I often think, "Somebody could probably use this." But how to find them? I have that situation with several pieces now that I could try to sell on fleabay, but I'd rather just give them away.

Like this: Anybody need an early '28 taillight bar, US driver's side? Rusty, but straight. Yours for the postage.

UPDATE: Ray in La Mesa has claimed the bar.
 
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Been building my "source pile" for 50 years, use it all the time for projects around the place. Have used/ worn out Model A parts on my "70 VW van, '04 Roadtrek motorhome, '09 Honda motorcycle & '92 Crown Vic- most the time not what they were designed for.
 
A couple of years ago I bought used front and rear springs off an add on Craigslist an hour from where I live. It turns out he had street rodded has 31coupe and that's where the parts came from. After I paid for the springs he asked if I would be interested in some other stuff he had left over. He brought out a box roughly 12"x12" that had some brake hardware, one headlight conduit, and a couple other misc. pieces. I offered him $20 for the box, he said that there was $300 worth of parts in that box. Obviously I passed. I watched that box on Craigslist start at $150 and drop to $25 before it disappeared. My guess is the pieces got thrown out.
I've not been doing this nearly as long as most of you but what I have found out; The people that truly can and will use spare parts are being pushed aside by some who think they've struck gold. I think long and hard before anything gets thrown out.
 
pooch said:
Maybe you guys should lobby Ryan for a FREEBIE YOU PAY POST section in the swap meet.
Click to expand...

Another forum I am on has a section like that, they call it "Pay it Forward", and works just as you described.

You've got my vote!
 
*Cough* in case you missed the point in the last post i made in this thread..
Someone cut up 2 rear axles to make axle stands. Sold me the ends they cut off for $5 each. Who wants rusty axle ends with crumbling backing plates?

Someone did. Turns out their axle housing was well & truly worn out. Like, bearings fall out of the hub worn out. Cut the end off, welded mine in and used pieces from the backing plates to repair theirs (which had been dragged on the road when a wheel fell off and needed the bottom so they could fit brake shoes again).

I've made fenders from 5 other fenders in the past & still needed patch panels.

It's not junk until it's pretty much well & truly gone, rusted, worn off and can't even be used for mocking up purposes.
 
The same question was asked on a Hudson forum..The answer was "If it casts a shadow,keep It". Someone may not know what the part looks like, so a junk part gives them an example to use in their quest.

Says the guy with a barn full of junk! LOL
 
If we NEVER scrap ANYTHING, there "might" be a CRITICAL SHORTAGE of metal, to melt up & cast NEW PARTS!:eek:
In a fenced area of our OLD Foundry, two Men, bare to the waist, were using SLEDGE Hammers, to break engine blocks, heads, etc, & tossing them onto a conveyor, to be melted up for making NEW CASTINGS:):)
Bill Isawitwithmyowneyes:eek:
 
Just yesterday I repurposed a hot water heater access plate to make a belt guard for my 1940's South Bend lathe, The curve & reinforcing ribs fit perfectly with jus a little tweaking. Long live the "source pile".
 
Ray in La Mesa said:
Just yesterday I repurposed a hot water heater access plate to make a belt guard for my 1940's South Bend lathe, The curve & reinforcing ribs fit perfectly with jus a little tweaking. Long live the "source pile".
Click to expand...
I use a Hot Water Heater Burner, inside my Fisher Fireplace Insert:)
Bill Warm
 
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