Saturday night skip dive

[Sweepster]

This gardening malarkey does funny things to one's brain... On Thursday, on the way to pick up my loony pills, I was SORELY tempted to liberate a large length of pipe (brown, quite wide, no idea what I would use it for, but still...) from a skip next to an old factory being turned into flats - but I decided that carrying said item into the doctor's surgery and then to Boots would be likely to precipitate an increase in my dosage (if the GP had witnessed it, my only possible explanation that 'I've become a womble' would not, I fear, have happy consequences).

I later commented to OH that another skip, this time on our street, appeared to contain some 'interesting' bits of wood... and last night, having had a peek at it on the way back from the chipshop, OH agreed that indeed, it did. So at 11.35pm (the optimum time, we decided, for avoiding observation and mockery from the neighbours) we acquired some lengths of lovely thick timber - much nicer than the gravel board I've been using to make my raised beds.

I'll probably be back later, when I've measured them, to ask for suggestions as to what to use them for (other than giving them names and keeping them as pets).

What's the BEST thing you've ever found in a skip? (and you may interpret that question however you wish, you filthy beasts)

[Migueli]

Otherwise known as dumpster diving. I think there are forums on this particular 'hobby'. No real harm in it and it is a form of recycling.

[Sweepster]

Otherwise known as dumpster diving

Not in this town it ain't

[taff]

a working pressure washer/dyson x 2/belfast sink/rocking chair....
the list is endless

[Marthaclematis]

A friend of mine was a bit put out some years back when her husband acquired some kitchen cabinets from a skip - she was a bit embarrassed by what he'd done. She was then absolutely mortified when the skip owner (who was a teacher at her kids school) knocked on the door a week later asking if they wanted the rest of the cupboards which hadn't yet been thrown out. She said she wanted the floor to swallow her up.
I told her not to be silly, i wouldn't have been embarrassed in the slightest and that it was a GOOD THING.

[Snadger]

It's called Tippology!

I was told someone on the allotments had handed his key in as he'd had enough and anyone could have whatever was on his plot.
Someone else had already claimed a load of huge pallets and a pile of round fencing posts.
Usually the vultures move in quickly so I was surprised to find loads of good timber spars, clear perspex sheet and some wire frames were still there.
After checking with the Chairman that all was deffo fair game I liberated the above three mentioned articles.

The vultures will be gutted when they arrive to a clear plot! It also means the plot can be re-let quicker if it's been tidied (pillaged!)

[Sweepster]

a working pressure washer/dyson x 2/belfast sink/rocking chair....
the list is endless

You're sure that WAS a skip, right? Not, say, a bungalow...?

[Sweepster]

A friend of mine was a bit put out some years back when her husband acquired some kitchen cabinets from a skip - she was a bit embarrassed by what he'd done. She was then absolutely mortified when the skip owner (who was a teacher at her kids school) knocked on the door a week later asking if they wanted the rest of the cupboards which hadn't yet been thrown out. She said she wanted the floor to swallow her up.
I told her not to be silly, i wouldn't have been embarrassed in the slightest and that it was a GOOD THING.

Quite right! (though I think I would have blushed too )
Turns out my next door neighbour has (with permission) been putting things IN the very same skip I got the wood from... She says if she has anything else to chuck out she'll offer it to me first, to save time

[bubblewrap]

A skip? I thought that was a Skoda without a roof!

Had nearly 100 bricks out of a skip at the end of our street once (lottie only 5 mins walk)

[Sweepster]

It's called Tippology!

I was told someone on the allotments had handed his key in as he'd had enough and anyone could have whatever was on his plot.
Someone else had already claimed a load of huge pallets and a pile of round fencing posts.
Usually the vultures move in quickly so I was surprised to find loads of good timber spars, clear perspex sheet and some wire frames were still there.
After checking with the Chairman that all was deffo fair game I liberated the above three mentioned articles.

The vultures will be gutted when they arrive to a clear plot! It also means the plot can be re-let quicker if it's been tidied (pillaged!)

It's an 'ology'? How splendid: if I do it enough will it count towards my Open University degree?

Bit of a vague question: what would you do with this wood - five pieces each measuring 44 - 51", all are just over 7" wide and about 3" thick. All I can think of is another raised bed... is there anything else I could make with minimal carpentry skills?

[elsie-scot]

Where I lived in the states it was very normal to walk round and check out what other people had put out as "rubbish". My friend and I came home with many a thing for her house and kids

If you are taking anything from a skip you are supposed to ask permission as technically it still is their property - apart from all the stuff everyone else has thrown into it!

[Snadger]

It's an 'ology'? How splendid: if I do it enough will it count towards my Open University degree?

Bit of a vague question: what would you do with this wood - five pieces each measuring 44 - 51", all are just over 7" wide and about 3" thick. All I can think of is another raised bed... is there anything else I could make with minimal carpentry skills?

Just a nice size for a cold frame! The thickmness of the timber will give a bit of insulation too! 14 inches high at back 7 inches high at front
Shame you couldn't scrounge another bit to cut diagonally and make the two triangular infills!
Scrounge an old window (preferably double glased aluminium) from a skip and make the cold frame to suit the size of the window!

[Sweepster]

Just a nice size for a cold frame! The thickmness of the timber will give a bit of insulation too! 14 inches high at back 7 inches high at front
Shame you couldn't scrounge another bit to cut diagonally and make the two triangular infills!
Scrounge an old window (preferably double glased aluminium) from a skip and make the cold frame to suit the size of the window!

Oooh clever

Will have a casual stroll (or twelve) past the skip-of-dreams tomorrow to see if there's anything else I can rehome. Luckily the houses there are being done up/ripped apart, hence the skip, and are therefore unoccupied... so at 11.30pm there's no-one to 'ask' if it's okay (and that concludes the case for the defence, your honour )

[Demeter]

My theory with skips is - if it's on their property, you have to ask, if the skip is outside their property then it's fair game.

Incidentally, we have round here what is known as "Tredworth recycling" - put stuff outside your house, preferably with a note saying its for the taking, and people take it away. I have got rid of all sorts of things that way, including a washing machine that didn't work, the crappiest hoover in the world, and an enormous plastic car monstrosity my lo used to "drive" around the garden in but has just about outgrown. A friend managed to get rid of a huge fibreglass reindeer with no antlers.

My skip finds are limited as I can't go out at 11.35pm to do the biz and am too embarrassed to do it in daylight (unlike my dad who could furnish a house with what he's had out of skips, and quite possibly has, much to my mother's dismay). I have had a fair bit of old carpet out of skips though, and a big round tube thing that makes a lovely "bottomless planter", currently has sweet peas and strawbs growing in it

[miffy]

We had a skip once when moving house and we had old fellas knocking on our door asking if they could take stuff out again, old carpet, old fridge, bits of wood. I couldn't fathom out at the time what they would need all this stuff for.
Now i know they were for their plots. Cleared lots of room for us though to put in more stuff!