Dumpster Diving essential tools and where to locate good dumpsters?

**davidarlen** · 03-15-2013, 01:32 AM

What would be the essential tools for dumpster diving?
My guess
Gloves
Eye protection
flash light
Ladder to get in and out of the dumpster
Mechanical trash picker 30”
Hook on a pole to reach for stuff
Good boots
Wire cutters
Knife
Rag

I was wondering where the best dumpsters were located
I once was driving by an auto parts being remodeled and noticed a large stack of shelving stacked by a roll away. I asked the boss if I could have the stuff and he said sure. The shelves were inside the whole time and only three years old. I got enough to make 50 shelves 18” to 24” deep three feet wide and eight feet tall I used what I wanted ans sold a lot of shelves on Craig’s list.
Unlocked
In industrial areas
Construction dumpsters
Remodel dumpsters
Apartment complexes
Condo complexes
Any other places?

**eesakiwi** · 03-15-2013, 02:15 AM

Electricians.
Their dumpsters often have broken flouresent bulbs in them though. I find>
Lots of old emergency lighting Exit signs, short bits of plastic coated wire, earth leads, conduit with wire inside, bussbars, nicad batterys & broken tools, Metal halide transformers (score!) metal boxes & the odd Zipp water heater(3kg copper) Aluminium extrusion, broken car parts from their homes, steel brackets. The odd computer.
Security alarm systems, often they have Nicad batterys & 1/2 the time Gold plated circuit boards, the telecom wire for them. Leftover smoko lunches & Lawn clippings

Safety company
> Lots of safety specs, new & used. Face guards. Gloves. Theres seem to be stuff people have brought in to replace & the new stuff seems to be what the mobile reps have as display items, so you get one glove of each sort...
Part filled boxs of the rubber gloves.
Boots, most are slashed across the instep & useless. Items that never sold & now they have a new 'line' of items to sell. Height safety gear, carabiners lawnclippings.

Garage door companys.
> You would think they'd sell the roller doors as scrap wouldn't you, nah.. Sliding rails, springs, packets of extra bolts brackets etc they never needed to fit the new door.
The garage door openers, nice motor & cast Ali & iron. Remote control unit for it. Extra & old wiring. Lawnclippings.

**scrappy888** · 03-15-2013, 02:18 AM

Ladder??? Maybe overkill..lol..

Im over 6' so I peak in..if its lookin good I jump on in..

Old clothes n steel toes are a must..comes with scrapping overall

**Sirscrapalot** · 03-15-2013, 04:34 PM

Permission...

Sirscrapalot - Ole..ole..ole OLE!

**happyscraper** · 03-15-2013, 09:43 PM

If you have a long pole with a hook on it why would you need a ladder?

**davidarlen** · 03-15-2013, 10:48 PM

I would use it to look through the trash to see if I find something interesting if I do and i can not fish it out. I need to climb in and get it.

**davidarlen** · 03-15-2013, 10:50 PM

Thanks eesakiwi for all the helpful information, David.

**scrapGAME** · 03-26-2013, 09:20 PM

not a bad idea ... i have a oven/dishwasher service company thats calls twice per month and there dumpster is full of copper / motors/ no kidding .....

**davidarlen** · 03-27-2013, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by scrapGAME

not a bad idea ... i have a oven/dishwasher service company thats calls twice per month and there dumpster is full of copper / motors/ no kidding .....

Wow what a lucky score

**taterjuice** · 03-27-2013, 07:38 PM

Not a dumpster diver But luck would be a good

**davidarlen** · 03-27-2013, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by taterjuice

Not a dumpster diver But luck would be a good

You seem to get the big items. I may have a score tomorrow. I got a call off Craig's list for a Air conditioning unit off the top of a building the contractor thought it weighed 1,500. I am pretty sure the freon will be removed. It will be loaded off the roof by a crane onto my trailer. I am hoping for a lot of copper and aluminum. Tomorrow I will see.

**scrapGAME** · 03-28-2013, 01:28 AM

yeah i know .. and all there machines r stainless ... takes like 1 hour per machine to clean with my drill ... the place is called hobart ... i usually get stainless commerical dishwashers--- from them ... everything is either stainless-copper-motor ... ... nice thing about them is that they load with a forklift ... google them and see if you have one local too u ... might be able to get there broken machines ...