One arm scrapping advice?

**beardo** · 09-11-2013, 07:46 PM

I'm having my shoulder destroyed by a surgeon this December. I'm going to be stuck in the house for at least a month. I have gotten to the point in my life where if I don't do anything productive everyday I can't sleep. So I'm trying to stockpile things I can scrap with one arm to keep me sane. So far I have come up with a clamp/ vice that will hold down low grade boards and I can depopulate them as well as breaking down what I can. Does anyone have any other ideas?

**newattitude** · 09-11-2013, 09:15 PM

Sounds like you are going to become very efficient at using two feet and one hand very soon even if its slow going!

other than the vice which will hold lots of items, can you get any helpers to break down some big items like plastic off of things first?

At least you only need one hand to cut cords off of items.

Good luck!!

**happyscraper** · 09-11-2013, 09:48 PM

I was at the scrap yard once and the truck in front of me had a sign on it that said "five toes recycling" I was wondering what that meant. All of a sudden a guy jumps out of the drivers side of the truck and came hopping to the back of the truck. He only had one leg hench the sign "five toes recycling". Don't feel bad at least you will still have your shoulder.

**Bear** · 09-11-2013, 10:41 PM

How bad is he going to destroy your shoulder?
I suppose the stories are endless of how "other-abled" people have met their challenges, and i'm sure we'll all be rooting for ya : )
I was at a wrecking yard 8 or ten years ago right outside of Nashville, looking for some rims, and was sent out on another acreage and told to ask for "forgotten name goes here", but I will never forget what I witnessed there. I found the guy and told him what I needed, he grabbed a 4-way lug wrench and showed me where to drive to. When I got out I noticed he had only one arm(the one he'd grabbed the lugwrench with), and one nub, arm missing from above the elbow down. I tried to get there soon enough to grab the lugwrench and break the bolts loose, but he was already spinning them away, breaking em loose and spinning em off there faster and better than I could

**Arkansaw** · 09-11-2013, 10:59 PM

I got an idea, maybe some kind of short ratchet strap might help stabalize larger items,Not knowing your setup,maybe some eye bolts or hooks in the floor or on a heavy bench,might get ya able to put more leverage when ya need it.Maybe a couple differnt power drills, and several differnt size of exstentions,might help reach tough locations. Also some kinda rolling cart,either to be able to move tools to an item,or move an item to the tools. having good decent screwdrivers will help, dont want them stripping or slipping.could get ya off balance, frustrated or both.Hope some of this helps.

**beardo** · 09-12-2013, 09:43 PM

Thanks for the all the advice. I do have two helpers who will be helping me out once they get home from school and eat their snacks. I'm just having my bicep moved, a tendon fixed and my collarbone ground on so its not a giant life changing deal. Only one month with no arm and then some therapy then before you know it I will be swinging my sledge again. I just don't want to stall out. I always want to be moving foreword. Scrap is just a part time deal for me so I'm not too worried about the money side but if I can make money when its tough I will be better for it.

**newattitude** · 09-12-2013, 10:11 PM

Hey, even if it takes you all day to take apart something small like a fan or something at least you are keeping busy and keeping up with the ''keeping busy'' mentality!

**Jonniebrass** · 09-13-2013, 08:48 AM

Best advice that I can give is do all your exercises and therapy. Your body will tell you when it's time to work. I broke down hardrives and sold stuff on ebay while recovering from a knee replacement.