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I recently found a decent set of 50-60 tools including screwdrivers, socket wrenches, a tape measure, etc. Also found a two-drawer metal file cabinet that I gave to charity. Also once found a pay phone with lots of quarters, but couldn't get them out- so I gave the phone to charity too. I'm sure many of you have some GREAT stories about what you found that was too good to scrap. So let's have it- what did you find that was too good to scrap?

For future reference, 12ga slugs open pay phones and paper machines. Just sayin'....

Deal

Wow! Where did you find this stuff?

Being in the railroad scrap contracting business for 16 years I could tell some stories that most would not believe. I'll give one here, just a sample. We were working on a trackside clean-up for a huge US railroad company. Won't say what one, doesn't matter. We were tasked with cleaning up all used track material between milepost .005 to milepost 1, so a half mile. They were changing out rail and adding a second track, we cleaned up everything they left behind. Got a call about 5 pm on a Friday night from the railroad saying there were some track panels that were left in the way and they needed them removed before Monday. 20 track panels, think of your Lionel train set. Each panel was 40 foot long and was built out of new rail and new ties. It had never seen a train on it. They wanted it all gone before the track crew started Monday. Well each panel weighed in at about 5600 pounds each. So I called a guy I knew from a local short line railroad and asked him if they would be interested in the panels. They came down on Saturday with a crane and two semi trucks and hauled them all away. Two weeks later I got a check from them for $34,000.00 dollars! True story!

In the computer recycling business it can be about as crazy. Example. I have a stack of 15 Audiocodes Mediant 2000's sitting in the shop that we pulled from a closed facility. These are 100% working units. What do you think they sell for used on E-bay for? How about 5 grand each! It's out there guys, just go look for it!

I could go on and on after being in the recycling business for 27 years.

Silversnacher wrote:Wow! Where did you find this stuff?

I've found stuff in affluent (but not gated) neighborhoods just before the local brush removal week. Also in an industrial park that has lots of computer, wire and cable, lighting and other companies.

silversaddle1 wrote:Being in the railroad scrap contracting business for 16 years I could tell some stories that most would not believe. I'll give one here, just a sample. We were working on a trackside clean-up for a huge US railroad company. Won't say what one, doesn't matter. We were tasked with cleaning up all used track material between milepost .005 to milepost 1, so a half mile. They were changing out rail and adding a second track, we cleaned up everything they left behind. Got a call about 5 pm on a Friday night from the railroad saying there were some track panels that were left in the way and they needed them removed before Monday. 20 track panels, think of your Lionel train set. Each panel was 40 foot long and was built out of new rail and new ties. It had never seen a train on it. They wanted it all gone before the track crew started Monday. Well each panel weighed in at about 5600 pounds each. So I called a guy I knew from a local short line railroad and asked him if they would be interested in the panels. They came down on Saturday with a crane and two semi trucks and hauled them all away. Two weeks later I got a check from them for $34,000.00 dollars! True story!

In the computer recycling business it can be about as crazy. Example. I have a stack of 15 Audiocodes Mediant 2000's sitting in the shop that we pulled from a closed facility. These are 100% working units. What do you think they sell for used on E-bay for? How about 5 grand each! It's out there guys, just go look for it!

I could go on and on after being in the recycling business for 27 years.

Phenomenal finds- I'm speechless!