This evening I found a nearly new Hoover vacuum cleaner in a skip. A bit of messing around with a screwdriver has revealed that all it needs is a new belt. I get a nice new Hoover for next to nothing. Result!
Have other SF user found any good,useful,exciting stuff in skips?

I once found one of my members of staff, alseep in a skip, this was a good mile away from where i live!! and no she wasnt very nice, so i left her there!

Boringly not. Though I'm still on the look out for something like this (http://archive.theargus.co.uk/2004/2/27/117000.html).

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My mate's dad works for Wetherby miniskips in West Yorkshire, and over the years he's picked up some absolute gems. Computers are always being thrown out...not just ex-office machines (he has 3 wintel boxes from skips) but loads of vintage hardware: Amigas, BBC Micros (probably from schools I guess), Amstrads, Spectrums...a whole plethora of beautiful old machines. I once found an old analogue (spring) reverb unit that I used for music production. I've also found a vinyls, some books, one of those old shoebox tape-recorders with a built in mic that are used in police interviews. Amazing what some people chuck out - wouldn't be too hard to take it to a charity shop (or if you're ruthless, eBay...)

I found 2 useable camera tripods in a skip in Millhouses. I also found a sailboard complete with rigging, sails, centre blade and rudder on a tip in NZ. The board had what looked like a shark bite out of one side which needed several applications of fibre glass before the board was sea worthy.

My father use to 'recover' TVs and radios from the same tip, repair them and re-cycle the items for a small consideration.

Yes a perfectly fine TV set and a hi-fi amp.....both still working fine and used in my workshop......the skip was in Dore.....need I say more? They chuck out ANYTHING over 3 years old working or otherwise.....

I know someone who hired a skip once. He filled it and, overnight, it emptied as neighbours helped themselves! He thinks he may as well have saved the skip hire fee and dumped all his stuff in the street for people to help themselves!

I can't imagine rooting around in a skip full of other peoples junk and rubbish!!

I can't imagine rooting around in a skip full of other peoples junk and rubbish!!

Are you from Dore perchance? ;)

I found a sofa once in a skip. And a game of 'Go'. And lots of firewood. Tis like community recycling. :)

Chicken Monkey x

I have found loads of stuff in skips:

- my speakers for my hi-fi
- our kitchen table
- a vase
- two skateboards

My next door neighbour finds loads at the dump site where he works.
He brings home all sorts of stuff.

His latest finding was a nearly new laptop, i think all it had was a blown fuse or something. He brought home tons of nearly new stuff for my little brothers including a guitar once.

From Fallen

I was once in spain when i came upon a skip outside a bar that was having a makeover. Inside were some lovely artificial flowers. I took them out, gave them a wash and gave them to the wife as it was our aniversary. Needless to say she`s my ex wife now :) Some women just don`t understand

This evening I found a nearly new Hoover vacuum cleaner in a skip. A bit of messing around with a screwdriver has revealed that all it needs is a new belt. I get a nice new Hoover for next to nothing. Result!
Have other SF user found any good,useful,exciting stuff in skips?

A comfortable office chair, A mint condition projection screen, 6x6ft strip lights and fittings, fan heater, and a 21" colour monitor, but not from the same skip...

I take it a lot of people rummage through skips then? Do you do it in the day when everyone can see you or do you go back after it gets dark and start rummaging?

I always drive slowly past skips, if you see something you have to go for it. no point in coming back later as your find will have gone. :)

My dad genuinely makes a second income out of selling stuff out of skips on ebay. He sells EVERYTHING. You'd be amazed at what you can find! He works for a company that hires them out, and when they come back in - he- and his colleagues rummage through them!

I ain't too proud to scrounge... I practically furnished my lake cottage with charming vintage things I've found in the garbage. I've gotten several 1940s bed frames, a treadle-powered Singer sewing machine, a cement urn and, my pride and joy, a fabric-lined wicker sewing basket on legs, which I use as a side table.

Unfortunately, in my city, it's illegal to take stuff out of someone else's garbage. So, I usually "steal" the stuff at night, although I've been known to boldly grab and run in broad daylight. Never been caught! :o

I know someone who hired a skip once. He filled it and, overnight, it emptied as neighbours helped themselves! He thinks he may as well have saved the skip hire fee and dumped all his stuff in the street for people to help themselves!

Dead right, I have noticed the skip rats pulling washing machines, dishwashers and dryers out of skips. When we replaced our dishwasher and washing machine I left them on the drive one morning and they had gone when I came home from work.

We had a bring out your rubbish day last summer. All the neighbours on the cul-de-sac piled up there trash at the end of the road. Most of us returned to our homes with something we found useful. :hihi:

I got a pair of PC speakers, a bookshelf and nice curtain pole. :thumbsup:

My grandad used to rummage in the local skips, He had some good finds, including a pair of £60 ben sherman, shoes, and some progressive work shoes.
neither of which had ever been worn, still had the paper inside :D
Needless to say I still wear both pairs, The progressives at work, and the shermans on nights out.
He also found me a working 17" computer monitor, a day after mine bust.

What a star. :thumbsup:

found 2 rolex and 3 diamond bracelets on Wybourn and a porsche on Manor Park

and a porche on Manor Park

A full Porch? impressive :hihi:

when we were selling our house in hillsborough I hired a skip and filled it with rubbish from the cellar. On th e top i threw a paster cast of a roman or greek statue head... it was my partners and I hated it.

blow me a few minutes later a guy was clambering out of the skip with this head!!!

I cant believe people do such things!!! :suspect:

This evening I found a nearly new Hoover vacuum cleaner in a skip. A bit of messing around with a screwdriver has revealed that all it needs is a new belt. I get a nice new Hoover for next to nothing. Result!
Have other SF user found any good,useful,exciting stuff in skips?

Hoover latest!

Fitted new belt ( cost 80 pence!) and it works a treat.

Ive found lots of great things in skips over the years. An amiga 500 computer, a set of bar stools, a virtually unused skateboard, a boxing nun toy and plenty of wood

About 10 yrs ago we spotted a lovely outdoor wooden table with 3 matching chairs.

Was too chicken to remove it so we went out that night and on the way home from the pub went to 'collect' it. We still have it but wish there'd been a 4th chair.

One person's rubbish is another person's treasure.

And we have the bring your rubbish out day here too and last year during the night people were out rummaging about in other peoples junk.

As I was walking to the car the other week, I noticed a cat sitting on top of the pile in one skip...
Looked a perfectly good cat to me.

My name of skipscrounger on Sheffield Freecycle might be indicative...have found MANY useful things on skips over the years, from good furtnitue all the way through to piles of stone which are useful for the garden. Never found anything really valuable but some of the stuff went to Oxfam. It annoys me that people break up good stuff to put on skips when a little thought would mean it could go to a charity.

Not sure about the legal position--to whom does the stuff in a skip belong? I would have thought the skip firm, they must make something out of recycling materials put on skips.

My dad had a neighbour who bought the old farmhouse and dug up all the setts from the yard. They were just left in a pile for about three years so one night he went round with the barrow and brought a few loads back. He built a doorstep and several garden features out of them. And like most people who live near them, he also used to take two bags when walking the dog, as the crops at the edge of fields are usually not harvested, so he used to help himself to veg.

I know that in some of the towerblocks people leave their unwanted stuff outside and other residents help themselves, which I think is fantastic. 'Spose you'd have to be careful and keep guard if moving all your belongings in though ;)

I've rescued 2 palm plants taller than me out of a skip - I guess someone just got bored of them :rolleyes:

Also found several victorian panelled doors, which stripped down look like new... they're at least £50 to buy from the reclaimation shops.

Always keep our eyes peeled for anything cool in skips.. its amazing what people throw out.

Reduce. Recycle. Resuse!

As I was walking to the car the other week, I noticed a cat sitting on top of the pile in one skip...
Looked a perfectly good cat to me.

:D :D

My dad found my tv in a skip, it worked fine.

Once when I was a kid when we were at the rubbish dump I found a china swan thing (only way it can be described) and I brought that home with me, against my dads wishes, I must admit. It's hideous, I still have it :D

when I was a youngster I dragged home a small organ (not like a liver or kidney or like that!) but when I got it home and after I got a good screaming at and had to drag it back to the curb I discovered why it was out int he trash to begin with! yeah...it didn't work!!!!....

but I have a found VCR's, TV's, Radios, Speakers, all kinds of good stuff...

i once found a medal in a skip about 10 years ago, sold it for a tenner to find out later . it was worth 350 pounds.

A racing bike. All that was required was to re-inflate the tyres and oil the chain.

Keep 'em coming, I love it...........

Unfortunately in Canada, we don't have skips - just loads of rubbish that sits in the back lane on 'Garbage Day 2' (in my neighbourhood) waiting to be picked up at 7:00 in the morning along with our recycling. Our 'Garbage Men' must have a good time though.

why called skips?
we call them 'dumpsters' for where you 'dump' stuff....it is amazing what you can find...I am a real junk collector...but it does get to be a little bit embarassing draging things away from the rubbish....!