Amusingly I can agree. I worked in security on a job site and we had the ok to ask to take stuff and the do not touch stuff. Basicly just ask kindly and you should get great results. I just kind of thought everyone knew this
I have been on both aspects of this scenario. I was a framer directly after high school and had people come up to me and ask if they could take some scraps. I would tell them to ask my boss if they could take some. On the other hand, I have also gone to job sites and loaded up on various scraps that I made many projects with. You are absolutely correct on all aspects of this topic.
As a builder/remodeler, I can 100% agree that if it is in my dumpster or in the scrap pile it is free game. Just don't make a mess or get injured. As far as the houses you showed in the video, those are nasty sites, and I actually fine the subs for leaving my sites looking like that. If there are a bunch of junk piles all over the property, it is not only unsightly, but also dangerous as well as take up too much room for other needed materials or access.
I have built several work benches from scrap 2x material. If you stand it on edge, then glue / screw everything with overlapping joints, you have something that will stand up to pounding with a hand-sledge when necessary. The last one I made had some 3/8" threaded rod in it to reinforce all the glued joints. (ends were countersunk) When I say "overlapping joints" I made a 6 ft bench with 2 ft and 4 ft boards, staggering the joints. Sand the top and add urethane... looks great. That one was made specifically to lay on top of an old teacher's desk, which makes a very sturdy base.
Those 2 vertical orange bars behind you matched up almost perfectly with your blue hat in between them made me hear a deep voice in the back of my head that said "I, am Optimus Prime..... Autobots, ROLL OUT!!"
Hi Dave, first time viewer here, I can't believe people would crap on your idea. The key thing I heard was ask. As long as you ask someone if it is ok you are not going to get arrested and you are not stealing it. I would agree not such a good idea to go when no on is around unless previously approved.
Another tip, and I may have already stated this on another video of yours, is to go to the lumber yards and big box stores and ask for their culled lumber. At HD, it is called the purple wood because they spray it with purple paint. This is lumber that has defects or is otherwise not usable by a builder etc., but there is enough meat on there to cut off the splits or broken ends and still be usable . This is not free, but it is usually 70 to 90% off. If you know what you are looking at, you'll be able to make a great haul. If a 12 ft 2x is warped or twisted and you are going to be making a few shorter cuts anyway, this is a great option.
Workers had poured a concrete ditch near my house and a ton of wooden stakes were left for about a week. I asked when they came back if I could have them if they’re just going into the trash. I scored over 100 18” stakes. I’m making holiday decorations out them.
"BROTHER" most people can't understand the logic of what you are saying, I DO, because I stop by those sites every time I have a chance and do ask before I take anything. I was in Houston and driving along Kempwood road and suddenly I saw a cart on top of a huge dumpster and asked the person on site if I could take the cart( I needed the casters) , He was very abusive with his response and claimed that if it is trash so it is and it is still his property until the truck comes to pick it up. What amazed me was that this individual had a crucifix hanging around his neck, his tone of voice and attitude was like I was worse than evil. I am a very resilient and cool person. I simply walked away.
Yes ive done this as far back as 1996 - 2001 when i used to help a roofing contractor doing tar paper/felt dry ins. Id go around asking permission 1st if i could pull lumber from their scrap piles. Most of the times id get a yes ok no problem. Id never leave a mess when digging through their piles. Occassionally id even leave their pile neater than it 1st was 😮👍
Ask the workers, or Call the Real Estate Agent when the 1st build is finished. They always provide the supervisor or foreman’s info. Ask them for permission and tell them your vehicle and plate number. Easiest way to get a green light. Only pick from houses that are framed 100%. Done this with lots of builders and never had an issues. Sometimes a foreman shows up and gives away the remainder of un-used wood as well.
I been following your advice before you even posted your video about it, it works if you use common sense. It is hilarious to me when so called “creators “ have to respond to comments left by nobody’s, is their channel and they do with it what they please. In my channel I had comments disabled, why? Because what I say goes, whoever doesn’t like it could go and kick rocks. I have a spine.
I started at 4 years old, and now 73 still getting things from construction sites. Over the years after developing a relationship with some places I got a lot more things than just lumber. At one place they didnt want me in areas picking up lumber so they asked me what I wanted, I gave them my order, and they saved it for me in my own pile! LOL
i have been doing this for years. I never buy lunber for DIY projects. You have to find the person that is in charge and they let you know if you can take it or not. it is a hunt and i always ask. Thanks for the video.
I have thought about all of this. My theory is this. Going to the higher up with a written document that you made to remove safety concerns with the project manager. It giving a number, address, and information for anything needed to contact you. After an agreement there is one more thing to make sure. Before you leave it's checked and cleared. If legally you gave then something that removes any liability from them they have no complaints really. As an artist there isn't anything I can't use. I imagine with enough wood glue and pieces you can basically glue up a new tree.
If I may add this wood is also a good way to practice cutting techniques and improve your ability to perform in your skills and experience, because not everyone wants to make the wrong cut on expensive wood, e.i. OAK.
Some of those people that commented are stupid. I work in junk removal and all the construction sites especially the big commercial ones have sooo much waste. Anything that's extra, they don't care they just toss it. If they have no need for it anymore, trash. Whole boxes of hinges and latches from new storage buildings go straight to the trash. Some of the workers might take some of the bigger stuff but not always the case. One of the last jobs I was on I got about 50 sticks of 12' #2 rebar because they didn't need it anymore. Like he said, don't be stupid. Just taking it will get you in trouble and is stealing. If you see a pile of random lumber and trash and you're interested in some free lumber pieces; always always ALWAYS, ask the guy/gal in charge of the project. 90% of the time they'll be happy to let you dig through the trash pile. Sometimes if your a frequent flyer and they know you and you establish a good relationship, they'll make a pile for you.
On custom home builds most of the trash lumber that can't be used and is not cut by build goes back to distribution and custom home builders don't have trashy job sites
I'm a construction manager, every scrap item on my site is stored neatly away from weather. Long scraps equal short cats. Scap ply in any shape is a gusset. All sites are neat for safety, and no rattlers...
So I don’t know where those guys worked at. But on most site I been in there is, and always have been a ton of waste in the form of Drywall, wood, and rebar….. there is always a lot of these types of materials being left over.
Start with the “no trespassing “ sign that is on every permit box. The builder doesn’t want you on their site for insurance, safety and law suit reasons. A worker on a job site doesn’t have the authority to let you on the site much less give permission to take material off the site.
i find it funny that people like this guy KEEPS SAYING that you can get free lumber from HOME DEPOT or LOWES!!!! AND every construction site I've WORKED at reuse any lumber that is in good condition only thing that gets thrashed is damaged or way to small to be reused for ANYTHING so once again another "wood worker" falsely stating to viewers ways to get "free " lumber is BS because if someone taking lumber from a construction site and gets hurt the company gets law suits for liability AND someone getting IN trouble and or FIRED for letting a NON EMPLOYEE on site
Even small scraps are useful. Years ago I needed a dog house. Not having a lot of money, I asked some workers who were building a house near where I lived if I could have some of their scraps. Long story short, I was able to build a nice dog house for my two puppies at very little cost to me and saved wood from going to the landfill. I used that dog house for as long as my dogs lived. I built it so it could be easily taken apart and I was able to move it to several homes. My dogs were two doxies so short pieces of wood for short dogs was just what I needed. As a woman, I was very proud of myself for being able to design a plan and build that dog house from scratch using scrap wood.
Those that said it was a bad idea don't know what they are talking about... I've built my entire work station out of material from waste piles at construction sites... This is real... All you have to do is ask and not steal... Table saw station free Miter saw station free Extension table for both saws free... All you have to do is ask... Totally legit... Keep up the good work bro....
I agree those that said bad idea are pure morons, I have collected left over lumber for 40 years I have even been given some lumber because the builder didn't want to deal with moving it!!
I’ve framed houses for decades and if someone asked from the street nicely we would always reserve a pile for them. The important part here is that no one was allowed past a certain point of the site. That would be theft. It’s saved us on dumpsters and also labor. I cut the rafters so I’d have a nice pile of Douglas fir for anyone to take.
When doing.masonry years ago my foreman had me throw away a whole pallet of #5rebar.they throw away sooo much u could build a large house 4 free just doing this for 6 months or less.truth,so very wasteful
The key note I took from this. "If a person does it correctly". Ask if there are any scraps we can take not just go and take it. The later I am sure will really piss off the contractor.
Hey! I just wanna say thank you for sharing! I watched your other video, and was successful with getting free wood from a construction site!!!! I asked the head foreman (I think that’s what he is called), he was very nice and he told me thanks for asking. He told me the cut off time to get it, laughed and said his guys would probably thank me because they don’t have to put it in the dumpsters. He explained and pointed to what the “junk piles” look like. Make sure you wear protective shoes, those nails will be everywhere!
And maybe go a step further and make it a point to ask the job site foreman and not just a worker as you might be asking a subcontractor and they might not care.
I worked on a site and they let me take home about 3000 plus bricks. Said it was cheaper to just order bricks for the other location than pay me to load, stack, and move them.
@@incorrigiblerogue1193 had a small home I designed. Figured to use them for the foundation or other decorative stuff. But I would just keep going up a corse at a time till they almost run out. Then a planter or something for the rest.
In a small town where I lived I did this repeatedly. Builders were happy not to pay for scrap disposal. On site they kept their scraps and their supplies very tidy and away from bored teens with lighter fluid, because that was a big problem.
Hi Dave, I really don’t know why anybody would’ve complained about the first video. You made it abundantly clear the do’s and don’ts. This was a great follow up though as it really drives home your specific points. So all in all, you nailed it the first time.
I'm a builder but when my daughter started school, me as a single dad I started going to sawmills getting scraps and before you know I I was pulling in $2,500 a week selling woodcrafts. Walnut rockers were a big seller and even the 1x1s I made log cabin birdhouses and got $25 each for them
Nothing is “free”. It still costs time, effort, and it’s still a potential hassle with unknown rewards. That being said, it is definitely worth networking with a few contractors to see who is building and when they have scraps (or when they are going to burn/dispose of them)
My brother works as a project manager for a construction company. Think apartment and condo buildings. The amount of waste is insane and he regularly brings home all kinds of things that are left overs but not scrap at all - think a partial bundle of 20 2x12s. They go through hundreds on a project, they are NOT going to take the 20 left overs to the next project because it makes ordering a pain. Lumber, trim, tile....it all gets trashed at the end if it's been broken open.
Love this idea and I have been doing it since I was a kid building tree forts carrying lumber on my bike one board at at. One good tip is to introduce yourself to whom you get permission from and remember their name! If someone asks it always helps clear things up if you have permission from a coworker/employee. And most importantly DONT STEAL NO ONE LIKES A THIEF!
It's all going to the dump anyway. As long as it's not a liability issue they don't care,less work for them. I've pulled bricks out of demo sites,free of charge for garden walkways,same. Another place for free lumber is warehouses that receive crated deliveries like machine parts. High end machine parts are shipped in custom made wood crates,old school style, built to survive a plane crash. I've picked hard to find 12' plywood sheets.
That's the same with bricklayers, watch them sometime! If they need a half a brick they won't pick one up from the ground! They ALWAYS break another one!
Like you say, time is money and having to search a scrap pile for a piece of good wood vs the good lumber pile it cost time away from work at maybe $30 + an hour. We have roofers that will not save good roof tiles as a waste of time and labor and so toss all the 50 year tiles in the trash bin. Redo the tar paper and then have new tile loaded on the roof for tiling
I think its just interesting, hundreds of people commenting all from the same planet. You'd think they were living a custom made experiences tailored specifically for them. This is what life is like, no one tastes the same flavor ice cream, even if they order the same kind.
I agree with your advice. The builder doesn't have to pay someone to throw the wood into the large dumpster. It seems to me the number one priority is for speed. Ask and you shall receive. The worst thing the foreman can say is no.
Good advice, but in South Florida houses are build with concrete blocks. The roof trellis are wood but very little useable wood leftover. Also if you go onto the building site you may be trespassed because you’re on private property.
I can tell you from experience because I do material estimates for construction there is always scraps, and we always order 10-25% more of anything that is needed, especially lumber because of the warps and the knots, with permission from the builders you can take any scrap because it’s either thrown away or the employees take it home
I have asked and received permission to gather scraps from building sites several times. The trick is to only do it when the foreman is on site and gives you permission to sort thru the dump piles. It will usually require a good pressure washing and de-nailing (i own an air tool to remove nails). I call it lumber road kill.
I worked construction all my life (40 years) . Typically good scrap wood is kept separate from waste scrap wood . If someone comes along and asks us about waste scrap wood we will ALWAYS give them a thumbs up ! I'm
I guess my first thought is that the framer don't own the lumbar and doesn't have the authority to give it away. On our job site the framers had to stack any extra lumbar so the supplier could come and inventory it so a credit could be issued or pick it up and take it back. Anything else was used for deadwood or moved to either storage or used on another job site. Nothing was given away for free. Believe me, if it went in the dumpster, that's where it needed to be.
Greenhouses and garden centres may offer free wood pallets and wood scraps. Phone or drive there. If you don't see a clearly marked separate area with a "Free" sign, then ask staff. Mentioning this not to trigger a love vs hate thread on pallets, but because if I had somewhere to store wood, I'd be grabbing the piles of clearly labelled free wood outside green house centres near me. I'm between rentals atm, all my stuff including tools in storage, nowhere to store anything else. I wish I could be doing projects of any kind, especially with free materials.
Well I can tell you, my two cousins were arrested doing exactly this. We knew the building superintendent and we got permission. We'll the other superintendent over the weekend called the police and had them both arrested. He didn't know. So if you're going to do this, make sure the person giving permission is present
Common sense is the best thing when doing this. I get scrap lumber from build sites all the time, great place to score in bulk if you need it. Like Dave said, ask first, don't be creepy, and don't just assume because it's not bundled that it's scrap. This also goes for getting pallets, I have several places that I've gone into and asked, one place has two locations on site, one is for the pallets that are free, the other is for pallets they send back and I've built up a relationship with these places and they even set aside nice hardwood pallets just for me on occasion. Just use your brain folks, it's really that simple.
That advice does work!!! Than you! I got 124 eight foot 2x4's doing that and maybe 200 2x6's Thank you!! I just asked who the boss was and talked to them about cleaning up the old lumber. I evengot some with nails in them. But hey! Free lumber!!!
There were 8 16' 2x6s in a dumpster on a jobsite I was working on. House was nearly completed so I have no idea why they were there. Yoinked those fast. Once in the dumpster, fair game.
That's pretty cool. Unfortunately that may only work in rural areas. In urban environments, construction sites are often blocked off and unavailable to the pubic, for various reasons. You may randomly come across garbage day at a site but that might not work if you're on your way to a prior engagement
I'm an electrician so I'm on job sites everyday, and I'll tell you I've built out my entire garage with workbenches, shelves, and cabinets only really having to buy maybe $200 for full pieces. These guys love it when you take the stuff they're about to throw away and make something with it
I totally agree and anybody with any common Sense knows how to do this correctly any other efforts are most likely just people trying to steal great video
Nice video. I got wood, rocks, and dirt when the house down the street was being built. Most of the wood was better for firewood, but I was happy with that, maybe cutting a 2x6 a time or two, and having good wood to burn instead of it just going into the landfill. Plus some plywood scrap, up to about 5'x3'. And the boulders and dirt made for some nice raised flower beds.
I have been working on wood wall art for a couple years. Another option that I use is my local commercial lumber & millwork company. After they finish projects, they pile up scraps and burn them. After asking permission, I load up my truck with burn pile scraps. There is some pine but I mostly find poplar, mahogany, ash, maple, and sometimes walnut. I've been there enough that they tell me I don't need to ask permission anymore but I told them I'm not trying to randomly get shot one day! Ha.
When I was a kid me and my buddies were building a fort in the back corner of my backyard. They were building a new house behind us and we found a piece of plywood laying there that was perfect for the floor of our "second story". We we finished work on our indestructible fort over a weekend and got to play in it for a day. That next Monday while we were at school the construction guys knocked our fort over with a bulldozer(the tracks went right to our fort)and took their plywood back😭😂
I've worked rural construction for around two years now and although we are pretty good at using most of our scrap lumber, there is still plenty to go around. it does depend on the construction site but there will almost always be leftovers. just be kind if asking and don't overstay you're welcome. other wise, the workers wont mind you snagging a few pieces here and there.
Jealous and proud😂😂😂because they can’t think of smart ways to save money. I’m glad people think that way because I benefit from it. These are the same people that are envious of projects with quality materials and then put you down for shopping at Habitat for Humanity restore. They don’t have the time or the means to pick it up they also don’t have the place to store it. Yeee haw!😅keep it up. ❤ There is the phrase”It goes without saying, “ so if you don’t have common sense…don’t do it.
I worked construction for 20 years. Owner cleaned up behind me daily. After it was 8 wheelbarrow loads of sawdust and 9 of blocks too small to use. Form boards where headders. Stakes where blocking.
I have been doing this for over 50 years and have never had a problem. Being a stevedore in my younger days I refer to scrap lumber as dunnage. I ALWAYS ask first, where is your dunnage pile and do you mind if take some of it. It surprised me how many people knew what dunnage was. I'm not only a wood worker, but also a wood turner. I learned to go to high end home builds for some of the upscale trim that is used, oak, walnut, teak, etc. I've turned some beautiful pens and such out of scrap.
Back in Michigan when the housing boom was everywhere in the Tri-County around Detroit. And all the suburbs.. a number of guys looking for scrap contact the builders and talk with them. They pick up his big as they were allowed to no problems with no problems.. what they left behind was a lot easier for the builder to take care of. and so many guys would take it home clean it up and have like a garage sale for people that just needed a short piece little pieces no big deal. Ask when more honest.
Heck, I even pick up the used plant containers, now in my 60's, plants are cool, but if I find some boards, why not re use them. I will find a use :-) Thanks to God. :-)
It's a construction site,you are tresspassing. But they leave the company materials they are working for, and they do not want to haul back. One thing is flooring supplies like mortars, glue, etc.they are alloted so much for jobs,and often they take more than they need. The dump has pallets of damaged plywood from home centers. Normally, the end was they toss it. The dump employees forbid tresspassing. They are ordered to run over it, destroying it. Lol, im sure they wouldn't hook up their friends.
Be careful about leftover nails. Sometimes they are snapped, cut flush, or really small, and if the wood has dirt or paint on it, You can overlook them. I have once destroyed a set of knives for the planer on such a nail. Since then I always run a strong magnet over the board, before I put it through the planer to feel if there is no nail in it. (You can find a really strong magnet in an old rotary hard drive. )
With the lumber, if it's a whole neighborhood going up, a corporate build, then they'll prob give it to you, as the waste will get tossed. Each house has its own already purchased amount of wood, and since it's been purchased for the house, the house has to get it. You cant sell extra lumber to customers as if you got it new, they bought new, get them what they bought. I've had companies deliver full dumpsters of scrap "waste" wood and straight dump them out on my front lawn. Took 3 days to clean up but I had wood for years. If it's an individual build, that wood is owned by the home owner, not the contractor.
If you live in a big city - look for companies that install furniture for corporations (cubicles). A lot of furniture like sofas, conference tables, glass, and stone are crated for shipment. The crates become waste after the furniture is installed. Also a lot of oversized/custom pallets. I have seen more than one shed built from the reclaimed wood.
I have worked for a concrete company for the past year and I can say this is true you can always get the wood as a part time woodworker I do this almost bi weekly it's probably easier for me cuz I already work there but just asking the framers usually works the site needs to be cleaned anyways and we do large housing tracks so there is always some good stuff left over just be polite and ask and don't take it all just take what you need.
Another good source is heating and air conditioning companies. Large units come on large pallets with large boards. The companies around Here pay to have it hauled to the dump. But when you take it they expect you to take the whole thing and separate what you want out later. But I've gotten a lot of good 2 and 4x4's that way.
When we built our home, we kept the scraps. Indeed, the builders were required to use scrap lumber when needing a small piece rather than cut a virgin board. We still kept the scraps left over…which wasn’t that much.
@2:04 most jobsites require you to be covered by their insurance maybe some of your little scab operations are okay violating their insurance policy. otherwise, they need you to have on safety equipment. If you get hurt there somebody is liable.
There were motorcycle shops that used wood for framing to transport their motorcycles out here in Tucson with the heat that it was a fire hazard they were grateful for me to take it I was finding 7 ft 2 x 4S half inch 4 * 8 I mean it was all good usable wood I built a porch and a bunch of other items with it
