sympathy for discarded furniture

Flint · 08-20-2006, 06:58 PM

When my wife sees furniture that has been put out to the curb, she feels sorry for it. We were discussing why that is, and decided it's because the furniture can still serve its purpose, but somebody rejected it because they don't like the way it looks anymore, or they feel it isn't good enough for them anymore. It isn't the furniture's fault, though. She told me she used to adopt abandoned furniture, like stray animals.

JayMcGee · 08-20-2006, 08:27 PM

Here in the UK, that's called fly-tipping....

However, the sally army are always willing to take old/out of fashion/whatever stuff.

Do give your local battalion a ring before you dump it.

Happy Monkey · 08-20-2006, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

She told me she used to adopt abandoned furniture, like stray animals.

Make sure it's deloused before taking it inside. You don't know that it was fashion that caused it to be discarded in the first place.

Undertoad · 08-20-2006, 09:42 PM

Some furniture turns out to be rude once you get it in the house. My grandmother had a racist armoire once.

footfootfoot · 08-20-2006, 09:52 PM

Please allow me to introduce myself
Im a divan of wealth and taste
Ive been around for a long, long year
restored many a mans soul and faith
And I was round when jesus christ
Was in a drowsy place
Made damn sure that pilate
Washed his hands not to soil my face
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But whats puzzling you
Is the nature of my game

whoo whoo etc.

footfootfoot · 08-20-2006, 09:53 PM

UT set me up for that one. We've actually been on both ends of the furniture spectrum. Never had any lice, did have a goldbricking chair once...

Elspode · 08-20-2006, 11:08 PM

I had a La-Z-Boy recliner for awhile. Never could get it to do anything. It just sat around the house.

The 42 · 08-21-2006, 05:57 AM

You know, they should have a charity orginization that collects old furniture that's damaged but still usable! People would be grateful to get it: Poor families, people just starting out, college students...

We got rid of our couch not long ago- it started biting people that sat on it (busted spring).

Sundae Girl · 08-21-2006, 07:25 AM

There are charity organisations that do - often run by local churches. When I was trying to sort out my debt I was helped by a Christian charity that did that kind of thing. Their congregation wouldn't consider taking something to the tip before making sure no-one else wanted it. My slightly chipped unfashionable brown gas cooker is effectively from Jesus.

Griff · 08-21-2006, 04:26 PM

Freecycle does a nice job on this stuff.

WabUfvot5 · 08-21-2006, 04:36 PM

I don't know if I feel sorry for it but it's certainly wasteful. That said I won't touch it for don't know why it was discarded factor.

capnhowdy · 08-21-2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

I had a La-Z-Boy recliner for awhile. Never could get it to do anything. It just sat around the house.

And I got stuck with his wife, Lazy Susan.

Beestie · 08-21-2006, 08:57 PM

I just got back from Toronto where everyone leaves their discarded furniture and appliances on the curb in the hopes that these guys will pick it up, fix it up then drop it back off.

I saw the show when they made that bbq in the pic on their site. That thing started out as an old rusted out oven they picked up off the curb. After they turned into a 4x4 offroad barbeque, they dropped it back off, rang the doorbell and split. The owner, who had left the stove for dead, was very pleased.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-21-2006, 09:54 PM

Here's a handy tip for the hobby minded. All the dressers at the curb have drawers. The drawers, especially in cheaper furniture, have backs and sometimes sides, made of thin solid wood and bottoms of thin plywood.

Thin wood is great for craft projects where a regular board is too clunky.
A friend used to make doll houses with this mini-lumber, and clued me in.
Many more people have saws to cut the wood to size than have thickness planers or the skill/patience to hand plane it.

Also "crisper" drawers from refrigerators are good for the garage or cellar.

Oh, and electrical cords from appliances.

I'll stop now.

Tonchi · 08-22-2006, 01:47 AM

Aren't we glad now that Flint stayed at The Cellar?

08-20-2006, 06:58 PM	#1
Flint _______ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 9,767	sympathy for discarded furniture When my wife sees furniture that has been put out to the curb, she feels sorry for it. We were discussing why that is, and decided it's because the furniture can still serve its purpose, but somebody rejected it because they don't like the way it looks anymore, or they feel it isn't good enough for them anymore. It isn't the furniture's fault, though. She told me she used to adopt abandoned furniture, like stray animals. __________________ ************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

08-20-2006, 08:27 PM	#2
JayMcGee Cardigan-wearing man Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Much Binding In The Marsh Posts: 1,082	Here in the UK, that's called fly-tipping.... However, the sally army are always willing to take old/out of fashion/whatever stuff. Do give your local battalion a ring before you dump it. __________________ I like wearing cardigans...... my current favourite is an orange cable-knit with real leatherette buttons.

08-20-2006, 09:52 PM	#5
footfootfoot Rent this space Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street Posts: 5,837	Please allow me to introduce myself Im a divan of wealth and taste Ive been around for a long, long year restored many a mans soul and faith And I was round when jesus christ Was in a drowsy place Made damn sure that pilate Washed his hands not to soil my face Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name But whats puzzling you Is the nature of my game whoo whoo etc. __________________ Maybe we could just burn her a little? Like a cigarette burn or something. --DanaC

08-20-2006, 09:53 PM	#6
footfootfoot Rent this space Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street Posts: 5,837	UT set me up for that one. We've actually been on both ends of the furniture spectrum. Never had any lice, did have a goldbricking chair once... __________________ Maybe we could just burn her a little? Like a cigarette burn or something. --DanaC

08-20-2006, 11:08 PM	#7
Elspode Serve ice cold, add salt to taste Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,172	I had a La-Z-Boy recliner for awhile. Never could get it to do anything. It just sat around the house. __________________ Peas and Logic, Patrick "He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it." Douglas Adams

08-20-2006, 09:42 PM	#4
Undertoad Sorry for my long posts Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Valley Forge Natl Park Posts: 20,297	Some furniture turns out to be rude once you get it in the house. My grandmother had a racist armoire once.

08-21-2006, 05:57 AM	#8
The 42 I'm not lurking, I'm stalking YOU! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Somwhere over the rainbow Posts: 70	You know, they should have a charity orginization that collects old furniture that's damaged but still usable! People would be grateful to get it: Poor families, people just starting out, college students... We got rid of our couch not long ago- it started biting people that sat on it (busted spring).

08-21-2006, 07:25 AM	#9
Sundae Girl sleazy in the name of amusement Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Aylesbury, Bucks Posts: 12,271	There are charity organisations that do - often run by local churches. When I was trying to sort out my debt I was helped by a Christian charity that did that kind of thing. Their congregation wouldn't consider taking something to the tip before making sure no-one else wanted it. My slightly chipped unfashionable brown gas cooker is effectively from Jesus.

08-21-2006, 04:26 PM	#10
Griff will audible pooch punt Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 12,778	Freecycle does a nice job on this stuff. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-21-2006, 04:36 PM	#11
WabUfvot5 Operations Operative Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 635	I don't know if I feel sorry for it but it's certainly wasteful. That said I won't touch it for don't know why it was discarded factor.

08-21-2006, 08:57 PM	#13
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 3,973	I just got back from Toronto where everyone leaves their discarded furniture and appliances on the curb in the hopes that these guys will pick it up, fix it up then drop it back off. I saw the show when they made that bbq in the pic on their site. That thing started out as an old rusted out oven they picked up off the curb. After they turned into a 4x4 offroad barbeque, they dropped it back off, rang the doorbell and split. The owner, who had left the stove for dead, was very pleased. __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

08-21-2006, 09:54 PM	#14
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 36,410	Here's a handy tip for the hobby minded. All the dressers at the curb have drawers. The drawers, especially in cheaper furniture, have backs and sometimes sides, made of thin solid wood and bottoms of thin plywood. Thin wood is great for craft projects where a regular board is too clunky. A friend used to make doll houses with this mini-lumber, and clued me in. Many more people have saws to cut the wood to size than have thickness planers or the skill/patience to hand plane it. Also "crisper" drawers from refrigerators are good for the garage or cellar. Oh, and electrical cords from appliances. I'll stop now. __________________ The Truth and Robert Shapiro Shall Set You Free.

08-22-2006, 01:47 AM	#15
Tonchi Victim of gravity Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hiding in plain sight Posts: 1,412	Aren't we glad now that Flint stayed at The Cellar? __________________ Everything you've ever heard about Fresno is true.

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