c/found-it-on-the-curb

My neighbor's trash pile taught me to check the inside first

I used to just grab anything that looked decent from the curb without a closer look. Last Tuesday in Phoenix, I almost took a wooden dresser until I opened a drawer and found a huge mouse nest. That was my wake-up call. Now I spend an extra minute checking inside cabinets, under lids, and in all compartments before I even touch something. It's saved me from bringing bugs or worse into my garage at least twice this month. Anyone else have a gross find that made them change their routine?

Found a perfectly good office chair in the alley behind my apartment in Phoenix last Tuesday, but the gas lift is stuck at max height. Any tips for fixing it without special tools?

My buddy told me to always check the curb on bulk trash day in my neighborhood, and yesterday I scored a perfectly good office chair.

He said the best stuff gets put out on the first Thursday of the month, and sure enough, I found a Herman Miller Aeron just sitting there with a 'free' sign on it.

Found a sweet looking floor lamp on the curb, it almost burned my house down

I grabbed it off a street in Riverside last Tuesday, cleaned it up, and plugged it in. The cord was super warm after ten minutes and I smelled burning plastic. I cut the plug off right away and checked the wiring, it was all cracked and frayed inside. Has anyone else had a close call with old lamp wiring from a curb find?

Spent $40 on a cheap hand truck and it saved my back hauling a solid oak desk I found on Maple Street.

I almost passed on that heavy desk, but the hand truck let me get it home alone, so what's your best curb find that needed a special tool to move?

My neighbor told me I was being too picky about curb finds

I used to only grab stuff that looked perfect, like a chair with no scratches. My neighbor Frank saw me pass up a solid oak dresser last month because it had a water stain on top. He said, 'Jana, that's free wood. You can sand that out in an hour.' I mean, he was right. I went back and got it, sanded the top, and now it's in my bedroom. It changed how I look at things with small flaws. Do you guys fix up damaged stuff or do you only take things that are ready to use?

Showerthought: The best curb find I ever got was a lesson from a guy in a raincoat

I was checking out a pile of junk on Maple Street last Tuesday, just after a light drizzle. An older guy in a yellow raincoat was there too, and he pointed at a beat-up wooden chair. He said, 'The good stuff is never on top, kid.' I dug a little deeper and pulled out a perfectly good metal toolbox, just a bit rusty. Now I always take an extra minute to really look. Anyone else have a random tip that changed your curb hunting game?

I used to drive right past curbside stuff, but last month I grabbed a perfectly good coffee table and it changed my whole weekend

Shoutout to the guy who left a perfectly good drafting table on the curb in my neighborhood

I found this big, heavy oak drafting table last week and it took me and a friend almost 3 hours just to get it up the stairs to my apartment. The main problem was the tilt mechanism was completely stuck, so we couldn't fold it down to make it easier to carry. We finally got it working after spraying the whole hinge with WD-40 and letting it sit for a while. Has anyone else had a great find that turned into a real workout?

Showerthought: I looked up how much stuff gets tossed in my town each month

I was curious after my last big curb find, so I checked our local waste report online. The number for bulky items like furniture and electronics thrown out in just April was over 15 tons. That's a lot of potential finds just going to the landfill. It really made me think about how much good stuff is out there on trash day. Has anyone else ever looked up the numbers for their own area?

Scored a working mini fridge from a curb in Tempe last Tuesday

It was sitting next to a dumpster with a 'free' sign, so I plugged it in at home and it got cold right away. I just wiped it down with some vinegar water and now it's perfect for my garage. What's the best curb find you've gotten that just needed a simple clean?

Scored a whole set of dining chairs from a curb in my own neighborhood

I was walking my dog on Thursday evening and saw four wooden chairs stacked neatly by the trash cans on Elm Street. They were solid oak, just a bit dusty, with no real damage. I carried them home one by one, which took about twenty minutes. A quick wipe down and a light sanding on one rough spot made them look brand new. My old folding chairs are finally gone. Has anyone else found good furniture just a few houses down from their own?

Found a perfectly good office chair in the alley behind my apartment in Denver

I spotted it last Thursday, a little dirty but the wheels and height adjust still worked fine. I gave it a wipe down and now it's my new WFH seat, saved me at least $80. Anyone else find furniture that just needed a quick clean?

Spent $80 on a moisture meter for curb furniture and it was a waste

Everyone says you need one to check for rot before you bring wood furniture inside. I found a solid looking dresser last week, but the meter read high on one drawer bottom. I passed on it, and my neighbor grabbed it an hour later. It's been in his dry garage for four days now and it's fine, totally solid. When does a tool stop being helpful and start making you miss out on good stuff?

Warning: Bought a $50 moisture meter for curb furniture. Total waste.

Found a solid oak dresser left out in the rain. Spent the cash on a meter to check for rot before hauling it. Thing gave a false dry reading, wood was mush inside. Anyone got a better way to check stuff that's been outside?

Found a perfect mid-century chair, then the leg snapped on the walk home

I spotted this cool wooden chair on a curb in the East Village last Tuesday. I mean, it looked solid, so I picked it up. About two blocks from my place, one of the back legs just cracked right off. I had to carry it the rest of the way with it leaning on me. Has anyone else had a great find break on them? What's the best way to fix a chair leg?

Found a perfect leather couch in Seattle last month, but it was crawling with bed bugs.

The exterminator said the whole building had to be treated, costing over $800. How do you guys check for pests before you haul something home?

I was a total snob about curb finds until last Tuesday

I used to only grab stuff that looked perfect, leaving anything with a scratch. Then I found a solid oak dresser in my town, but the top was stained. I almost walked away, but my buddy said 'it's free wood, just sand it.' I spent $15 on sandpaper and 4 hours of work. Now it looks brand new and saved me like $400. Who else has fixed up a 'damaged' curb find and been shocked by the result?

Found a busted wooden chair on 4th Street and gave it a go with some wood glue

The back leg was totally snapped off, but I had some Titebond III left from another project. I clamped it up for a full day, and it's actually solid now (I'm sitting on it right now). I learned that a lot of curb furniture is just one good fix away from being useful again. Has anyone else had a simple repair turn a trash find into a keeper?

My curb finds used to be a mess, now I have a system

For years I'd just drag anything interesting home and pile it in the garage. Last spring I had a solid week where I found three perfectly good chairs, a working floor lamp, and a box of vintage kitchen tools, all within two blocks. My wife finally said our garage looked like a junk shop and she was right. Now I take a picture first, measure the space it would need, and only bring it home if I have a real plan for it within 48 hours. Has anyone else had to set rules for themselves to keep the hobby from taking over the house?

My old 'grab and go' curb hunting style versus actually looking under things

For months I just took what was sitting on top of the pile, like a busted lamp or a wobbly chair. Yesterday in the rain, I moved a soggy cardboard box full of magazines on Elm Street and found a sealed box with a brand new KitchenAid stand mixer underneath. The old way got me junk, the new way got me a $400 mixer. Who else digs deeper now?