The "Reclaimed Materials" Challenge- discuss rules here

[Charlie Schultz]

Hi everyone,
Got an old countertop just laying around?? Turn it into a musical instrument! The theme for the next $100 challenge will be "reclaimed materials" and will begin April 1. Some ground rules:

• Any kind of instrument
• Total cost less than or equal to $100 (keep track of all expenses)
• More than 50% of the instrument must be from reclaimed (in other words, previously used) materials. Keep track of what percentage of the instrument is from reclaimed materials, the more the better!
• $10 entry fee required

[Hans Bezemer]

I like the idea!
Does leftovers found in the trashcan count as reclaimed?
When will the challenge end? Last one was from april 1 --> 20th of may.

[Charlie Schultz]

Hi Hans,
Yes, things found in trashcans count as reclaimed.

I think the last one was a little short- how about to the end of May (May 31)?

[Hans Bezemer]

Great!
For me end of june would be even better, because the building is done in sparetime.

[Bryan Bear]

I'm glad to see this! I am now going to have to see how I can fit this into my next project. It was already gong to be about 25% reclaimed material, and most of the rest off-cuts and scrap. I'll start looking for a way to replace some of those off cuts with something reclaimed.

The two month deadline is pretty tough (for me though) I have a new baby and two months would be pushing it for me without the sleepless nights. I'll most likely still join though be unlikely to finish. . .

Either way, it will be fun to follow along.

[Jim Kirby]

Yes, please for a little longer time-span. I'm always a time-crunched part-timer.

[Paul Doubek]

This is probably a stupid question, but how about wood that was previously used as a tree? Specifically, I'm thinking of some cherry I resawed from a an ornamental tree I had to take down due to worm damage, or some apricot that my local power company harvested in the process of butchering my tree. I'll take the obvious pun and acknowledge that allowing this could open up a can of worms... but I thought I'd ask since it wasn't harvested for the purpose of providing lumber.

Paul

[Charlie Schultz]

Well, good question Paul. For this one, I'm going to say that "reclaimed" means wood that was actually used for (built into) something (but not firewood).

[Steven Wilson]

Good idea, I will try to do this one. I understand the spirit of the challenge is to "take a table/crate and turn it into a guitar" ,but what about electronics? I don't plan on taking a toaster and making a pre-amp but maybe a operator's head set and using it as a internal mike. Does that count as repurposing?
And I would also like the "Firewood Challenge" That's where I get a lot of my timber.
Oh-and the first guy that turns over a 5 gal bucket and says "I made a drum!" I think should be shunned

[Jim McConkey]

>but what about electronics?

In one of the previous challenges I repurposed a couple mini-potentiometers from dead halogen lamp dimmers, and others have reused parts from radios and wound pickups from photocopier parts. Think outside the box!

[Steven Wilson]

>but what about electronics?

In one of the previous challenges I repurposed a couple mini-potentiometers from dead halogen lamp dimmers, and others have reused parts from radios and wound pickups from photocopier parts. Think outside the box!

So It's ON!!

[David Gerard]

I have an electric I just finished that is build from reclaimed wood and solid surface scraps. I totally blew it on minimal cost( for the guide lines of this challenge) once I bought electronics. It was built more for its theme than to save any money. It's theme dictated the materials used. It looked good so it had to sound good I figured.
I will look forward to seeing all your master pieces. What a great idea!

[Alan Peterson]

I am extremely pleased to see this one become reality.
I had suggested this topic in February 2012 (http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php ... hood#p2861) and was always hoping it would be picked up.
Good luck to all participants!

[Hans Bezemer]

On electronics:

I'm experimenting with single loop Low Z pick ups: besides a small transformer you'll only need some magnets and a piece of electric wire.

[David Gerard]

One of my winter's projects, my first electric guitar.
This is not an entry but just my contribution to using reclaimed materials that I wanted to share in honor of this challenge.
Thanks for looking

[David Gerard]

forgot the peg head. "G-String Guitars" Arctic Mariner
the veneer is a scrap of solid surface that looks like Icy arctic water.
wood, solid and also liquid inlays to make the gnarly bent anchor and chain

[Charlie Schultz]

Nice work David!

To Alan's point, yes, this challenge is based on his suggestion. I look through the ideas thread here: http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=301. So if you've got ideas for future challenges, please post them there, thanks!

[John Kingma]

This is a fantastic idea for a challenge and I hope I am able to take part. My job is likely to get in the way.

[Peter Wilcox]

[*] More than 50% of the instrument must be from reclaimed (in other words, previously used) materials. Keep track of what percentage of the instrument is from reclaimed materials, the more the better!

What is 50% of an instrument? Volume, area, weight, number of parts, time spent, retail cost of parts, or ? We need some guidelines here.

Also what is "reclaimed? For example, in the case of guitars, are parts taken from a trashed instrument (i.e. tuning machines, pickups, bridge) reclaimed? I would think not. Maybe "re-purposed" would be a better word. But then, what about wood cutoffs or a Corian sink cutout from a cabinet shop - these never had a "purpose" but they are reclaimed.

Sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult, it's just my OCD poking through.

[Charlie Schultz]

Good questions. This is the first time we've tried this one so I'm not going to have all the answers.

Let's say 50% of the parts.
Wood cutoffs or a corian sink cutout might normally be thrown out, so you could count those as reclaimed (or repurposed if you prefer).
Parts like pickups and tuners taken from from a trashed instrument might not be normally trashed (at least in my case), so probably not.