CalMAX Connections—Winter 2003

Reinventing the Wheel to Stop Waste

by Maggie Coulter, CalMAX Coordinator

An inventor with a passion to reuse and stop waste, Davis resident Larry Fisher is constantly on the lookout for reusable items and new ideas. A longtime CalMAX user, Fisher also frequents the used metal recovery bins operated as a service to the public by Davis Waste Removal. There he finds discarded bed, window, and door frames, which he turns into gate supports, carts, furniture, and other items.

"There are enough quality throwaway structural materials to make an entire catalog of gardening tools and patio items out of a minimum 90 percent recycled content," says Fisher. One item that Fisher feels can be readily reused is metal bed frames. Seeing lots of these in the free box and loaded in passing rail cars, Fisher noted, "I could imagine them melting down bed frames, pouring the steel into ingots, cooling them, then heating them to roll them into angle iron to sell to welders and manufactures of bed frames! Why not save the energy from reprocessing by reusing them first."

In a piece about reuse and the creative process of invention, Fisher writes: "I imagined the tons of leaf springs they stack and bolt together to place under our car axles to have a smooth ride. I figured the time unbolting them to weld them directly into usable items was a lot less wasteful than foundry processing them into structural materials to make these same products.

"Additionally I was willing to make my vision of the product I would weld conform to the existing scrounged steel products and not the other way around where so much more wasteful processing would be involved. One of the first things I made was a patio coffee table out of bed frames, leaf springs, and these things, and how I cut them had to conform to the double-glazed glass deli frig door I had found. It worked out beautifully. The result was both high quality and attractive."

Durability
Not only do Fisher's inventions reuse materials, save energy and reduce waste, they also result in high quality, durable items. One such item is a support for wooden gates that prevents sagging and allows for efficient repair. These frames can be made by the home welder from metal store display racks or bed frames.

Another item of superior durability Fisher makes are metal-based fence posts. "The store-bought ones are made from metal conduit-which is pretty weak," notes Fisher. "I take discarded galvanized piping, cut off 7 foot lengths which eliminates the need to use the 4 by 4 inch redwood posts. The resulting product lasts longer than both traditional wood and the conduit-type." 

Fisher also makes a sturdy wheelbarrow, using discarded bed frames and the small temporary spare tires ("donut" tires) which are often replaced with real spare tires and end up in auto yards. "You buy a wheelbarrow today and it is junk in a few years-the tubeless tire is going flat, the wood handles are rotted." The donut tire is solid, mounted on a spindle made from reused steel. The handles on Fisher's barrow are painted metal so they won't rust or rot. Fisher's back yard is stacked with material he has found through CalMAX or discards he finds. Some of the material, like old skis, will be made into carts that are light and durable, resting on disposed bike tires or wheel chair wheels.

The tubs cores of old washing machines are taken out and become "twinkle pots"-patio fireplaces. Bathtubs will become planter boxes, that can either be buried so that the tub lip is at ground level-ideal for containing bamboo or made attractive to keep above ground by framing with bed frames and reused redwood. Fisher has also designed a drip system for these that make them ideal for bamboo-letting it grow to screen or shade a house, but not spread in the yard because its roots are held inside the tub.

Throwaway Society
Fisher also gets many nearly brand-new products tossed out by big chains and local stores. "Stores were throwing away pallet loads of unassembled metal shelves so I started welding them to bed frames for garage storage purposes," says Fisher. The result was again a better product, in this case much stronger because of the better metal framing. 

"It really is appalling what gets thrown away," says Davis Waste Removal manager Rick Hernandez. Hernandez described an incident in which a truckload of brand-new toys that needed minor repairs was brought to his facility. "They wanted us to put them into the crusher, not the reuse box. I told them that was against our philosophy and we wouldn't do it."

A valued asset in his community, Fisher is known for dropping finds off to neighbors and friends. He noticed that the community garden was using arsenic-treated poles to support a trellis, so he fashioned a non-toxic replacement. Fisher removed the hinged short sides of bed frames and brought the 7-foot pieces to the garden to be used instead of the contaminated wood. He also brought meshed wire from the metal reuse bin at Davis Waste Removal to stretch onto the poles.

Getting into Mass Production
While creativity like Fisher's can result in new product development, getting such items mass-produced for the general public is another matter. Fisher does not want to do production himself. Rather, he suggests a small start-up entrepreneur or nonprofit organization could launch a business funded by a Small Business Administration loan.

"The enterprise could probably work with Davis Waste Removal and metal recycling yards to get materials set aside for production," suggested Fisher. "It could be a great project for a retired business person or a young MBA who wants to make a difference." When asked if he will help, Fisher added, "Sure I'll volunteer to serve as a board member/oversight committee member, provide ideas, designs."

CalMAX Connections Home

Last updated: August 01, 2008