Keeping workbench clean

[bermudahwin]

24 minutes ago, AmyK said:

You think you’re cheap? I don’t even use daubers. I buy a bunch of cheap sponges.... then cut them into fourths! Keep an old soup pot in the shop for sponges, rags, buffing cloths and wash them in the washer when I run low. They’re stained of course but the color doesn’t transfer.

I use make up sponges, cut up smaller and gripped with a peg (like we used to grip bits of saddler's felt for the same job back in the day) , as they're designed to hold 'make up stuff' (dont know what it is as I dont use it) and they wash out and dry well.

Nearly did myself a mischief lifting 2 out of 3 rag boxes (my, my wife's and our friends old clothes and sheets etc (yes they are properly washed)) up onto the very top shelf ready for a quiet day to cut into squares.

Plastic food containers are used for mixing dyes and glues, then get washed again.

Packing paper from moving is hand smoothed, and used to wrap sold Items.

Mail boxes and envelopes have printed labels over the old address, noting that 'whitcher.biz recycles, reuses and repurposes whenever it can'. (that has always got positive feedback).

Small spice jar is on hand for used replaceable blades, bigger jars for many other purposes.

I don't think of it as cheap, just planet and pocket friendly.

Keep up the good work Amy.

Oh, and we ALL collect, and reuse tools and machines.

H

Edited March 28, 2019 by hwinbermuda

[fredk]

1 hour ago, AmyK said:

You think you’re cheap? I don’t even use daubers. I buy a bunch of cheap sponges.... then cut them into fourths! Keep an old soup pot in the shop for sponges, rags, buffing , , ,

I can beat that !   I re-use sponges I've used for dish washing. I buy cheap washing-up sponges, usually 20 for £1. Use them for dish washing. I replace that sponge about every third or fourth day. Its always clean but replaced for hygiene reasons, then it goes into a box for either general purpose cleaning or leather work. I cut them up into pieces for leather work

[Double Daddy]

1 hour ago, hwinbermuda said:

just planet and pocket friendly.

Exactly right! I'll have to give the left-over dish sponge thing a try. I already make use of old shirts and socks, etc in my shop as wipes and polishing cloths. Old glass food jars are extremely useful as well (dye, finish, hardware, etc.)...been doing that for years in my home shop long before I got into this leathercrafting moneypit obsession hobby.

[AmyK]

5 hours ago, fredk said:

I can beat that !   I re-use sponges I've used for dish washing. I buy cheap washing-up sponges, usually 20 for £1. Use them for dish washing. I replace that sponge about every third or fourth day. Its always clean but replaced for hygiene reasons, then it goes into a box for either general purpose cleaning or leather work. I cut them up into pieces for leather work

How about this? I dont use regular sponges for dishes. I have these sewn up microfiber ones that go in the washer. So I’ve had the same “sponges” for more than 5 yrs. I agree, I can’t wash dishes with something that smells gross, so my dish sponge is changed every few days. 

Having said that, regular sponges can also go in the clothes washer or dish washer so you don’t have to pitch them in the leather bin. 

[AmyK]

On 3/28/2019 at 1:45 AM, DV8DUG said:

I wait until after Christmas sales on wrapping paper. Some of these are surprisingly liquid resistant. I also do like @Hasbeencowboy with the body paper.

IKEA has Christmas wrap printed on brown craft paper. Makes great patters SUPER cheap when you buy after the holidays.