Group Actions
Engagement
  • Author Author: dougw
  • Date Created: Date Created
  • Views 1988 views
  • Likes 8 likes
  • Comments 13 comments
Related
Recommended

Dollar Store Parts in Projects

dougw

This blog is to add to theheckwithkaren blog about using Dollar Store parts in projects.

I scour the Dollar Store for parts on many projects and I have use parts from the Dollar Store countless times.

Here are a few examples:

The Acrylic dome on my Konker Connection is part of a butter dish from the Dollar Store (The other part will likely be used to cover a solar panel on a different project):

image

This urethane orb was found in a Dollar Store. It was used in my LED road test.

 

This PLA dispenser for 3D printers was built with low-cost skateboard bearings and uses a paint roller for an axle:

 

The turn table in this Star Trek Alcove video is from a Dollar Store:

 

This tablet stand for my Star Trek Alcove uses a plastic hockey stick from a Dollar Store. That power bar was also a Dollar Store item.

image

The stand for the Purple People Eater also uses a plastic hockey stick from a Dollar Store:

 

The list of Dollar Store parts gets to be very long ......

Parents Comment Children
  • in reply to jw0752

    That is so true John. When you are walking through a store and everything you see, you are thinking "how can I re-purpose this item or strip off something useful?" Suddenly all that cheap junk is alive with neat possibilities.

  • in reply to dougw

    Hi Douglas,

    Some of your images or videos are restricted under "

    Unauthorized

     

     

      


    Access to this place or content is restricted. If you think this is a mistake, please contact your administrator or the person who directed you here.

     

    "

    What can be happen with that?

     

    Today i received the email

    After clicking the link the message above is coming.

    I'm already logged in the community.

     

    Best Regards,

    Gerald

    ---

    The first
        online community specifically for Engineers.

    Login
               
       

       

    Topics | Resources | Content | Design Center

    LED Orb

    was created by in RoadTests
      & Reviews     - View the
      video

    Comment by replying to this
      email -or- go to the
      video on element14 Community

    Create a new video in RoadTests
      & Reviews by email
      -or- at element14
      Community



      To unsubscribe from ALL email notifications from element14 Community, Click
      Here

      To learn how to modify your email preferences, Click
      Here

  • in reply to geralds

    Hi Gerald,

    I saw this also in two places on Doug's posting. I just assumed they were for pictures that didn't load up right. The system has been a little flakey since the last upgrade and it really likes to go off the rails on the weekends when the administration is off.

    John

  • in reply to jw0752

    Hi John,

     

    Thank for your comment, that's positive. I'm not alone with this problem I thought before i posted here.

    I thought that there were a problem with my IE browser, so I know right now, it isn't my browser.

    The other can be, I think too it can happen that the E14 firewall came a bit stronger then before the last updates.
    Or some marginal mistakes, bugs, may still in the source code.

     

    Gerald

    ---

  • in reply to dougw

    I find season change is a great time for finding project material.

     

    Just a few weeks ago I purchased about 10 of those plastic swimming pool toys that squirt water for $1 each.

     

    The inner plastic tubes will likely be cut to the size needed for projects.

     

    The outer tubes will be used as reusable rocket boosters for a project that is in the works. A prototype has already been constructed.

     

    After holidays and changes in season are the best time for buying. The section where items are marked for clearance are also a great place for materials. I recently found a 64GB microSD on clearance for about $5. It is now running in one of my Raspberry Pi.

     

    LED, switches, buttons, potentiometer, and even sensors can be harvested from things that might be found on clearance shelves and " Dollar Stores ". Sometimes I might buy an item just for the materials it's made of.

     

    Many of the structural components that have been used in my previous projects are usually recycled and/or repurposed materials. I don't currently own a 3D printer ( unfortunately it will be awhile before something like this is affordable) so often a bit of improvisation is required.