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What to do with old blades

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  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Forest Hill, Maryland
What to do with old blades
Posted by cwalker3 on Friday, January 18, 2019 10:27 AM

I've been saving old blades for several years now and am wondering what to do with them. I used to wrap them in duct tape and just toss them, but then I started storing them in a plastic jar. I really don't want to just toss them and have them cutting someone up at the landfill. I thought about asking my doctor to include them with his sharps, but since his is considered biohazardous waste, he probably wouldn't want mine adding to his cost.

So what do you guys do with yours?

Cary

 


  • Member since
    November 2018
Posted by Noah on Friday, January 18, 2019 10:44 AM

If you have a piece of styrofoam you can stick them in that, then tape them into it and it will keep them from poking anyone.  You can also, if they aren't to bad, re-sharpen them with some sandpaper and save a quick buck. :)

 

 

Noah

GAF
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • From: Anniston, AL
Posted by GAF on Friday, January 18, 2019 12:39 PM

Toss them.  I doubt the people at the landfill worry about "sharp" objects as there are sharp objects all around!  If you want, put them in a plastic jug (like an empty laundry detergent bottle) and dispose of them that way.  That's what I do with my diabetic syringes.

Or you can just encase them in lead, cover them in concrete and bury them in your backyard.  YMMV.  Wink

Gary

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Friday, January 18, 2019 12:55 PM

Noah

If you have a piece of styrofoam you can stick them in that, then tape them into it and it will keep them from poking anyone.  You can also, if they aren't to bad, re-sharpen them with some sandpaper and save a quick buck. :)

 

 

Ha! I have a little block of stryofoam with every blade I've changed since I started back in the hobby, in 2013. I guess one of these days I'll have to toss them. When the day comes, taping them up in the block is a good idea, thanks.

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Mopar Madness on Friday, January 18, 2019 1:11 PM

You can store them in an old aspirin bottle or medication bottle, then peel off the label and throw it in the garbage after you’ve collected enough to fill it. 

Chad

God, Family, Models...

At the plate: 1/48 Airfix Bf109 & 1/35 Tamiya Famo

On deck: Who knows!

ZAT
  • Member since
    November 2018
Posted by ZAT on Friday, January 18, 2019 3:11 PM
I tape hem up and toss them. I guess I could tape them and put them in a jar and toss them that way as a back up. If you are “lucky” enough to live in an area with sharps containers in public restrooms; you know for all those “diabetics”; you could dump them there.
  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Friday, January 18, 2019 3:18 PM

I tape them up and toss in trash. I could care less where it goes from there. Not my problem. We pay enough for garbage fees and city issued garbage bags we have to pay for. 

  • Member since
    July 2008
Posted by Est.1961 on Friday, January 18, 2019 4:04 PM

Or you can just encase them in lead, cover them in concrete and bury them in your backyard.  YMMV.  Wink

Gary

Great idea that'll do for me 

  • Member since
    November 2004
  • From: Galloway,Ohio
Posted by Daddyman on Friday, January 18, 2019 4:48 PM

I use an old metal black pepper can. When it gets full I'll tape it up and pitch it.

I got that idea from another modeler here on the forums.

Bill B 2.0

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Friday, January 18, 2019 5:46 PM

Mopar Madness

You can store them in an old aspirin bottle or medication bottle, then peel off the label and throw it in the garbage after you’ve collected enough to fill it. 

 

Ditto I peel off the label from my BP med and toss it once it’s full. 

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    April 2005
Posted by ddp59 on Friday, January 18, 2019 7:20 PM

i guess none of you guys have metal recycling bin along with your garbage pickup like we do here in Ontario, Canada as that is where i dump mine?

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Friday, January 18, 2019 7:24 PM

I do here but never thought of that. They are picky at what you can drop in the recycle bin. For example they don't  want clothing hangers, metal or plastic or even plastic bags.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    April 2005
Posted by ddp59 on Friday, January 18, 2019 7:28 PM

i even recycle the metal box of desktop computer power supply minus everything in the box if the power supply is to be scrapped.

here we get 3 bins for recycling, paper/cardboard, metal/plastic/styrofoam & food waste.

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Forest Hill, Maryland
Posted by cwalker3 on Saturday, January 19, 2019 4:35 AM

Thanks everyone. To the landfill we go then.

Cary

 


  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Saturday, January 19, 2019 6:34 AM

In a sense I do a limited amount of recycling myself.  I have a scalpel and three X-acto handles on my bench.  The handles are all different so I can tell them apart.  I put my newest blade in one knife, passing the old one down to knife #2, and the old blade from that down to #3.  I use the scalpel for decals and other soft stuff.  X-acto #1 is my main cutting blade.  I use #2 for cutting PE, and #3 for seam scraping.  That way I get a lot of use out of each blade before it goes in the trash.  Around here they don't want very small stuff in the metal recycle so I stick them in something and put them in the trash.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    July 2018
  • From: The Deep Woods
Posted by Tickmagnet on Saturday, January 19, 2019 7:46 AM

Drink coffee? A coffee container would make a great sharps container.

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Finland funland
Posted by Trabi on Monday, January 21, 2019 3:23 AM

Well this is how I do it at home and how we are doing it here at my work:

 

1. Take empty METAL paint can. 1 litre or so works fine.

2. Make "coin slot" to the lid

3. Close the lid tightly

4. Drop used blades, needles etc. through the coin slot.

5. When the can is full close the slot tightly with small piece of tape.

6. Put the whole can to metal recycling.

 

That keeps all the sharp objects in and you don´t put any inappropriate material to metal recycling like you do if you use plastic or glass can.

My wife uses 20 litre metal paint cans when she tosses away old springs, nails and staples from dissembled upholsteries Big Smile

"Space may be the final frontier, but it´s made in Hollywood basement." RHCP, Californication

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Monday, January 21, 2019 7:00 AM

I re-use my blades like Don does, rotating them through brand-new use, then a long life as a utility blade.  I haven't had to throw any out yet.  I use cough drop or breath mint tins to store them in my tool box.  But the collection can idea is a good one.

This topic reminds me of the razor blade slot built into medicine cabinets, back in the day.  I don't know that anyone ever filled one up, but I know of some folks who were renovating an old house and found the stash of old blades when they removed an old medicine cabinet.

 

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: New Braunfels , Texas
Posted by Tanker - Builder on Monday, January 21, 2019 10:15 AM

Hi cwalker3 ;

 I very seldom throw them away .At least till I get my use out of them .I will resharpen them with a jig I made long before that re-sharpening tool came out .I will usually resharpen them twice .

 Than I Put on my safety glasses on and inside a large glass bowl turned upside down I break them up with Vise-grips then , to the landfill .    Tanker - Builder

 

  • Member since
    March 2015
Posted by Rotorhead13 on Monday, January 21, 2019 10:29 AM

I always just dull up the edge with a file. It only takes a few seconds to make the blade no sharper than a butter knife. 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, January 21, 2019 11:11 AM

Super glue them to the edges of those old CDs you'd get from America Online to make homemade ninja throwing stars... Wink

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    March 2015
Posted by Rotorhead13 on Monday, January 21, 2019 11:16 AM

Excellent! A proper application of modeling skills.

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