Should I answer all the questions of the universe? Maybe I'll just keep this simple for now. Graflex flashlight - or rather flash is what was used for the lightsaber in Star Wars along with a lot of WWII guns for weapons. These were redressed to hide their origin. Many of the props you see in the original trilogy were everyday items recycled for the studio so that they could save money all while serving a another purpose. A lot of these items were bought from WWII surplus stores, auction houses, peoples' private collections of junk as well as others' rummage through flea markets, and outdoor fairs. Just about anything that someone would say "Hey - this is neat!" was used in Star Wars through Jedi.
Ink pens, pencil eraser boxes, match boxes, eye glass screws, stainless steel ball bearings, springs, eyeglasses, and sunglasses, screws from various projects, elastic bands, rubber bands, flashlights, computer hard drives, and mother boards, and all associated wiring.
Broken electronics, toys, appliance parts, car parts including springs, rubber gaskets, and seals, motorcycle parts, swing set parts, bicycle parts, T.V. and radio parts, as well as old things found in the trash, WWII, and WWI things, including practice bombs, gas masks, weapons. Vietnam era weapons, and accessories. Old cameras (digital and film) parts, typewriter parts, electric typewriter parts, EMPTY frontline flea, and tick control medicine packets (washed and rinsed), rubber tubing, heat shrink tubing, glass jars, plastic jars, old broken soap dispenser innards, left over model parts, car, and truck parts, industrial containers = 55 gallon drums.
Electrical wire of all gauges, cigarette lighters, and grill lighters, broken tools, and silverware. Supplies like plastic straws, popcicle sticks, wrapping paper in wild colours, and designs, rhinestones, jewelry chains, and wire of all kinds, aluminum, brass, copper, stainless steel tubing, balsa shapes, plastic tubing, and fiber optic wire, electrical solder, and associated supplies, and tools. Candle holders, crockpot handles of all types, old washed and rinsed soup cans, and coffee cans of various sizes. Room freshener spray buttons, plastic food storage containers, old coat hangers (wood and wire), various items from the local hardware store including PVC pipe, and copper fittings, small screws, and rubber washers, wall anchors, lamp fittings, switches, etc.
This only a small handful of the things that I've used over the last thirty five years. I've skimmed over quite a few things that I haven't used for a while, but just use your imagination - there are things that look cool that you can use for your next scratch built/scratch made project. Once you get an idea in your head it won't take long to see an object that you'll think is a perfect match. I've even save halogen bulbs that I've cut the back off, and saved just the very bulb base for scratch building. These are the ones that were used in the Star Destroyer in Star Wars "A New Hope".
I hope that this will give you an idea of at least where to look, and not just things to use. You'll get a feel for it as you build more, and more things. After building for a couple years you'll know just where to go to get tubing (Menards, Home Depot, Do It Best, etc) for copper, and PVC pipe, and fittings. www.walthers.com www.woodcraft.com www.micromark.com are just a few sites that can help. www.specialtyresin.com is where I get my casting supplies. There's no limit other than your imagination. If if looks cool - USE IT! I've even used plumbing parts for scratch built ideas. In Alien you can see on the control panel where Ripley activates the cooling unit that there's a sprue piece along side the switch for decoration. Think ILM - what would they have used? Answer anything we can get our hands on! This was the fare of the day since the buget had to be cheap. Everyday items with a little alteration can be very convincing. If you need more ideas I'll be more than glad to help. Just ask. It's why I'm here (for now).
~ Cobra Chris