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Where Do I Look?

When getting started with upcycling old electronics, the first thing you need is “stuff.” Since computers, tablets, and smartphones are constantly being upgraded, they creates a surplus of old tech just waiting to be saved from a death by dumpster and given a new life. That being the case, it shouldn’t be too hard to find what you need for free or super cheap. The key is knowing where to look, so I’ve put together some of the most common places to find old tech.

Home

Most of you reading this book probably have a junk drawer, closet, or attic full of hidden tech gems primed for hacking and upcycling (I had a Radio Shack Tandy 1000). The obvious benefit of starting from home is that it’s free. And since you own it, you are probably already somewhat familiar with it. Another bonus is that using it only requires permission from yourself.

Dumpster Diving

It’s surprising how much e-waste actually makes it into the trash. But we can turn that tragedy into our gain, not to mention, it’s free! Dumpster diving is the act of rummaging through dumpsters to find hidden treasures. In this case, those treasures are old or broken electronics. College campuses (especially Ivy League colleges) are great places to find useful stuff tossed out by a student who doesn’t have a need for it anymore. If those tech treasures end up making their way to the landfill, not to worry! Your local dump itself can be a great place to look for goods.

Yard Sales

Love a good yard sale? If dumpster diving isn’t your thing, then yard sales are a great way to score decent and unique electronics for cheap. A lot of sellers don’t know the actual value of what’s being sold and ultimately just want to get rid of it. The downside is that yard sales can be infrequent and hard to find. Also, the items generally aren’t free, but sometimes it may be worth spending a few bucks for the perfect item.

Online

Let’s be real, visiting yard sales and dumpster diving can require a lot of effort. If that’s not for you, then acquiring devices online is probably the way to go. You may not be able to find old broken devices on Amazon, but sites like Craigslist or eBay (in the US) may have the perfect item for your project!