…On unpacking and building my latest DML purchase, I was amazed at the amount of sprues that came with the kit…I was even more amazed at the amount of sprue trees that I had left over after the build was complete. Usually I cut off the numerous “extra” peices not used and sort them to the “spares box.” This leaves a lot of plastic in the form of sprue trees to throw away. Over the years I have tried to think of ways to recycle them. The best use I have found for them is this:
When I build a dio base from “scratch,” I usualy use Celluclay as the medium to begin building up the earthwork. Celluclay is simply paper mache’ with a little clay aggregate mixed in. I have had trouble with it curling and coming off of smooth dio bases once it has been applied and begins drying. One trick I have started using is to glue sections of empty sprue trees to the smooth face of the dio base. This provides a “cleat” for the Celluclay to grab onto while drying. Since I have started doing this my bases are much more solid and secure…
The Dragon Kits are definately a good source of spare parts, i have 6 in my stash and theres enough extra parts to build a new tank. I normaly keep the extras on their sprues in my spare parts drawr, but once the sprue is empty i stretch it and/or cut it into pellets for ocasional use as bolt heads, etc.
Once a kit build is done, the sprues get reduced down to just the spare parts that I want to keep for the spares bin. The empty sprues are then tossed as they take up too much room. The idea of using them as “re-bar” for a base is intriguing though, have to admit. [:D] I’ve heard of others putting the scraps into a jar along with some MEK and creating their own filler substance but haven’t tried it myself.
Makes you wonder though how much recyclable styrene is lost with these kits…think they’ll ever set up a recylce program ala empty printer ink cartridges at your LHS? [8-]
That could actually work, if the LHS’s had a direct link to the manufacterers. Wonder if this could be set up? If we modelers were serious about it and recycled every sprue possible, I bet so much styrene could be reused that the prices might come down!
In a perfect world, that is. Darn, it’ll never work.
A couple of years ago I had an alcove in my house that I could not keep free of spiders and their webs.
I used some old sprue and a spare Sherman turret to make a “deterrent”–“Spank” (SPider + tANK)–and I hung him up in the alcove. I haven’t seen a spider there since! [zzz]
…I’ll bet in some kits as much pastic is used for the sprues as for the parts themselves…and since polystyrene is derived from oil, I am sure there would be a market for recycling…I work in the carpet-making industry and we recycle nylon and polyester all the time, which are also derived from oil…
Yup, I think doog takes the cake for most creative. Although, I have found two uses. One is the obvious heat and stretch for antenna and such. The second, is for testing my airbrush. by spraying on paper, yo can’t tell if paint is properly thinned. so I spray on old sprue, and if it beads, it’s too thin, or I can tell if it is too thick.
[:D] Hmmm. It’s midnight right now and I have to go take my drivers permit test tomorow morning. So…I can study, or get some late night modelling in. Easy choice, the latter. Smart, maybe, responsible, no. [:D]
I knew coming to the dark side (Armor Forum) was a bad thing. I have worse possible fear of spiders ever. Im now looking to the eaves for a whacking great spider throughout the house. You bad boy Dooger. lol.
I cant sleep if theres a spider above my bed. I used to put the cat in the room to eat the swine. Honest. He loved em.
My use for old sprue now is bond loads of pieces together. Then i have a 15ft poking stick to remove any cobwebs i find. Oh and to poke the blighters into submission. Only if they werent armed that is.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that “Spank” would be so popular! I’m thinking of making a whole bunch of 'em and selling 'em at the next craft fair at the local high school! [(-D]
BTW, I’m a total wuss around spiders myself–had a bad experience as a kid–but I’ve learned to appreciate the daddy-longlegs–keeps the ants out!
I tend to throw away most of the leftover sprues, but I’ll make a point of cutting up the longer, straight sections and retaining those. I’ll use them as securing points for celluclay as well, stretch them, use them as paint mixers, and I tend to use a lot of spare sprue as grab handles for parts and figures for painting.
