Old tub graveyards?

[Deborah Stephenson]

This may seem like a stupid question, but does anyone know where people take their old bathtubs when they are worn out? Some landfills won't take them, and I know that the garbage trucks that cruise around in the cities won't pick them up except on those special Spring cleanup days, so... where do they go?

I'm asking because, I actually WANT some old bathtubs and would be happy to pick them up for free if anyone in my area had any they wanted to get rid of. I don't care how many chips or what sort of discoloration they may have because I want them for utility purposes (several - including livestock water).

Anyone have an old tub (or several) in the Forsyth/Branson, MO area?

[Lauriebelle]

I think that if you check with your local recycling/trash department that they'd be able to tell you right where to go.

[uncle Will in In.]

Many of them are steel backed. Would the scrap yards take them and beat the finish off??

[busybee870]

i was fixing to say... why would you want to get rid of it, with so many uses!! lol i have no idea where other than landfills.

[BillHoo]

There's a place in NYC down by the village, that pays about $400-$600 for cast iron claw-foot tubs. They sell them for about $800 to $1200 each. They are also looking for old coke machines too.

[Shinsan]

Great containers for herb gardens, or worm farms, or growbeds for an aquaponics, setup, or a......

Try what I did: Contact a company that does bathroom renovations. Sometimes it's a hassle for them to get rid of the old tubs, and sometimes other fittings, that they remove.

[simplyflow]

Whenever we don't know where to look for something we post a "wanted" ad in the local paper. Found a ton of stuff that way.

[copperkid3]

I agree with simplyflow, that a local ad in the paper would probably get you some; or better yet, get the info onto your local freecycling group or craigslist......won't cost you anything and you'll be helping to keep things out of the landfills. By the way, the scrap yards pay BIG MONEY for cast iron tubs......so there is another source if you're willing to pay for them.

[fishhead]

We have a Habitat for Humanity store in our area that probably carries that kind of stuff.

[brreitsma]

Advertise on your area craigslist that you are looking for tubs that other people no longer want. You should get some responses possibly.

[hotzcatz]

Call plumbers and contractors in your area since those folks would be the ones taking the old tubs out. We find old tubs at yard sales, usually they just have the old tub by the side of the garage and we ask if they are selling the old tub as well. Most times they will just give it to you.

If you find a nice tub and want to refurbish it, these folks can cast new tub feet out of bronze for you - tell them "Cathy in Hawaii" referred you They did a great job on new feet for our tub. The new feet polished up real pretty, now I just have to find the rest of the tub hardware so we can install it over Christmas vacation. Here's the URL for Creative Casting in Tacoma Washington who did the feet:
http://www.creativecastingco.com/clawfeet.htm

[RosewoodfarmVA]

Around here the county landfills have bunches of them in their metal pile and will gladly give you several for farm purposes. I do alot of demo work and keep all that I get for feed troughs, water, etc. Just recently did a house that had a claw-foot tub...that one's going in my house!

[fantasymaker]

Look in alleys,behind plumers and contracters espesially

[highlands]

I keep my eyes out for them in yards as well as advertising on the bulletin boards. We use the old cast iron tubs for livestock feeders and waterers. They are just the right depth for pigs. The stock tanks are too deep.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
http://HollyGraphicArt.com/
http://NoNAIS.org

[Deborah Stephenson]

To everyone who replied to my original post,

Please forgive me for not replying to the messages you were so kind as to send me all those weeks ago! I did mean to - honestly! - but right about the time I asked about tubs on this forum, my husband's father was in an accident, and died. Since then, my husband and I have been up to our ears dealing with insurance, hospital bills, informing friends, relatives & creditors (and all the other unpleasant stuff that goes with settling an estate). Not to mention that we've just been really depressed about his dad's death in general - which doesn't help. (It sort of took thoughts about things like old bathtubs right out of my mind.)

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice, etc. about finding the tubs. I'm really sorry about not getting back to all of you when you went to the trouble to try to help me out. I'm sure you thought I was just really rude! Thanks for all the great suggestions! Now that things are starting to settle down again, I will be trying a few of them for sure.

[whiterock]

Sorry for your loss.

Check the yellow pages for places that sell used bldg materials and supplies. The bldgs that are torn down have the good stuff removed first.
Ed

[rmaster14145]

i worked for a place that needed a big sink. the big sinks were expensive....so they found a small bathtub and installed it as a big sink.

just an idea

rm

[Ninn]

I want a nice long, deep one for my bathroom. Do you think a trailer floor will support it?

[Deborah Stephenson]

whiterock,

Thank you. He was a grumpy old man, and he drove us crazy a lot of the time, but we miss him! Just goes to show you that you never know what (or who) you're going to miss 'til they're gone. I guess its a good reason to treat everyone well while they're still around!

[Shrek]

A home renovation carpenter I know takes steel backed tubs to the recycle center with the rest of his scrap steel unless someone he knows wants it for a trough, worm bin or such.

If yiu know any home renovators, ask them first, then check the scrapyards.