The great thing about dumpster diving for materials is that you never know what you’re going to find. And the bad thing about dumpster diving for materials is…you never know what you’re going to find. For those seeking to repurpose materials, whether they’re vinyl scraps, men’s belts or even old cars, the dream is that you’re able to find a consistent source of the stuff to steady up your supply chain.
Industrial designer, Pratt grad, and veteran dumpster diver Ben Gould’s material of choice is the bike chain, and he’s found his supply source. As old chains are discarded through repairs and new chains are shortened to fit specific bicycle configurations, Gould found that “The average bike shop produces 25-40 pounds of wasted chain PER MONTH!”
While all of that chain doesn’t go into the garbage–it’s typically shipped, with an associated cost, to a recycling facility to be melted down–Gould would prefer they be shipped to him, at his own cost, so he can turn them into jewelry. To do that Gould needs a network of bike shops across the country to get on board.
The attendant LifeCycle Bracelets project set up by Gould was successfully Kickstarted this week, meaning he’s now got shipping funds and will be able to invest in the forging and electroplating equipment necessary to crank the bracelets out in volume.
Papadirt bought me a solid silver bike chain bracelet for our 25th Anniversary (along with other more ladylike jewellery pieces) – weighs a ton – I love it 😀
I’ve made a few chain key rings. I did see someone selling them on eBay, just normal chain, for about £4 a while back that’s what gave me the idea to make my own.
For info, there’s a guy who makes jewellery like this and Mud Dock in Bristol sell some of his stuff. Can’t remember his name but a quick Google should suffice. A wee bit more understated than this though.
Got a mate who wears an actual bike chain round his wrist. Had it on there for a good few years now! Mainly because he needs a chain tool to take it off.
What’s worrying is the inside has actually started to wear flat and smooth!
I had one on for around 6 years without removing it but a broken hand riding down Fyrish made me remove it.. only i couldnt.The doctors got pissed off and someone finally managed to pop the pin out for the xray.
I didn’t bother refitting it as its permanently changed the shape of my wrist in one place. Not to mention the rust always on my wrist.
Got a mate who wears an actual bike chain round his waist. Had it on there for a good few years now! He saved a fortune as he couldn’t get banded gastroplasty on the NHS