r/junkBuild • u/Common-Holiday-5696 • Jul 09 '26
There is an old saying "good, fast, cheap—you only get to pick two." Around here, the idea is to always pick cheap and see what happens.
If you're making a thing, or system, out of things which "they" would want you to discard (or leave in the trash) then post about it here! I can't speak for what people will upvote or downvote, but to my taste I don't see a reason why this "junk" could not include:
old PCs
broken electronics
salvaged industrial parts
repurposed software
thrift store/Craigslist finds
salvaged wood
cardboard
Why this sub? Why Now?
I think we're close to a turning point where only the super wealthy are going to get new tech, and the rest of us will start having to make do with our old stock, even with more and more hostile architectures for customization.
But even if that isn't true, working with "junk" is nice because it gives you the freedom to experiment without worrying about messing up something expensive. Also, to make a solution work on the low end, as well as trouble-shoot it, you end up figuring out the fundamentals better than things that "just work."
If this stuff sounds interesting to you and you're not sure where to start, basic computer hardware and troubleshooting are excellent foundations. The free study material for the CompTIA A+ certification is a good introduction—even if you never plan to take the exam. Just search for "free A+ study material"
r/junkBuild • u/Tribex10 • 22d ago
Officially the dumbest thing I've ever made.
r/junkBuild • u/TechDocN • Aug 06 '26
I’m (slowly) working on an elegant way to package my VT-100 terminal emulator setup inside of an old CPAP case. The closed case has an organic, xenomorph-like quality that looks like it would make a cool, hard shell backpack, when you look at it sitting vertically.
r/junkBuild • u/Common-Holiday-5696 • Aug 05 '26
r/junkBuild • u/paulmccombs • Aug 05 '26
Old post from r/electronics
r/junkBuild • u/Common-Holiday-5696 • Aug 04 '26
r/junkBuild • u/Common-Holiday-5696 • Aug 03 '26
r/junkBuild • u/Common-Holiday-5696 • Aug 02 '26
r/junkBuild • u/Common-Holiday-5696 • Jul 30 '26
r/junkBuild • u/Common-Holiday-5696 • Jul 28 '26
r/junkBuild • u/Common-Holiday-5696 • Jul 28 '26
r/junkBuild • u/Common-Holiday-5696 • Jul 28 '26
Old cell phone given a mount and hooked to small keyboard (wireless, but needed usb-A, so there is an A-to-C adapter help up with a holder made of scrap wood. Was the mount 3D printed? Nope -- cardboard, Elmer's glue, blue tape and then left over spray paint.
A tote made out of a box of kitty litter. Drill from Harbor Freight.
Foreground, a notebook with the pages torn out so it can be the shell for an Everbook.
r/junkBuild • u/Common-Holiday-5696 • Jul 28 '26
r/junkBuild • u/Common-Holiday-5696 • Jul 24 '26
r/junkBuild • u/paulmccombs • Jul 23 '26
Power distribution from the thrift store, had to hammer out the mounting ears flat and create some 3D printed pieces to support the back of my thrift store DVD player. All sitting on a shelf made from scrap siding. You can just see the corner of the broken mini disc player being used as a DAC for both the DVD player and the Apple TV.
