Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #01414
To: TurtleTek@aol.com
From: James Niemasik jfn@best.com
Date: Tue, 09 Mar 1999 20:29:41 -0800
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Motor Hunts
Well, I haven't been to stores to find motors myself, but from what I've heard
it's a better strategy to go in and ask for any old *broken* pagers, walkmans,
whatever, that you could have for free or just a little money, instead of asking
for new components to buy. There's a difference for the storekeeper between
selling new components that he can put to use or giving away crap that is broken
and has no use to him and which he'd just have to throw away otherwise.
Good luck with your hunt.
TurtleTek@aol.com wrote:
> Greetings List,
> I write to you today to tell you of my unfruitfull attempts at finding a
> cheap, local motor source.
>
> I found a pager shop that serviced and repaired the pagers they sold so I
> thought "great place for pager motors!". So, I showed up there after school
> the next day. I waited around until I found someone that looked not-busy
> (didn't take too long). I asked her if they had any motors for pagers they
> could sell to me, separate from a pager. She asked me why and I told her "to
> build small robots", I didn't think she was too interested so I simplified it.
> She when into the "back room" and after a while she returned with a brand-new
> motor in hand. She said "like this?", I said "Yeah, that's great. How much for
> one?", she said that the manager said that it would be *$12*. Arg, I didn't
> like that price and was going to ask if they sold old ones but I had no time,
> I had to leave right THEN, late for a turtle vet appointment.
>
> So, that motor hunt was not too good. I intend to visit by there again in a
> few days. Any suggestions for getting a lower price there? How do you guys get
> them for free?
>
> Ok, I had bought 2 old tape players for a total of $2 last summer in a garage
> sale. I took one of them apart and found it had a pretty good motor. But the
> other tape player is larger and has the warning: "To prevent electric shock,
> do not remove cover. No user-serviceable parts inside." and "Shock hazard, do
> not open"
> Hmmm...to open or not to open. It may have a good motor but I might hurt
> myself. Thoughts?
>
> -TurtleTek
> A haiku a wrote while half-asleep. 8)
>
> "Brawny for big mess"
> "Brawny make good towelette"
> "Brawny I do love"
--
* James Niemasik
* jfn@best.com
* James' BEAM Robotics Page:
* http://welcome.to/jamesbeam
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