I work at a newspaper office and generally we dont use the last 50-300 feet of a newsprint roll. This is then sold to the public for little to nothing. It is usually 24-36" wide so it can be used for damn near anything. Just wanted to p*** along this tip, as it has worked good for me.
My father was in the newsprint business for 25+ years. We always had rolls of the stuff around. Drawing paper, masking paper, hillbilly tablecloth, it's handy to have around. Talk to the pressmen or the guys on the loading dock. Probably get a roll for free or a 6 pack.
I used to work at our local newspaper. We GAVE the stuff away. Usually they want to get rid of it so it's not in their way. Just go to your local paper and ask anyone there.
Don't mean to to hijack. I am constantly quoting plan sets for builders and contractors. The plan sets are done on heavy white lint free paper. I take home the plan sets we no longer need. I use it to mask windows cut out shapes etc. Also works well (wet it with a spray bottle) to hang off of nearby items to knock down grinder dust and cast off. If you know anyone in the trades have them pick you up some expired plan sets. I have drenched these things in paint and thinner without bleed through. It saves bucks when working and that is reason enough. On the flip side, the plan shops also have hell for stout cardboard tubes for shipping trim or other easily bendable thin items, 4in hole I think.
i worked in a sign shop for years and it's amazing what we threw away. 4x4 post s****s, random substrate(pvc, corex, aluminum sheet s****s and vinyl), empty 1-shot cans(with a little in the bottom) & old signs/banners are always handy in the garage. uses range from making templates, trim pieces, par***ions and anythings possible with the post s****s. our dumpster was prime for the picking and think my boss would part with a lot if you asked nice or slipped him a bit of cash. $5-10 would get you a ton. i was always walking away with useful stuff.
I work in a commercial print shop, with buddies working in local newspapers. All you have to do is ask, almost all our "garbage" is paper of varying degrees of quality. Nice to see some one use the stuff. If you do make it to a pressroom, ask if they have any old press blankets. Rubber coated layers of fabric, very useful in the garage.
i currently work in a newspaper pressroom. the press blankets are very useful in a garage but i don't have any in my garage LOL my paper no longer sells the end rolls but they will direct you to some place that will. they have security pretty tight so i can't get anything out, but there is nothing there worth losing even a hated job for. later jim
Damn, I work in an architecture office, never thought about using our old drawings for masking stuff off...great idea as I will be masking a big car soon!
My brother-in-law works for a company that makes cardboard boxes. When they get near the end of a huge roll of cardboard, they throw what's left on the roll into a recycling heap. They have tons of near empty rolls heaped up there. He got me the end of a roll of white cardboard like they make cereal boxes out of. It's about 8 feet wide and there's still about 50 feet of cardboard on the roll. So now I have a lifetime supply of cardboard that's good for cutting templates out of. It's white on one side and gray on the other, and easy to cut with scissors, but stiff enough to hold it's shape however you bend it.
I have a sewing plant. We use quite a bit of craft paper as well as plotter paper and tissue. I buy it in various widths from 30" to 72". We always have short ends and canceled markers (patterns) on hand. We also generate literally tons of rags each week I have to pay to have hauled away. Paint won't penetrate plotter paper so it works great for masking. I even covered the floor with plotter paper as its white and reflects more light than plain concrete.
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