Well, howdy there! Today, we’re gonna yak about somethin’ called “remnant galvanized iron.” Don’t you go frettin’ if it sounds all fancy-schmancy. It ain’t nothin’ more than some scrap metal, ya see. But this here scrap metal, it’s tougher than a boiled owl, I tell ya.
What in tarnation is galvanized iron, anyhow?
Now, I ain’t no scientist, but from what I gather, this galvanized stuff is just regular iron that’s been dipped in somethin’ to make it strong. Like, you know how you dip a biscuit in gravy? Same kinda idea, I reckon. Only instead of gravy, they use this zinc stuff. Makes it rust-proof, too. Handy for buildin’ things that gotta last, like fences or roofs. Us folks out in the country, we use it for all sorts of things.
- Fences to keep the critters out.
- Roofs to keep the rain off our heads.
- Buckets for haulin’ water and feed.
You find this kinda metal in all sorts of places, ‘specially after a big storm or somethin’. Stuff gets blowed around, ya know? You can find bits and pieces lyin’ around, that’s what we call “remnant.” Folks might throw it away, but not us. We save every little scrap, ’cause ya never know when it might come in handy.
Where can ya find this remnant galvanized iron?
Well, like I said, after a storm is a good time to look. Check around old farms and buildin’s, too. Folks used to use this stuff for everythin’, so you’re bound to find some if you poke around enough. Sometimes, you can even find it at them fancy stores, but they charge an arm and a leg for it. I’d rather just pick it up myself, thank you very much.
If you got some young’uns in the house, get them to go on a scavenger hunt. Tell ’em to keep an eye out for shiny metal bits. Kids these days need to get off their phones and do somethin’ useful, anyways.
What can ya do with it?
Oh, the possibilities are endless! You can use it to patch up fences, make flower pots, or even build a whole dang chicken coop if you got enough of it. I once saw my neighbor build a whole shed out of the stuff he found after a tornado. Looked a little rough around the edges, but it stood up to the weather just fine. He even used some old metal barrels, too. Folks these days, they just go and buy new things, but back in my day, we made do with what we had.
Here’s a few ideas:
1. Make a raised garden bed. Just nail some pieces together to make a frame, and there ya go! Keeps the weeds out and the dirt in. Plus, it looks kinda purdy, too. I saw this fella on the TV doin’ it. He made it look easy enough, even I could probably do it.
2. Fix up a leaky roof. If you got a hole in your roof, just slap a piece of galvanized iron over it. Good as new! Well, maybe not good as new, but it’ll keep the rain out. We had a leak in the henhouse roof last spring, and I used some old metal I found to fix it up. Worked like a charm.
3. Build a bird feeder. Just cut a few pieces and bend them into shape, and you got yourself a fancy bird feeder. The birds will appreciate it, and it’ll add a bit of charm to your yard. My grandbaby loves watchin’ the birds.
4. Reinforce somethin’ that’s breakin’. You know how things just get old and worn out? Well, a bit of this metal can give it a bit more life. Like if a chair leg is wobblin’, you can wrap some metal around it and it’ll hold it steady. My old rocking chair was gettin’ rickety, so I used some metal to fix it up. Now it’s as good as new, well, almost.
Why bother with remnant galvanized iron?
Well, for one thing, it’s cheap. Like I said, you can often find it for free if you just look around. And it’s durable, too. This stuff lasts a long time, so you won’t have to replace it every few years. Plus, it’s kinda fun to find ways to reuse old things. Makes ya feel resourceful, ya know? In these hard times, ya gotta pinch every penny. And besides, it’s good for the environment, too. Instead of throwin’ it away and lettin’ it rust in a landfill, you’re puttin’ it to good use.
So, next time you see a piece of old metal lyin’ around, don’t just kick it aside. Pick it up and see if you can find a use for it. You might be surprised at what you can do with a little bit of remnant galvanized iron.
Now, I gotta go tend to my chickens. Y’all take care now, ya hear?
Tags：galvanized iron, remnant metal, scrap metal, reuse, DIY, building, repair, gardening, durable, cheap, farm, country, resourcefulness.
