Recumbent - homebuilder, bike tinkerer recycled/recovered materials survey

DIY recumbent home builder/mechanics are a resourceful breed. Almost uniformly, our efforts are based on taking an existing bike frame or two and bodging it/them together with parts from other bikes and creating something new. I've seen a lots of exciting projects made from trash day recovered kid's bikes. But I want to know what are the best non-bike parts you have been repurposed for your ride? We will have two categories:
Best non-bike item you bought for use on your ride
Best non-bike bit trash picked or repurposed from within your home or workshop.
Please share your eureka items and comment on posted bits.

http://homebrewhpv.blogspot.com/

I've had my hand at building bents for over 5 years.
You must first use only items that will not fail on you ride at any time---Think of it as person liability insurance. That is parameter #1

#2 overbuild it for durability--don't go cheap as cheap only last so long(soft metals stay away from them---super thin wall tubing as a structrual component). Get the picture.
this is from personal experience.

#3 Using something offlabel does not mean it cannot be done. If you happen to see something at say a Hardware store....use your imagination--Sketch it on paper/cad-cam or whatever else.

#4 Remember "MEASURE TWICE OR MORE THEN CUT THE ITEMS" Discrestion is the better part of building new items.

#5 Look at other websites, magazines , and sources for a diferent perspective. If it doesn't work for someone else let it be or explore why it didn't work.

Happy bent building and/or parts building
Bob

Best non-bike item purchased:
http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?p=464816#poststop
so I know people see me coming. WARNING - this item is not waterproof. You have to seal it in a plastic bag if it's raining.

Best non-bike item recycled:

http://www.davincigourmet.com/for_your_cafe/ These plastic bottles hold 750 ml of water and fit into a standard wire water bottle cage. They have screw-on lids.

Lawn chairs and metal framed gazebos have just the right diameter and thickness of tubing for long tail cargo racks. In addition, the nylon fabric is strong and waterproof enough for recumbent seats. Bed frames and furniture dollies make perfect rails for trailers. Pallets yield enough wood for the flat trailer bed. Steel door hinges can be welded together (at 90 deg angles) for really strong u-joint hitches.

:)ensen.