When our satellite "dish" was taken down and replaced with a much smaller one,I (being the scrounger that I am) ask if I could have it and they were thrilled not to have to haul it to the dump. I cleaned it, pulled the logo tape off it and had my husband mount it to a short 6"x6" post using the bolts that were already in the dish. We dug a hole and put the post in so that the "dish" is eight inch off the ground. I placed river rocks in the bottom (so the water is very shallow) and filled it with water! Now I have a great birdbath that can't be turned over and the bird stay in it all day long!! When I get my chicken lot finished I am going to put two in there one with gravel and water, the other with sand for them to take dust baths in!!Does anyone else have a good recycling tips on these dishes!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), August 09, 2000

Answers

Got pesky neighbors? Aim two or three of them right at their various houses and pretend to monitor "incoming data" with a set of headphones stuck into a hole on the base somewhere. Smirk and giggle a lot. On a serious note, I suppose the really big ones could be turned over and used to kill off grass in perfect circles to delineate and prepare flower beds. Just set them over and let them go for a few months. You could also adapt the birdbath idea by putting a pump underneath and setting it flush with the ground for a water feature. A decorative coat of non-toxic paint would add to the effect, as would plantings and maybe even minnow sized fish and snails. How heavy are they? Could they be used to roof a gazebo?

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), August 10, 2000.

Wait for the next winter snow storm. Drag the dish up a great big hill. Put the whole family and a dog in the dish; and TAKE THE RIDE OF YOUR LIVES!

-- brian reeves (jbreeves@plateautel.net), August 10, 2000.

Wouldn't have beleived it but last deer season went to visit my husband's cousin and you wouldn't beleive what the roof of his deer stand was made of. You got it!!!! His old satellite dish.

-- sallyp (sally@cvalley.net), August 10, 2000.

There is someone near here who built emu cages from the fiberglas dishes. They have a gazebo made of one, also, they are all painted to match the house, and it looks very nice.

-- Teresa (otgonz@bellsouth.net), August 11, 2000.

Deb! Dependin on what the dish is made out of. Some were fiberglas while some were aluminum. Still others [not very many] were made from plastic and even steel. You cannot burn the burnable ones--EPA has something to say about that. Aluminum and steel can be recycled but those nasty fiberglas and plastic are just almost worthless. Soni! You don't know how right you are!!! By installing a mike in the center of the dish or better yet, at the focal point of the Feed-you can actually use it as a "big ear" and hear noises from a long way off. Using a high gain amplifier and mike you'll hear things you probably don't wanna hear! LOL Focal point was where the feedhorn/LNA or LNB was located. On some it was aroung 20" on a 10 ft. fiberglas dish. BTW-I still have some 'brand new' glas dishes in the fencerow--from about 10 years ago. Anybody want one or all? FREE! You have to come pick'm up tho! Another use is for a directional beam for ham radio. Moonbounce? Yeppie-it works there too. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), August 11, 2000.

Hey Hoot, thanks for the tip! I got a hubby who just loves to play secret agent. (I think he just has too much time on his hands, but that's a whole 'nother discussion!) I'll pass this on to him and he should be like a kid with a new (recycled) toy!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), August 11, 2000.

We have been looking for one to make a super sized solar cooker out of. I saw one that was covered with heavy aluminum foil (contact cemented in place) with a kettle holder at the focal point. I was told that it could start a newspaper on fire in seconds in full sun, so I figure it would be worth experimenting with. If only I could find a junked satellite dish.

Jim (In Western Wis)

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), August 15, 2000.

You can make a nice chicken shelter out of one. Creates a nice shaded area.

-- gary (gws@redbird.net), August 16, 2000.

Jim:

DirectTV has taken over Prime Star and is replacing their plastic dishes (about 40" diameter) with their own (about 18" diameter). I drove by the place which has the contract for changeover for this area. They had a large stack in their parking lot. I'm sure they would gladly let anyone have any thing wanted. Ask around who has the contract.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 16, 2000.