Dumpster Diving Safety: How to Make a Dive Stick

Dumpster diving is an exciting way to save money for the most die-hard of frugal people. People peruse dumpsters behind stores and in apartment complexes for usable items. Getting the items out of the dumpster is often the tricky part. Since actually diving into a dumpster is never recommended, using a dive stick can get you the prize you want. This article explains how to make an inexpensive dive stick for your dumpster diving exploits.

Dumpster Diving Dive Stick - What and Why?

Dumpsters are deep things, and climbing into them is not only dangerous, it attracts undue attention. Using a long dive stick to poke around in the garbage and pull out things you want is safer and cleaner than using your hands.

The dive stick should be long enough to reach the bottom of the dumpster. It needs to be sturdy and have some sort of hook at the end to snag treasures. However, the dumpster diving dive stick also has to be cheap and easy to replace. If you are confronted by a police man or security guard, the best thing to do is ditch the dive stick in the dumpster. A long piece of wood with a sharp spike on the end can be seen as a weapon.

Dumpster Diving Dive Stick - Materials Needed

To make a proper dumpster diving dive stick, all you need is an old broom or rake handle, some duct tape or other strong tape, and a your choice of hooks or spikes. You can use a strong 1 inch by 1 inch piece of wood as well. You can get fancy and take a trip to the hardware store for a screw-in hook, or you can just use a very large nail and hammer. You will also need a handsaw to complete the dive stick.

Dumpster Diving Dive Stick - Directions to Make

Begin by cutting the wooden handle to the appropriate length. It should be about waist high or a bit higher: tall enough to reach the bottom corners of a standard dumpster. If you are making it with the metal hook, simply screw the hook to one end of the handle.

If you are using the hammer and nail method, angle the nail through the bottom part of the handle so it points out at a forty-five degree angle. Then, use a large pair of pliers to bend the nail up in a V shape. For added security, wrap the end with duct tape.