Awesome Upcycled

Whether you smoke or not, you’ll appreciate the skill it took to create this lighter that’s the size of a cigarette. Random Hands shows how they started with a rusty bolt, removed its threads, and drilled its center to hold lighter fluid. A double-hinge mechanism allows it to open and exposes its spark wheel and wick. The craftsmanship on display here is stellar.

Do you or a friend play guitar? What do you do with your broken strings? Stop tossing them in the trash, and wrap them around your desktop mummy instead! Fret12’s String Thing lets you DIY mummy with spent and broken strings. The 8.75″ plastic figure has 139 pre-drilled holes that can fit a variety of string gauges.

Flipside Hats has a fantastic collection of limited-edition ball caps handmade from upcycled materials. This six-panel hat features a one-of-a-kind crown and brim made from a brocade decorated with pool balls. Makes a great gift for any pool player. If you miss out on this one, check out their other limited-edition ball caps.

Arcade cabinets are usually made from plywood or particle board. For his entry into DainerMade’s Pallet Challenge, Wooden It Be Grand decided to make an arcade machine. He built its panels by gluing the wood planks side by side, then planed and sanded them even. It’s one of the coolest arcade machines we’ve seen.

ImpactRack takes those old streetcorner newspaper vending machines, removes the coinboxes, and makes them look as good as new. The boxes can be used for storage, a sidewalk library, or for vinyl storage and a turntable stand. They’re available with classic newspaper logos or can be custom painted.

Artist Bobby Duke has been known to make little things out of other things. This time out, he took a big rusty bolt and worked away at it until it turned into the head of a miniature hammer. He got the wood from the handle of a full-size hammer for added realism.

This unique modular shelving system features boards made entirely from recycled chopsticks. The sustainably-made shelves come in three widths and attach securely to metal wall frames to provide height flexibility. Mix and match components to make exactly the shelving unit you want.

Converse offers its popular Chuck Taylor Hi and Ox sneakers in a rough-hewn bone canvas that looks like it’s been turned inside out. They’re made using a cotton canvas upper taken from undyed factory scraps, along with a recycled, speckled rubber outsole. Low rise version here. Limited stock available from asphaltgold.