# Tasks Per Item/Item Sources

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783>\
**Category:** The Bunker\
**Created:** [April 12, 2013, 9:55am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783 "2013-04-12T09:55:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Miloch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/miloch/32/1339_2.png) [@Miloch](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Miloch)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:55am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/1 "2013-04-12T09:55:23Z")

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What I want to build here is a list of tasks that items can do that may not be blatantly apparent. The main thing is a lot of people may not be immediately aware of all they can do with their tools. Anything I you post that’s not here I will add to the list.

[Tool Tasks]  
Hammer - [a] to take boards from windows and fences.  
Any Knife - [a] to carve wood into skewers (unused; but can be used as kindling)  
Any Knife - [a] to cut up fabric (you don’t need scissors; same effectiveness as scissors)  
Any Knife - [a] cauterize wound (this was listed in changelog; requires a heat source)  
Bolt Cutters - [a] to cut metal (wire from wire fences and padlocks from gates)  
Crowbar - [a] to open doors and crates (anything else?) [Why not windows? Why not for taking furniture apart?]  
Hacksaws - [a] to cut up most metal items, including bars  
Jackhammers - [a] to break up roads, floors, and walls  
Soldering Iron - [a] to cauterize a wound  
Rubble/Wreckage - [e] while holding a shovel to clear and get some items (based on wreckage type)  
Pits - [e] while holding a 2x4 to cover the pit and be able to walk across. Examine again to remove.  
Sewing kit/bone needle - [a] to make clothes fit and repair/reinforce them

I’ll also add in sources of items:  
If you can think of a good source for items then post it and I’ll add it to the list.

[Item Sources]  
Pilot Light - Disassembling Lighters  
Heating Element - Disassembling Hotplates & Water Purifiers  
Sheet Metal - Deconstructing slides and crafting (Haven’t confirmed; maybe it’s steel plates instead?)  
Leather Patches - Cut up Leather clothing, shoes, fur coats/hats, boots, and furs; skinning Hulks (haven’t seen one in 0.4), frogs, and snakes.  
Rags - Cut up sheets or deconstruct a bed (You only need 1 tile to sleep)  
Sheets + Heavy sticks - Break Windows  
Bandages - First Aid Skill + Alcohol + rags  
Rubber Hose - Disassemble a crossbow  
Steel Bolts - Make crossbow traps with wooden bolts, set out where they will be set off by animals, once set off you’ll have 10 steel bolts.  
Various Strings - String can be made out of thread; 30’ ropes can be disassembled into shorter lengths.  
30’ ropes - Sporting Goods Stores  
Welders + Welding Goggles - Garages are the best source; I’ve found a welder in a barn once I think (anyone confirm?)  
CBMs - Butchering Shocker Zombies or Labs  
High-End Skill Books - Library back shelf, Scientist corpses, and mansions  
Chunks/Pieces of Steel - From clearing rubble/wreckage with a shovel (Do stone shovels work?)  
2x4 + Nails - Deconstruction (requires screwdriver + hammer/nailgun/stone hammer/hatchet; in the deconstruction menu)  
Thread - Loading Sinew & Plant Fiber into a sewing kit and then unloading it; craftable from 6" string  
Chunks/Lumps/Scrap - Steel Compactor can turn metal items into these. Recipes are iffy; Smashing or deconstructing metal furniture.  
Pipes - Smashing refrigerators, lockers, or other metal furniture.  
Large Engines + Military Gear - Military Wrecks (Metal Wreckage)  
Military Weapons - Soldier Corpses; Military Bunkers  
Fresh Meat - Breaking windows in an area you are going to be spending time will tend to cause small animals to die by moving onto the tile. This is a great way to farm food and raise survival skill. (How did I forget to add this? I do this all the time!)

Killing regular zombies nets a lot of simple tools.

Thank you for your additions!

Maybe some of this would make a good wiki page?

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**Author:** ![wad67](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/wad67/32/7_2.png) [@wad67](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/wad67)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 10:11am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/2 "2013-04-12T10:11:44Z")

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I think any of the knives can be used as the same as steak knives.  
Bolt cutters are used to cut open fences.

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**Author:** ![The\_Darkling\_Wolf](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/the_darkling_wolf/32/828_2.png) [@The\_Darkling\_Wolf](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/The_Darkling_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 10:26am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/3 "2013-04-12T10:26:02Z")

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Skewers are currently unused, and knives are exactly as effective at cutting fabric at scissors.  
Boltcutters are used to cut the wire from wire fences, and to cut the padlock on chainlink gates.  
Hacksaws can be used to cut up most any metal objects.  
Jackhammers can be used to break up roads and floors now.

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**Author:** ![KA101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/278dde/32.png) [@KA101](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/KA101)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/4 "2013-04-12T23:04:57Z")

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Jacqueshammer (the French jackhammer) can be used on just about any wall to reduce it to rubble. Hacksaw can cut through Metal Bars, too.

Examine rubble with a shovel and you’ll get prompted to clean it up, getting a few rocks/metal chunks in the bargain.  
If you’ve got a 2x4, examine a Pit for a cover-pit prompt. This lets you have a fairly solid moat.

Sewer Snakes & Giant Frogs can be skinned for Leather Patches. (One reason to go hunting in the Swamps.)

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**Author:** ![Miloch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/miloch/32/1339_2.png) [@Miloch](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Miloch)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/5 "2013-04-13T02:27:56Z")

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Added.

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**Author:** ![kilozombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@kilozombie](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kilozombie)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 7:22am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/6 "2013-04-13T07:22:53Z")

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Cutting up a pelt gives a leather patch.

Which is insanely strange considering a pelt has one volume and a patch has a volume of two… but at least it makes crafting that much easier.

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**Author:** ![Sirian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sirian](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Sirian)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/7 "2013-04-13T11:36:05Z")

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With a Hammer (or stone hammer or hatchet or nailgun) and a Screwdriver, you can deconstruct many things like benches and windows, to get resources. Deconstructing is often a better alternative to smashing, even crates can be deconstructed to get to their contents, so you probably won’t need a crowbar if you have a hammer and screwdriver.

Skewers can be used as kindling.

Leather can (for now) also be obtained by cutting all sorts of shoes and fur hats/coats.

Heating elements can be obtained from disassembling soldering irons (1 for 1).

Thread can be made from sinew (butcher animals) and plant fiber (butcher triffids), if you reload your sewing kit with them and then unload it, it will come out as thread. That’s handy because all sorts of string/rope can be made from thread but not sinew or plant fiber, and thread isn’t renewable otherwise.

Very good skill books can also be found in Mansions.

You could also add  
sewing kit/bone needle : [a] to make clothes fit and repair/reinforce them. (Unless that’s too obvious ?)

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**Author:** ![pingpong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4bbf92/32.png) [@pingpong](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/pingpong)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/8 "2013-04-13T15:28:00Z")

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Thanks for these suggestions… there should probably be more details in the help menu or whatever, even something like “apply everything” or “if you’re not applying something, you’re meleeing with it” (which would have saved some frustration from whacking crates to death).

I almost feel really spoiled by some of these, but it’s like, I was wondering how to get leather patches and stuff, I assumed I needed a higher craft level, not to just apply a knife to the friggin pelts.

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**Author:** ![Benedict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Benedict](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Benedict)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/9 "2013-04-13T17:19:23Z")

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If you find a steel compactor behind a hardware store, you can use it to turn a variety of metal items into chunks/lumps of steel (mostly the smaller one, chunks)

I’ve not yet worked out the “recipes” involved, and there seems to be a degree of randomness to it, but you can 100% reliably turn 1 scrap metal into 1 chunk of steel, and 1 pipe into 1 chunk of steel.

I’ve managed to get lumps out by putting loads of items in all together, but I don’t know what the specifics are. All I know is that when I put in a LOT of scrap metal, I got out a LOT of chunks, and a few lumps.

Also, putting in two scraps still only results in one chunk. There’s no economies of scale in the steel compactor business.

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**Author:** ![Sirian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sirian](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Sirian)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 10:12am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/10 "2013-04-14T10:12:02Z")

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[quote=“Benedict, post:9, topic:783”]If you find a steel compactor behind a hardware store, you can use it to turn a variety of metal items into chunks/lumps of steel (mostly the smaller one, chunks)

I’ve not yet worked out the “recipes” involved, and there seems to be a degree of randomness to it, but you can 100% reliably turn 1 scrap metal into 1 chunk of steel, and 1 pipe into 1 chunk of steel.

I’ve managed to get lumps out by putting loads of items in all together, but I don’t know what the specifics are. All I know is that when I put in a LOT of scrap metal, I got out a LOT of chunks, and a few lumps.

Also, putting in two scraps still only results in one chunk. There’s no economies of scale in the steel compactor business.[/quote]

It seems that you need 10 scraps to make a lump and 3 scraps to make a chunk. But I guess the recycler code is imperfect, because according to that logic you shouldn’t get a chunk from a single scrap. Also, it’s not limited to scraps, it’s just checking if the item is made of steel. I’m guessing that you could therefore turn a lump into a chunk, or even 10 lumps into 1 lump, so that’s a bit weird. Maybe I’m missing something but I think that it could use some rewriting.

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**Author:** ![Benedict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Benedict](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Benedict)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/11 "2013-04-14T15:02:18Z")

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Yep. There’s lots of stuff like turning two lumps into one lump, etc.

Likewise, as you said, you can turn any item made of steel into lumps/chunks. Pipes, for example, and presumably anything else.

If the code gets a rewrite, it’d be cool to make it more consistent. Micromanaging one piece of scrap at a time is very boring 😛

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**Author:** ![Miloch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/miloch/32/1339_2.png) [@Miloch](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Miloch)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 7:27am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/12 "2013-04-22T07:27:37Z")

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Added.

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**Author:** ![Iosyn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/iosyn/32/35_2.png) [@Iosyn](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Iosyn)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/13 "2013-04-22T20:15:43Z")

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to be honest I wouldn’t expect a crowbar to take apart furniture when we have hammers and screwdrivers nearby.

As for crowbars opening windows, I’m with you. Most household windows should be pryable.  
Also goddamn. The steel compactor actually has a use? D:

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**Author:** ![TurningBreeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@TurningBreeze](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/TurningBreeze)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/14 "2013-04-22T23:59:59Z")

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> [@Iosyn](#):
>
> Most household windows should be pryable.

Buh? You mean for you they aren’t…? I pry household windows open with a crowbar all the time… I must not be understanding something here. 😕

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**Author:** ![Miloch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/miloch/32/1339_2.png) [@Miloch](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Miloch)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:24am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/15 "2013-04-23T00:24:04Z")

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Oy! Oy! You get them to open?

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**Author:** ![TurningBreeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@TurningBreeze](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/TurningBreeze)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/16 "2013-04-23T00:42:48Z")

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![](http://i35.tinypic.com/65plrr.png)

Admittedly I’ve smashed the window instead a couple of times, but I’ve always just assumed that I derped and hit the wrong key. 😕

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**Author:** ![Morrigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Morrigi](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Morrigi)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/17 "2013-04-23T00:58:09Z")

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Butchering half worms also nets a small amount of leather.

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**Author:** ![Nopkar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/34f0e0/32.png) [@Nopkar](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Nopkar)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/18 "2013-04-23T05:16:48Z")

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crowbars can pry windows, chance to smash open instead, look out and be mindful.

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**Author:** ![Ferodaktyl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/ferodaktyl/32/56_2.png) [@Ferodaktyl](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Ferodaktyl)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/19 "2013-04-23T05:48:04Z")

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Broken windows are the best source of fresh food - all small animals are fatally attracted to them, piling around them and waiting to be butchered.  
[URL=http://s1050.photobucket.com/user/Ferodaktyl/media/cdda/windowtrap.jpg.html] ![](http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s404/Ferodaktyl/cdda/windowtrap.jpg)[/URL]

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**Author:** ![Endovior](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/endovior/32/3070_2.png) [@Endovior](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Endovior)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 8:16am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783/20 "2013-04-23T08:16:39Z")

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Personally, I tend to prefer pit traps for that purpose… just dig a moat around your base, and fish out corpses whenever you get hungry. After all, you probably don’t want broken-open windows in your base itself, and you probably want your food source close to home.

[Next page](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tasks-per-item-item-sources/783.md?page=2)