Help Us Build the World of HellVault

HellVault is a large, evolving environment where every wall, prop, and scene is designed and built by hand. We rely on creativity, ingenuity, and a steady supply of materials. Many of the things we use are items most people set aside after a project or forget in a garage. We want to give those materials a second life.

Important: please contact us first before bringing anything to the facility. Send clear photos, a short description, and your contact information so we can approve the materials and schedule a drop off. This is a secure site when we are not live, so unscheduled drop offs are not allowed. For substantial collections, we may be able to arrange pickup. If you donate significant items, we will add you to our contributor list so we can notify you about future rewards and special thanks opportunities in the film credits.

Lumber and Flat Materials

We use lumber constantly for walls, platforms, bracing, and scenic builds. We welcome plywood, particle board, OSB, and other flat sheet goods in good condition. Dimensional lumber such as 2×4, 2×3, 2×2, and 1×1 pine is always useful. Please avoid pieces that are badly warped, rotted, or loaded with nails that cannot be removed. Solid, straight boards save build time and improve safety.

Pallets

We repurpose pallets into platforms, storage bases, and scenic surfaces. We are especially looking for newer, clean pallets and plastic pallets that work with a pallet jack. These are ideal for the shop and for mobile staging.

Paint

Set work consumes a lot of paint. Usable latex, acrylic, and oil based paints are welcome, interior or exterior. Quarts, gallons, and five gallon pails are all helpful. Paint must be in good condition and not spoiled or dried. Any color can be put to work for base coats, distressing, and texture passes.

Buckets

Clean buckets are needed for painting and cleaning, and the right bucket can also become a prop. We accept sturdy pails of various sizes. Unique or industrial looking buckets often end up as set dressing.

Trash Cans

We need trash cans across multiple shop zones. Rolling cans are especially helpful. Units that are too rough for shop use may still become props. Interesting shapes and industrial designs are a plus.

Fencing

Metal fencing and chain link are valuable both for real facility needs and for scenes. Older fencing becomes scenic texture. Newer fencing can be used for actual barriers indoors and outside. Some wooden fencing can work as well. Chicken wire is acceptable if it is in usable condition and not a tangled mess.

Vintage Electronics

We are building scenes that call for authentic technology from the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. CRT monitors, old televisions, computers, VCRs, speakers, cables, and wiring add real texture to lab and control room sets. Items do not need to be fully functional. If it has knobs, buttons, or a screen, we can likely use it.

Foam and Styrofoam

Construction foam panels, garage door insulation, and foam board are essential for lightweight scenic builds. We also use clean packing foam and Styrofoam inserts from electronics and appliances. Molded shapes from printers and televisions are especially useful. These parts become control housings, machinery panels, and sci fi lab pieces.

Boxes, Containers, and Crates

We are always looking for matching sets of wooden or durable plastic boxes for storage and set dressing. Industrial crates, shipping crates, and flight cases are ideal, even if they are scuffed or damaged. These serve as both real storage for gear and authentic scenic elements. Old luggage is less helpful unless it looks industrial or lab friendly.

Unique, Technical, and “What Is That?” Items

Some of our best props begin as mystery parts. Old scientific instruments, unusual industrial devices, and unique surplus items often become focal points in scenes. If you look at something and think it seems technical or futuristic, there is a good chance we can use it.

Tools and Workshop Gear

We welcome cordless drills, drill presses, table saws with quality fences, band saws, grinders, buffers, pallet jacks, pneumatic nailers, battery nailers, and painting gear. Even broken tools can donate parts for prop fabrication. Shop efficiency rises when we can equip multiple build stations.

Vacuum Cleaners and Shop Vacs

Vacuum cleaners, old or new, are useful. Working shop vacs help at cutting stations and mobile work areas. Non working vacuums can be stripped for motors, hoses, and housings that become machinery props.

Fasteners

We go through screws, bolts, nails, brads, and anchors at a rapid pace. Quality fasteners enable fast builds with reclaimed materials. Mixed lots are fine. Clearly labeled bins are even better.

Casters and Wheels

Everything on wheels! This means, large props and set pieces as well as benches and work stations. This is a big place and wheels make everything easier. While we purchase new casters and wheels for important props and tools, we can always use older wheels for items that might not need to be moved everyday.

Outdoor Materials

Our plan includes outdoor pathways and work zones. Mulch is ideal for temporary walk routes. Rock, cinder blocks, paver stones, and bagged concrete mix are useful for small landscape features and utility areas. We do not need large broken chunks of concrete.

Rope and Chains

New rope and chain are useful in the shop and for practical rigging. Older rope and chain are valuable as scenic elements. Plastic chain can be aged and painted to read as heavy iron in a dark set.

Plastics and Plexiglass

Clear acrylic, plexiglass sheets, and flat plastic panels help us build containment windows, cryogenic chambers, and lab equipment. Scratched or cloudy sheets still work for many effects.

Seating and Office Furniture

We need clean, comfortable chairs for cast and crew spaces and older office chairs for scenes that feel frozen in time. Desks, workstations, bookshelves, filing cabinets, and side tables help us build out post production and design rooms. Industrial and durable styles are preferred.

Miscellaneous Parts and Greeblies

Small parts with interesting shapes are combined to create detailed surfaces on props and sets. This technique, often called greebling, adds instant complexity. Boxes of plastic or metal bits, fittings, knobs, and brackets are all valuable. We sort them by size and category for fast use during builds.

Tubes and Hoses

Garden hose, vacuum hose, PVC pipe, dryer hose, air hose, and other tubing are repurposed as cabling and conduits. Black hose is ideal. Damaged hose still works for scenic use. Intact hose is also useful for shop work and painting areas.

How to Donate

Email us with photos of your items, a short description, and your contact information. Once approved, we will coordinate a drop off time or discuss pickup for larger donations. Your materials help turn a historic industrial facility into a living cinematic world. Thank you for helping us build HellVault.

You’ll be mazed by what we can create from items some people might consider trash.