I have a huge pattern box full of the wooden ones I have saved all these years of quilting and sewing. Many children have played with those spools. LOL! I used them in the past to do some wooden toys and furniture legs, and dowel ends. If you cut the ends off, it is a great wheel for a pull toy. I also have used them for weights when I used to braid. But, for now, they are there for my niece who stacks them up and rolls a ball to knock them down, like bowling pins. :D

Thanks for all the ideas! I think for now I'm going to save them for a Guide/Scout group or a Kindergarten. I just need to organize my sewing closet better so I have a bag or box to collect them in.

This is what we used to do with the wooden ones when we were kids:
http://users.bigpond.net.au/mechtoys/tank.html

Jan

Omak, my vet uses the med bottles for meds for her clints-our beloved pets. I started collecting mine and drop them off wheni,m either going there or have a stack. also some of them are recyclable (if that is available where you are)

sorry about all the typos

I'm afraid I'd be the one stepping on them and taking a dive.

yep, I used to toss them on the floor for the cat, until I stepped on one, now if he gets one it's tied to something just above the floor. I save the ones from the small cones to use as handles for stamps or stamp handles for homemade stamps to use when painting on fabric.

My 2 year old loves them. She puts everything in bags and carries it around these days. There's always a "pocketbook" on her arm. She loves going through it and it keeps her occupied.

Well, by golly! If those med bottles would save my good veterinarian money, I will just do that! Thanks for letting me know about this fine option!

I would probably toss them in the recycling bin.

Most recycling takes more chemicals and energy than it took to produce the first product.
The exception, so far as I have seen, is aluminum ... I will ALWAYS seek to recycle aluminum ... but the other items are better used up and worn out than recycled.