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different types of steel

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  1. #1
    sweeney started this thread.
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    different types of steel

    Ok so i have a newbie question. I'm having a hard time with sorting my steel. I've searched threw so many older post. I now have a headache from all the reading and things that i have learned and eyes are strained from the computer. Still cant find what I'm looking for.

    I understand what sheet iron is. But what is #1 steel #2 steel prepared/unprepared. and also are there differenet types of iron. I know what cast iron is. or is steel/iron same thing? Kinda embarrased to ask but dont wanna rob myself when i go to the yard.


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  3. #2
    RustyDollars's Avatar
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    Here's a link. I think you'll find it helpful.

    Heavy melting steel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    If it wasn't for the $ in $crap, it would just be.....

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    I haven't got into big motors yet, and don't know about #1 an #2 either, but I do know some about long iron vs short iron, at least in my neck of the woods(this also varies from place to place such as here, short/prepared iron can be 1/8", where in other areas it must be at least 1/4" thickness) Short/prepared iron is anything under 3 feet long and over 1/8" thick (sometimes small variations will slide). Long iron/tin/shred might as well go in the same pile, since it all pays the same price (at least around here)

  6. #4
    HLH&R Metals Recycling's Avatar
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    Sweeney-

    No need to be embarrassed, learning the different grades of steel is almost like learning a new language.

    #1 steel must be at least 1/4" thick, #2 must be at least 1/8" thick. Prepared (or "short iron") simply means that the steel has been cut or sheared to a required length. In North Texas, the generally agreed upon dimensions are 3'x2'. Unprepared (or "long iron") is anything over these dimensions. I-Beams and plate (but not pipe) over 1/4" thick usually can be sold as "Plate and Structural" steel, which is worth more than #1.

    One thing to be aware of is that not all yards purchase ferrous materials from retail customers by that grading system. This is why you usually see tin (shred), long iron, and short iron being discussed on this forum.

    I hope that answers a few of your questions,
    Last edited by HLH&R Metals Recycling; 07-26-2012 at 06:50 PM.
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    The one thing I have always done is ask at the yard - they'll generally tell you what you've got and how to best maximize your payout.

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    Quote Originally Posted by waredu View Post
    The one thing I have always done is ask at the yard - they'll generally tell you what you've got and how to best maximize your payout.
    DITTO Call your yard and ask them.

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    sweeney started this thread.
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    I agree but i ask them a lot of questions as it is. So i figured if i spread my questions around I wont get on as many peoples nerves asking them. Plus i dont know if i excatly trust the guys at my yard yet. Just started taking loads to them. They seem helpful from what i notice. But also when they get busy they dont pay attention to a lot and then i feel bad when i have to bother them for couple minutes to ask. Just dont want to be the annoying guy asking to many questions.

    thank you to those who responded. the info and descriptions really helped me understand it a lot more.
    Quote Originally Posted by nk14zp View Post
    DITTO Call your yard and ask them.

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  12. #8
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    I was at a yard not too long ago and needing to ask a question at weigh time at the non-ferrous scale but they had a can crusher set up right beside the scale, no way you could talk to anybody with that thing crunching cans right beside it

  13. #9
    KeyCityRecycling's Avatar
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    The following link will tell you everything you ever want to know about all the different grades of scrap metal. Including both ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

    http://www.isri.org/imis15_prod/CMDo...7-1b1b0b19ccae



    Basically what you need to know for the different metals you might be delivering to a yard including steel is this.

    There is prepared steel, unprepared steel, carbodies and tin.

    1. For prepared steel there is:

      • No. 1 heavy melting steel, 5 feet x 18 inches.
        Wrought iron and/or steel scrap 1/4 inch and over in thickness. Individual pieces not over 60 x 18 inches (charging box size) prepared in a manner to insure compact charging.

      • No. 2 heavy melting steel, 3 feet x 18 inches.
        Wrought iron and/or steel scrap 1/8 inch and over in thickness., black and galvanized, maximum size 36 x 18 inches. May include automobile scrap, properly prepared; however, to be free of sheet iron or thin gauged material.

    2. Unprepared Steel:

      • Steel that is over length but at least 1/8 in thickness. Such as truck frames, farm machinery, construction equipment, mobile home frames, steel structures.

    3. Carbodies which is pretty self explanatory. (some yards have better pricing on carbodies. Some yards pay the same for carbodies as they do shred)

    4. Sheet iron which is some times called shred or tin.

      • Items which are less than 1/8 in thickness and anything that wouldn't qualify as unprepared steel or prepared steel. Items with attachments such as small quantities of rubber, plastic or wood. (tin duct work, auto body parts, computer carcases, lawn mowers, bicycles, steel siding, appliances, ect) My rule of thumb on gauging if something is not thick enough to be unprepared is if you can bend it by hand it is usually sheet iron.




      For Cast Iron there is:


      • Heavy breakable cast. Cast iron scrap over charging box size or weighing more than 500 pounds.

      • #1 cast iron and clean auto cast.
        Clean heavy cast iron machinery scrap that has been broken under a drop. All pieces must be of cupola size, not over 24 inches x 30 inches, and no piece over 150 pounds in weight. Clean auto blocks, cast iron auto rotors and drum; free of all steel parts except camshafts, valves, valve springs, and studs. Free of nonferrous and non-metallic parts.

      • #2 cast iron or burnt cast iron. Stove parts, grate bars, and miscellaneous burnt iron. May include sash weights or window weights, cast iron sewer pipe, cast iron bathtubs and cast iron sinks.

      • Unstripped motor blocks.
        Automobile or truck motors from which steel and nonferrous fittings may or may not have been removed. Free from driveshafts and all parts of frames.





    There is also Plate and Structural steel which can only be steel plate, I beams, channel ect. that is either unprepared or prepared. Which you likely won't be dealing in anyway. Usually demo contractors only get pricing on P&S because they deal in large quantities when doing a demo job.

    Let me know if you have any other questions.
    Last edited by KeyCityRecycling; 07-26-2012 at 03:36 PM.

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  15. #10
    Russell's Avatar
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    Don't let the terminology intimidate you. It's good to know the differences just for the sake of knowing the differences. My yard only has three categories. Scrap steel, Heavy iron, and a pile for rotors and engine blocks. Take a visit to your yard. It's something you have to do yourself. You will learn quickly.


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