Is the profession of a scrapper a one man job?

Hello,

Ive been scrapping for about 6 month. Sometimes I hire other people to break stuff down, help load stuff ect. After doing it for awhile it seems to me that scrapping is a one man job. It is hard to make a buck when hiring others (at least for now, may different when I start to get really big).



When I see a team of two guys scrapping metal (or whatever item) I assume that they are either splitting it 50/50 or its a guy with a truck and brings his friend along because the friend is unemployed. The guy with the truck might pay the other guy's lunch and give him a couple of bucks to say thanks but, he isnt getting full pay.

What do you guys think?

For small operations it works better to only have one boss. Or at least that's been my experience.

I offten thing about bringing on a partner but it's so hard to find somebody that you can trust. So many people have told stories about how they took the time to train someone only for that person to go on by themselves and start scrappen on thiere own. So I'm on my own right now and it's working pritty good.

I peddle for scrap on my own Sunday through friday with my pick up truck. I unload each night into a storage unit or on the side of my house. My partner only hauls the the trailer that brings it to the scrapyard. We use his fuel to go to the yard every two weeks. When he does come across somethings he adds his share. I collect about 90%. On Saturday He helps me load the trailer at the storage unit and my house and unload at the yard. He swings the sledge at the yard to get at motors and such. We split everything 80/20. It takes us 6/7 hrs on Saturday. He makes more per hour however I save a lot of gas and time by not having to shuttle 3 or 4 loads like I used to do with just my pick up and no trailer.

You said your partner swings the sledge at the yard. Is this the yard at your house or the scrap yard? If it's the scrap yard your lucky because no scrap yard by me will anybody brake anything down in thiere yards.

Yes, happyscraper. They do allow it. It saves me a ton of time. I don't have to worry about noise restrictions or most important clean up. I do not over extend my welcome but I do use it to my advantage.

My helper is full time. He gets a flat commission from the gross sale on any cars, parts, or scrap that I am divested of. Keeps him motivated.

^^^He is also my son. I will have to get used to other methods when he flies the coupe.

Our yard lets us drop off roof top units in the yard and strip them there. They know it keeps us coming back because the others won't let us clean them at their yards.
It really make a difference for us. Peel a piece of here and through it in the pile, rather than reloading everything at shop after dismantling.
We're pretty quick though, 2 units in 1 1/2 hours and our units are always recovered. Not like some of the cowboys swinging axes and window rattlers that are never recovered.
Someday all that freon will catch up to them.

Sorry I forgot. We're a husband and wife team. If we have a big job lined up, we'll call our helper. 90% of the time it's Betty and I. Betty isn't affraid of lifting anything.

I have had a few really good partners over the years, they have all been Veterans that society has turned their backs on, I think it is safer all around

Thanks for all the comments,

From what I collected from everyone, for the most part, scrapping is a one man job. I wouldnt count family or a wife as hiring on an extra person. I think that family falls in a different category. Of course this changes when you start to do serious volume and have all of the professional tools and resources. I would say for the most part, most of the people on this site are working on their own with occasional help.

Two heads are better than one just my opinion

Originally Posted by mrsamsonite

Hello,

Ive been scrapping for about 6 month. Sometimes I hire other people to break stuff down, help load stuff ect. After doing it for awhile it seems to me that scrapping is a one man job. It is hard to make a buck when hiring others (at least for now, may different when I start to get really big).

When I see a team of two guys scrapping metal (or whatever item) I assume that they are either splitting it 50/50 or its a guy with a truck and brings his friend along because the friend is unemployed. The guy with the truck might pay the other guy's lunch and give him a couple of bucks to say thanks but, he isnt getting full pay.

What do you guys think?

For now a one man operation......chief cook and bottle washer. Every now and then my sons will help me out a bit either picking up loads, or working in the shop.