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The aluminum that got away

| A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
  1. #1
    DrewinGA started this thread.
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    The aluminum that got away

    Since where I live in Middle Georgia is not exactly a booming metropolis, when something out of the humdrum ordinary happens it's a big deal. I work part-time at an upscale (for this area anyway) restaurant right off the interstate.

    Rewind to a little more than two months ago. We had some excitement at work when a little old lady accidentally shifted her fairly new Explorer into forward instead of reverse in the handicapped spot right outside our plate glass windows on the interstate side. Shattered glass, twisted frames everywhere and a bumper where the windowsills were just a minute before. No one was hurt, good thing no one was sitting in that corner or the story would include the word "medevac." So, we patch it up via Home Depot and wait for repairs.

    Since everything through the corporate office usually takes six times longer than forever, we didn't find out until the glass guys showed up that all four panes were being replaced. Overkill, since only two got broken on impact and the rest weren't bent that bad, but whatever. So all that thick aluminum framing for double insulated plate glass is piling up nicely in the parking lot when I offer to help them out with its removal, and they say "No, we already have to take it all back to the shop with us." In other words, we scrap our own stuff. Can't say as I blame them, but it bugged me seeing all that cash sitting there.

    I did get one bit out of it, the thick steel post for the handicapped sign that bought the farm that day. About 7 feet and a lot heavier than it looked.



    And karma being what it is, more people at work now know about my scrapping. I've gotten car parts, satellite dishes and a few appliances from work contacts, and just got offered another TV and going to see about a small shed that needs taking down. And I don't even have flyers made up yet. Maybe more aluminum can wait.

    Not bad for a sleepy little town right off the interstate.

    Thanks for reading, -Drew

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    ggariepy's Avatar
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    Some drunk knocked down the street sign on the corner in front of my house. I called the city and they asked me to grab it for them until they could get there because it's an easy target for theft. You aren't kidding, that sign post material is heavy stuff! I would not be surprised if that 7 foot section of steel weighed better than 50lbs. I had to drag it, not carry it, it was so unwieldy, and I'm not a skinny pencil-neck sort, either.

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    BarrenRealms007's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ggariepy View Post
    Some drunk knocked down the street sign on the corner in front of my house. I called the city and they asked me to grab it for them until they could get there because it's an easy target for theft. You aren't kidding, that sign post material is heavy stuff! I would not be surprised if that 7 foot section of steel weighed better than 50lbs. I had to drag it, not carry it, it was so unwieldy, and I'm not a skinny pencil-neck sort, either.
    A skinny pencil neck short such as my 5'3" 110lb self would have thrown it on my shoulder and carried it. Don't discount little people.
    We buy electronic scrap, Gold Karat scrap, gold filled, refined gold, silver and many other item's.

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    You're making my 5'10" 225 pound self feel like a monster... Also, was the handicapped sign private property or owned by the state?

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    DrewinGA started this thread.
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    The sign itself is company property, just had to unbolt it from the post. Post wouldn't fit in the car I take to work, so I put it (by myself, 5' 10" 150#) in the back of the boss's Dakota. He even said I could borrow it for a run to the yard if I want. So between that and the hot waitresses (I married one of them she's 24 I'm 44) it's not a bad job.

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    Wow 22/44 ? I like the age difference , almost 1/2
    I will have to keep Georgia on My mind , I would need one around 36/38 LOL
    Bandit
    Ps.
    Ruby's ?

  8. #7
    DrewinGA started this thread.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bandit View Post
    Wow 22/44 ? I like the age difference , almost 1/2
    I will have to keep Georgia on My mind , I would need one around 36/38 LOL
    Bandit
    Ps.
    Ruby's ?
    She's actually 24 and still a keeper. Yes, Rubys, good call, sir. Just scrapped one of our small SS sinks, about $14 extra bucks not including copper that came off. 304 is .45/lb here now. And about to get our heaviest microwave that just fried itself, about 35 pounds mostly SS. Also waiting on some old vaccums from the hotel behind the restaurant.


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