saabsw - My yard has a few grades of steel, there's the very low price light steel, shred or "tin". This is by far the easiest scrap to come by (IMO). The draw back is it does take space and I personally won't even think about taking it in unless I have more than 1/2 ton (prefer 1 ton or more to get the ton price). I like to take any light steel, that is "box" like and stuff more light steel into it. Use your old micro wave ovens and computer towers, after you break them down for the smaller light steel scrap. drawers from old file cabinets are also good small steel "boxes" for storage and transport. I like old steel cabinets, gutted large appliances for my larger light steel for storage and transport as well. This will compartmentalize and organize the bulky light steel. Even if you have to take a small "box" of light steel (two or three), this is easy way to take maybe 100+ pounds to the yard. Will only get you $3 or $4 (gas for transporting your more valuable scrap). Your already working with steel, you should get something for your hard work! If you can't do this now, start thinking about how to process for the day you can. Like others have said try to find someone to trade, barter or pay you something for the steel. At the very least put it beside your apartment dumpster (neatly), trust me a great-full scraper will thank you and I'm sure it will only be there for a couple of hours.
There are better paying grades of steel as well. My favorite is heavy prepped steel (1/4" thick or better and less than 3' wide and 4' long). The sizes don't have to be precise cuts, as they just need to fit in the yards steel bin 5' x 6' x 6'. I put all of my scrap steel hardware (nuts, bolts, washers, pins etc.) in this grade. This grade should pay you $.08 to $.10 per pound or $200+ per ton (easy or look for another yard).
A serious scraper should be working with steel, it really starts to add to the bottom line when you do.
Bookmarks