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It pays to ask questions

| A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
  1. #1
    starbits started this thread.
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    It pays to ask questions

    Last Friday I was previewing an auction and noticed a bunch of chemicals and powdered metals with no lot numbers. Powdered metals sell for $10 per pound and up on ebay so I asked about the powdered metals. Auction rep said they weren't allowed to auction the chemicals and a company rep standing there said if there was anything there I wanted I could have it for free. Ah o-k-a-y? Free? Yep! They were going to have to pay to dispose of everything so anything I took saved them money.

    When I started boxing up the powdered metals it went from "Who said you could take that?" to "There is a drum with 50 pounds of powdered copper in the hall, do you want that too?". When I took a can with about a pound of powdered magnesium they asked "You will take powdered magnesium?" Sure I said. "Follow me." Outside to a locked building where there was a 55 gallon drum, 300 lbs net weight, of powdered magnesium. That is a lot of magnesium. Only thing I could think of to use that much is to slip it into the bonfire at burning man . Told them I would let them know in a couple days, time to ask more questions.

    Will the scrap yards take powdered magnesium? No and hell no!

    Can I sell it on ebay? Maybe, but nobody is. Solid magnesium yes, but no powder.

    Can it be shipped? Yes, but it is DOT 4.1 flammable solid. To ship it you need to register as a hazmat shipper (and pay a fee to register). Plus it ships as hazmat so it won't be cheap. Plus your customer also has to be registered to receive it.

    What is it worth? I found one place selling 2.5kg (5.5 pounds) for $1048. At that value it is a bit over $57k.



    Final answer - I will pass. It is worth a bit, but I see no way to profit from it. If anybody comes to a different answer and can pick it up in Tucson by Thursday (13 Dec 18) I know who to call.

    Starbits
    "Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say, this I am today, that I shall be tomorrow. The wish, however, must be implemented by deeds." Louis L'Amour The Walking Drum

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  3. #2
    hills's Avatar
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    A commercial value of 57 k. is no small amount.

    You might check out US Magnesium LLC

    Maybe you could work a deal where they handle all of the transportation and you pocket a couple of grand ?

    US Magnesium LLC


    Last edited by hills; 12-11-2018 at 07:12 AM. Reason: add to

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  5. #3
    APA's Avatar
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    Call Ace Iron in Kalamazoo, MI, they buy powered metals.
    (269)-342-0183. You want to speak with the owner Robert Lando and tell him Tom Parker told you to call.

    https://www.aceironandmetal.com/about-us.html


    Quote Originally Posted by starbits View Post
    Last Friday I was previewing an auction and noticed a bunch of chemicals and powdered metals with no lot numbers. Powdered metals sell for $10 per pound and up on ebay so I asked about the powdered metals. Auction rep said they weren't allowed to auction the chemicals and a company rep standing there said if there was anything there I wanted I could have it for free. Ah o-k-a-y? Free? Yep! They were going to have to pay to dispose of everything so anything I took saved them money.

    When I started boxing up the powdered metals it went from "Who said you could take that?" to "There is a drum with 50 pounds of powdered copper in the hall, do you want that too?". When I took a can with about a pound of powdered magnesium they asked "You will take powdered magnesium?" Sure I said. "Follow me." Outside to a locked building where there was a 55 gallon drum, 300 lbs net weight, of powdered magnesium. That is a lot of magnesium. Only thing I could think of to use that much is to slip it into the bonfire at burning man . Told them I would let them know in a couple days, time to ask more questions.

    Will the scrap yards take powdered magnesium? No and hell no!

    Can I sell it on ebay? Maybe, but nobody is. Solid magnesium yes, but no powder.

    Can it be shipped? Yes, but it is DOT 4.1 flammable solid. To ship it you need to register as a hazmat shipper (and pay a fee to register). Plus it ships as hazmat so it won't be cheap. Plus your customer also has to be registered to receive it.

    What is it worth? I found one place selling 2.5kg (5.5 pounds) for $1048. At that value it is a bit over $57k.

    Final answer - I will pass. It is worth a bit, but I see no way to profit from it. If anybody comes to a different answer and can pick it up in Tucson by Thursday (13 Dec 18) I know who to call.

    Starbits

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  7. #4
    Pokemonprime's Avatar
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    Sounds like a decent bit of work, but with a value of $57k I think a little work is warranted. Would be a shame to turn it down just cause it'd be a little trouble.

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  9. #5
    DakotaRog's Avatar
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    Wow, who knew!!

  10. #6
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    I am in Tucson. I would love a private message with the details on how to get this stuff.


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