Scrap was not my day job But close enough

I had taken a break from home painting work over the years , But in the end it is My Day Job & once more been painting last 3 years
during some of my hiatus , I did scrap metal circa 2010 onward (also worked in a trash company )
They were REAL loads , the envy of a packed rickshaw.
I packed countless loads like - the game Barrel of monkeys - I hunted , No TV was left on the curb
all vacuums at the curb taken , No dumpster not checked . destroying my Auto was par for the situation , busted windows . grime
beyond cleaning mattered not . The day to day EARNING was all that I wanted . This life quest was not for just $20
I had days of $500 $600 plus & many basic $150 , day in day out ( i did it ) I proved to myself it was profitable . I have to this day inventory
for a life time . As long as I can lift I will scrap . But now that I rely on my Day Job ( painting) scrapping is more pleasurable , I pass by water heaters washers and other bulkier items .
I develop loads that don't destroy my daily driver . I sell the dense higher value metal items that can be put in containers .
Short steel is self explanatory . I know metal, what a gift .
Long Live the scrap industry, as long as I can it will be in my life in some compacity maybe retirement income .

Long Live the health to scrap Amen

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Start charging small service fee to pick up individual items from residential customers....most people realize that hauling scrap is not free.....pick and choose what you do for free (of course if company has 100 laptops to give you just do it and don't quibble about small taters)....has worked for me and weeded out those potentially problem customers

Yeah i use to take everything and leave nothing for the other guys.... but as time passed i didnt have time to deal with all that half garbage scrap and started getting "Customers" that call me.... not residential, but business's ive met on my daily rounds....

First i started just cutting cords off tvs, vacs, fax machines, printers, coffee makers and leaving them behind..... Then i started skipping things like snow blowers, seed spreaders, weed wackers, strollers, wheel barrows, ect. Then i started skipping some bulky items that are load restricting like full size refigerators, smoker grills, 10lb shelfing units, lawn mowers, Riding lawn mowers, bikes, patio furniture (alum chairs and tables). It seemed when ever i got a bulky item then i would find something good and have no room. I would have to race home, drop it off and race back to get it..... I didnt like doing that.

Then i started getting into the dumpsters cause thats were the goods are at. Fast forward to now, i dont even have to really do the dumpsters anymore. the shop guys call me when they have stuff cause ive been going there everyday for ever. I know these people by name, ive even been to some of their houses. I even met the owner of the plumbing co.s mother in-law LOL..... And now the price's are up and others are showing up making a mess and stealing stuff. So they just give me a call. Like the other day, The owner of the hvac shop gave me 2 furnaces, a air cleaner, sealed unit from roof top, and 2 fan motors from central ac units. Score!!! done for the day and its not even noon. The curb co guys havnt even been out yet. Its all about adapting and changing. The curb is fun and all but thats where every body scraps at. but picking up from business's is where the real money is at. i like the 3-4-$500 a week better than a week of curb shred for mabey $70 and all that driving around.

Oh and scrapping is my day job lolol

The learning curve is steep when first starting out and I think most adjust in time. Some considerations in addition to those already mentioned include the education on how things work, the value of entertainment in breaking things, and the networking one creates. An example of the last element is that I still haul water heaters because a heating and cooling company provides air conditioners as well. I also pick up stoves, washers, refrigerators, etc. because locals dump them at the business instead of paying the dump fee.

This arrangement alone has led to dismantling a waste water plant and a dog food plant for the city. Yes this is my full time occupation when not playing.

Originally Posted by kss

Doing big jobs like dismantling plants has got to require some serious heavy equipment and some hired help too I'm sure. I thought I would take my scrapping that type of direction (acquire big, expensive, heavy equipment slowly over time and do bigger and bigger jobs as it is acquired). However, going down the route of smaller, but more valuable stuff (computers and computer components) seemed to be a better fit for me.... I still like the IDEA of big machines and doing big heavy jobs, but the cost, risk and actual physical labor that goes into that is not nearly as appealing lol.

There would be a different strategy, if I had to make a living doing this.

To give perspective I am a one man crew except a power plant where I served as a consultant and community water tanks where my son helped. Starting out cleaning out farms with a hobby torch and pickup. Made a trailer out of an old stock trailer and started reinvesting my profits to purchase additional tools and equipment. With one loader, two skid steers, to many attachments, many trailers, several pickups, and lots of patience I have tackled many projects. Since all profits went into new tools and equipment, a profit has only been shown a couple of years. For the record I have never taken out a loan for anything except student loans and mortgages.

It is honest to say I scrap for entertainment, exercise, and the challenge more than the money. Being retired, hunting, fishing, horses, and projects take up most of my time. I take the entire summer off (because my wife is a teacher) and only work when the mood suits me. My strategy and projects have been documented on this site. It is not the lifestyle for everyone, but it works for me.

Old school here. As my late father in law would say, "for free take it" lol