Results 1 to 10 of 10

Newbie

| Introduce yourself
  1. #1
    Jiovanni started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2021
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post

    Newbie

    Hi everyone. I'm Jiovanni. I live in Massachusetts and I'm about to be 18 soon. I've seen people doing scrapping for a while now and I figured since it's COVID, why not pick up a little gig and make some money. I have buckets, a knowledge of the metals, a magnet, a good sized vehicle. Anyone got any tips? Any sorts of things that are just a complete waste of time? I can't really do huge appliances but I'm sure there are other things to make money on. Any help is greatly appreciated! I'm totally new to this so I apologize if I sound uneducated about this! I'm not looking to make this a full time career, I just figure it's a great way to help the environment and make a little extra money on the side! Thanks!
    Last edited by Jiovanni; 01-30-2021 at 07:12 PM.

  2. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by Jiovanni:



  3. #2
    t00nces2's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    1,700
    Thanks
    1,191
    Thanked 2,344 Times in 961 Posts
    Welcome and good luck. Scrapping is mostly about what works for you. I have a 6x12 utility trailer I use to haul the booty to the yard. While I will do some steel, it really doesn't pay all that well and takes up a lot of room. Most of the steel I turn in, I pick up pretty close to the time I am going to take a run of non ferrous in. I like brass. It is mostly what I pick up and turn in. I do copper and motors and Al and pot and anything else, but brass is my bread and butter. I get it from the handyman work I do (sink faucets and fixtures and other items repaired), but most of the brass I get I get from yard sales...



    I picked that up for 25 cents and it probably weighs 10 pounds. You just have to look around and find what works for you. Find your stream of scrap

    Good luck

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to t00nces2 for This Post:


  5. #3
    Jiovanni started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2021
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post
    Thank you for that! I look around and I see people who are just loaded up with trucks mile high and I think I would not want to do that. It's good to know what metals are a waste of time unless you happen to spot them before a run. Most of your metal, do you just grab it from your handyman work or do you have an ad on Facebook or another site?

  6. #4
    t00nces2's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    1,700
    Thanks
    1,191
    Thanked 2,344 Times in 961 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Jiovanni View Post
    Thank you for that! I look around and I see people who are just loaded up with trucks mile high and I think I would not want to do that. It's good to know what metals are a waste of time unless you happen to spot them before a run. Most of your metal, do you just grab it from your handyman work or do you have an ad on Facebook or another site?
    There is a thread I started called garage sales boo ya. In there you can see where and how I (as well as others) pick up things to scrap and flip. I get way more from buying things at garage sales. Again, it is what works for you. What do you enjoy doing and how can you use that to find products. I love to hunt garage sales and would do it even if I didn't find scrap... But I do.
    Last edited by t00nces2; 01-30-2021 at 08:49 PM.

  7. #5
    SMF Badges of Honor




    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    ks
    Posts
    2,187
    Thanks
    2,513
    Thanked 2,140 Times in 898 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Jiovanni View Post
    Hi everyone. I'm Jiovanni. I live in Massachusetts and I'm about to be 18 soon. I've seen people doing scrapping for a while now and I figured since it's COVID, why not pick up a little gig and make some money. I have buckets, a knowledge of the metals, a magnet, a good sized vehicle. Anyone got any tips? Any sorts of things that are just a complete waste of time? I can't really do huge appliances but I'm sure there are other things to make money on. Any help is greatly appreciated! I'm totally new to this so I apologize if I sound uneducated about this! I'm not looking to make this a full time career, I just figure it's a great way to help the environment and make a little extra money on the side! Thanks!
    We're all on here because of paper chasing. Many different types of scrap and ppl who scrap. I mainly stick to cars and the scrap my own activities generate, but again to each their own. I will say it does get easier, I use to have to search high and low for scrap, now it kinda finds me, also having a reputation and being well known for being "the scrap guy" helps too.

    Alvord iron and salvage
    3rd generation scrapper and dam proud of it

  8. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by taterjuice:


  9. #6
    Jiovanni started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2021
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post
    Thank you for that. I unfortunately lack the ability to scrap cars but I know the right cars can be great money makers. I tried some listings on Craigslist and a few other places and I can't tell you how many responses I've gotten. I honestly thought I would have to scour Craigslist or some other site, praying there would be a bucket of scrap. Now, I've been offered everything from water tanks to treadmills. Anything you've come across in your scrapping that you think is just absolutely a total waste of time to take apart? I heard treadmills are complete junk, mostly plastic.

  10. #7
    jimicrk's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    2,826
    Thanks
    2,917
    Thanked 4,838 Times in 1,877 Posts
    I would get familiar with all of your local scrap yards and see what items they don't take.

    My yard no longer takes microwaves and printers.

  11. #8
    greytruck's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Thornton, Illinois
    Posts
    1,876
    Thanks
    1,642
    Thanked 1,736 Times in 896 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Jiovanni View Post
    I heard treadmills are complete junk, mostly plastic.
    Treadmills aint bad.... yes they have some plastic but its just that they have a 30 lb piece of wood on them to dispose of. But they have some #2 wire and a motor. Some do, but not all have small transformers that split pretty easy to get the copper out. Also here is a board in the controll pannel if your into ewaste, some may have a bit of gold plating on them, others are just mid grade green boards if im correct.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to greytruck for This Post:


  13. #9
    kss's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    May 2019
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    839
    Thanks
    465
    Thanked 715 Times in 403 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Jiovanni View Post
    Thank you for that. I unfortunately lack the ability to scrap cars but I know the right cars can be great money makers. I tried some listings on Craigslist and a few other places and I can't tell you how many responses I've gotten. I honestly thought I would have to scour Craigslist or some other site, praying there would be a bucket of scrap. Now, I've been offered everything from water tanks to treadmills. Anything you've come across in your scrapping that you think is just absolutely a total waste of time to take apart? I heard treadmills are complete junk, mostly plastic.

    I love treadmills. Some of the motor control boards from them sell for $75/each on ebay and the rest just goes as light iron scrap (chop the cord too). I take every treadmill I see

  14. #10
    Jiovanni started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2021
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post
    I really appreciate all the help. I've been trying to find people in my area who have stuff to take. I was hoping some electrician somewhere or whoever would have a bunch of this stuff. Anyone have luck at construction sites? I know it's hard to get stuff from them but some people hit the motherload there. I may be making a trip next week. Anyone have luck with appliances. I was offered a microwave and a toaster, wondering if it's worth it to grab them or not.


  15. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Newbie here
      By MikeMDE in forum Introduce yourself
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 10-08-2013, 08:34 AM
    2. Newbie
      By Marcoloco in forum Introduce yourself
      Replies: 4
      Last Post: 08-28-2013, 07:50 PM
    3. Hi All - Newbie
      By davistre in forum Introduce yourself
      Replies: 4
      Last Post: 08-17-2013, 07:25 PM
    4. Newbie
      By boiebakal in forum Introduce yourself
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 07-04-2013, 04:41 PM
    5. newbie here
      By mascraps in forum Introduce yourself
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 06-06-2012, 12:50 AM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook