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Jeremy from Michigan

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    CanIScrapIt started this thread.
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    Jeremy from Michigan

    Hello, all! My name is Jeremy. I'm from Michigan and I just turned 18. After a frend crashed my car, I have been rebuilding a new one with my old engine. My dad gave me his truck to use until I was done so I thought scrapping metal might be good for money on the side. I have been scrapping for almost a year now. I started by just saving up old car parts off of my car project, then I started getting metal from friends and family. Eventually, I started driving residential areas to pick up trashed scrap metal. More lately, I have been able to find connections through friends, family, and Craigslist to get big jobs. A friend of my dad's let me scrap almost anything that I wanted from a Wendy's that had burnt down and was being demolished. On Craigslist, I was in touch with someone who wanted me to remove about 2-3 tons worth of old steel desks and steel cubicle frames.

    Looking back on my past year of scrapping, I have made a lot of mistakes. In my first month, I passed up multiple fridges because I didn't know scrap yards took them with all of them foam. I've been selling computers as low grade breakage (18 cents/lb) up until about a week ago when I first found this forum and realized they are worth A LOT more. I threw a lot of motors in the shred pile before I know they were worth more (also in the first month). You get the point. Everyone starts somewhere and makes mistakes. I consider myself an experienced scrapper at this point, but there will always be more to learn.

    Anyways, I am happy to be a part of this community and I look forward to meeting new people and learning new things.




    P.S: My name - CanIScrapIt is derived from my catch phrase; I always ask people "Can I scrap it?" even if it is a really expensive item or a nonmetallic item just as a joke.


  2. #2
    Mechanic688's Avatar
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    Welcome Jeremy, what part of Mich are you from, I'm only 40mi. south of the state line. Take the time to read, there is a ton of good info (and some BS) available.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
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    CanIScrapIt started this thread.
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    Thank you. Haha yeah, there will always be BS mixed in with good information...just like there is always going to be BS electrical tape over a TV degaussing cable, or a steal dryer around a stainless drum. :P

    But on a serious note, I have spent several hours reading up and it baffles me as to how much I hadn't yet learned on my own; I am usually a fast learner and pick things up very easily. I plan to spend a lot more time reading, as well.

    I live in the Detroit Metro area. So actually, you aren't all that far from me. I mean, it's a little bit of a road trip but definitely not as much as it could be.

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    Doing a cleanup of a Wendy's sounds almost like heaven. What all did you scrap out of there? Having worked at a Wendy's I am aware of the miles of stainless used in there.

    About 5 years ago two local McDonald's were torn down and rebuilt. Best I could tell nothing was scrapped.

    Oh yeah. Welcome aboard.

  5. #5
    CanIScrapIt started this thread.
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    Thank you!

    It WAS heaven. Well, unfortunately, a lot of the stainless was taken by the guy who hooked me up with this deal as he wanted to refurbish/re-sell it. The copper and brass was mostly removed by another friend of his. As for me? I got random odds and ends: chili heater, potato oven, and entire ceiling grid w/light fixtures, cable, AU door frames, some copper, stainless, computer terminals, AU/CU radiators from an air conditioner unit that fell through the ceiling, as well as a HUGE condenser, and a huge AU drive-thru sign, etc. I ended up with maybe $600 in 2 days, about 20 hours of work. Mostly steel, but a decent amount of stainless and other items. Long story short, I was supposed to go back one more time this past weekend to try to tear apart some massive AC units, and get a few huge stainless counters that my buddy didn't want after all, but after going through all of the trouble to get the keys, I showed up to find that it had been demoed early. :/ Oh well, you win some and lose some.

    Take a lookie: http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...rant-in-taylor

    It's a shame when things like that happen, where a building is torn down with nothing scraped...not just because people like you or me lose out on money, but also because most, if not all, of it will not end up being recycled.


    Thank you for posting!

  6. #6
    CanIScrapIt started this thread.
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    OH and by the way, there was a price to this opportunity...not a monetary price. I almost lost my lunch a few times because the store was still filled with product and you couldn't walk 2 feet without running into hoards of flies, maggots, or rotten food and meat. :s It was still worth it, though. haha
    Last edited by CanIScrapIt; 12-02-2011 at 01:00 AM.

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    Like I was saying, I don't know if anything was scrapped. I stopped across the street on a lunch break and watched for awhile. As they demolished it, debris was loaded into dump trucks. No care seemed to be given as to separating stuff. I suppose it could have been done later, but I really doubt it.

    On a side note, how cool would it have been if I could have scored some playground equipment?

    Niece and nephew would have loved the hamburglar jail, among other things.

    However, I have no doubt that due to liability concerns, McDonald's would much rather it all be tossed into a landfill.

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    Quote Originally Posted by CanIScrapIt View Post
    Thank you!

    Long story short, I was supposed to go back one more time this past weekend to try to tear apart some massive AC units, and get a few huge stainless counters that my buddy didn't want after all, but after going through all of the trouble to get the keys, I showed up to find that it had been demoed early. :/ Oh well, you win some and lose some.
    That's a bummer. On top of the AC units, the walk in cooler and freezer would have a good size compressor, coils etc. Walk in itself is aluminum I believe.

    The wiring alone coming into one of these buildings I imagine would be a nice days pay.

    I lost out on a bunch of copper and stainless awhile back. Contents of a former restaurant went up for auction. Auction house specified that any equipment built into the building was not for sale. I went back later to find a remodeling crew working on it and asked if I could have the remaining equipment.

    "Oh, we tore it all out and hauled it to the dump". Heart coulda stopped about then. Was at least $2,000 in scrap left.

    I really wish I had a way of reaching these people before they do stupid things like this!

  9. #9
    CanIScrapIt started this thread.
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    Dang, that would have been awesome.

    Yeah, I hate liabilities. D:<

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    I think you have one of the better paying yards up your way, CanI, do you ever go there?
    http://www.877ironmike.com/

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  12. #11
    CanIScrapIt started this thread.
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    IdahoScrapper-

    Sorry, didn't see that post. Dang! That's terrible! What morons. And yeah, I was looking forward to those AC units, and I was debating the walk-in, was it worth the 3 month old rotten, discussing smelling meat stacked in there covered with maggots and flies? Yeah, probably. Haha


    Mechanic688-
    Never been there before but I have been looking for a new place. Thank you! You are a life saver. That is actually just as close as my current yard. My current yard sucks, terrible pay, they always try to screw you, and the buy everything in only like...one type of grade. I will give them a try. I have 2 large stainless counters from a few different Wendy's in the area that got new pop machines. I will look into this place.

    Thank you!

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    Welcome to the forums CanIScrapIt....unique and interesting name, and a cool way on how you came up with it.

    I have done a few store clean outs myself as well. Mostly, have come from repeat clients. These are people who get contracted from the corporate offices, or even the regional presidents of the franchises, or corporate owned stores. They will give me a call a few days before everything starts, so they are sure that I can be there. Always a nice pay day...they make enough money most times on the job to not want any of the scrap, and some others times they might take a bit for themselves. Never makes to me, because I always get to make between $500 to $2,000 or more each times.
    George Beale - Founder & President - info@viprecyclingjunkremoval.com
    VIP Recycling Junk Removal LLC - Premier Scrap Metal, Junk, & Electronic Recyclers!
    http://www.viprecyclingjunkremoval.com

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    CanIScrapIt started this thread.
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    AMKris Kringle-
    Yeah, I was wondering about that and I had looked a google earth and found nothing. I am glad someone confirmed it for me. Thank you.


    AMGeorgeB-
    Haha well thank you. I agree.

    Nice. Store clean-outs are a very very good opportunity and I enjoyed my experience very much. I hope to find more very soon.

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    Are the counters still in good condition? I sell a bit of restaurant equipment on the side and make far more than scrap for it.

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    Iron Mike Enterprises, LLC., is pleased to announce Metal Prices USA, LLC./Detroit and it's new location as the the exclusive, licensed Southeast Michigan "Iron Mike Service Center". Metal Prices USA, LLC./Detroit. is located at 12844 Greenfield Rd. Detroit Michigan 48227. Metal Prices USA, LLC./Detroit is located 1/4 mile North of I-96 on Greenfield Rd. in Detroit, Michigan (The former Colonial Brick location). This facility is 5 acres, 100% paved with no mud, ponding of water or flat tire hazards. Ask about thier 1/2 hour in and out guarantee. The FASTEST, CLEANEST, METAL SERVICE CENTER in S.E. MICHIGAN.................You are going to love it!
    I don't know anything about them, only what I read. I know of a small junkyard (real small) that takes a truck/trailer load of cores up to them every so often, he says the prices definitely are worth it. Sorry if it's a wild goose chase.

  17. #16
    CanIScrapIt started this thread.
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    IdahoScrapper-
    Good thought, but they aren't in that great of shape. Also, I have nowhere to store them. :/

    But I'll keep that in mind for when I own my first place.


    Mechanic688-
    OHH okay so that's where the yard is. I will take a look. Thank you!

  18. #17
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    It was listed on the website, the address down below is probably their office, I see it's located in a suite. I have seen one of the semi's running across US 30 headed west towards Chicago before. That's what caught my eye. Up in the quote it says "new location".

  19. #18
    CanIScrapIt started this thread.
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    I still seem to be having trouble locating that.

  20. #19
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    I punched the address into google maps and it gave me this, If I'm reading the website correctly they will come to you for a pickup, you don't have to haul to them. They weigh it on the spot. Kinda like Mick does,

    and this is how it's listed on google maps, "At this address: Iron Mike Scrap Metal Services"
    Here is a review,
    Jeff ‎ - Aug 4, 2011
    I've been using Iron Mikes services for almost a year now. I like how convenient is is to use his system to get paid for my scrap metal. I check the website and confirm what he is paying per scrap metal. At first I called to confirm the price, but I don't need to do that anymore because each pickup paid out what was quoted. What I like about the service is that I don't have to waste a day loading scrap into my truck, driving to a yard and deal with the hassle of a scrap yard. Instead, I just schedule a pick up and they weight it on the spot and pay me right there. I talked to his office on the phone and found out that they have a new scrap yard off of Greenfield at 96 too so if you want to physically drop off your scrap you can do so there too..
    Here is another yard I stumbled across while wandering around the web,, http://www.basic-metals.com/scrap/index.html
    Last edited by Mechanic688; 12-03-2011 at 07:45 PM.

  21. #20
    CanIScrapIt started this thread.
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    Yeah I've seen that, but it's a little too far.

    Thanks for the locations!


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