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I just didn't know!
Hello everyone!
For the better part of 20 years, I've done many different trades in the construction industry, I've worked in IT, I've been a backyard auto mechanic, and I even had my home improvement license for a period of time. But in majority of that time, I was ignorant to scrap metal recycling. From time to time I'd exchange a bag of soda cans for a couple of dollars but I didn't know that there was REAL money in scrap metal.. Well I did.. but I thought that I needed to carry it in by the ton in order to get anything for it.
So over the years I've done demolition and renovation work where I let aluminum siding, copper gutters, brass, lead and copper pipes, copper wire etc. get away from me. I had hard times finding places where I could legally dispose of it. in fact I had even PAID some folks to take the scrap away for me only to drive off with a smirk on their face as if I was a fool. :o
About a year ago I picked up a side gig doing low-voltage electrical work. As I was pulling the wire and trimming off the excess, I noticed that the owner of the company was separating the wire from the rest of my trash. When I asked him about it, he said that he was recycling all of the scrap because they were paying over $2 a pound for it. (he had nearly 100 lbs in his bag) That's when I stopped trashing my wire scraps and started saving them on my own jobs.
One day a scrap metal yard opened up 2 miles from my house. I figured that I'd give them a try. I brought my wire, my brake drums, rotors, calipers, and a few other odds and ends... and I walked out with $30 for something that I otherwise would have tried to sneak into someone's dumpster! :D
I started burning my wire because the price was higher without the insulation but as other people said on here, not only does it create cancer-causing toxins in the air, you also lose a significant amount of it. And when I went back to my burn barrel, all I could think to myself was, "Wow! I could have sworn that I had more wire than this!"
So I am glad that I discovered this forum. Since I've been recycling various items, I've always wondered whether I was getting a fair deal and where/who I can go to in order to check out what the market prices are. I can see that I will learn a lot of things about scrap metal and I hope to be able to share some of the things that I learn on my own.
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Hello Ted :) Welcome to SMF!
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This is the one I like to use as a reference on prices; Scrap Metal Prices | Iron Mike Enterprises
But there is also this one; Scrap Metal Prices,Recycling News,Scrap Buyers,Metal Recycling,Scrap Yard,Buy Offer,RG Steel Prices|Scrap Monster
Good luck with your future, you came to the right place. Just take the time to read up, it's like a gold mine here, you just have to mine it.
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Welcome to the forum Ted. We learn from our mistakes or simple ignorance. Im still learning daily. One of my biggest advice I can share is use multiple yards to find the best price. Once you've found the best yard build a relationship with them. Treat them kind and with respect and it will come back to you. And on those big loads, don't be afraid to give em a little tip.... I've found a 5 dollar tip turned my normal $0.42/lb load into a $.60/lb load. Good luck!
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Like the others said...welcome to the forums. As said before this place is a wealth of info. You jiust gotta search it out.
Good luck to you in your ventures look forward to seeing tales of your scrapping glory.
Sirscrapalopt - still playing with new phone
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Thanks for the welcome guys!
When it comes to pricing, I guess I have to learn everyone's terminology being that different yards call the same thing different things. When I went to the yard that I normally visit to sell my insulated wire, the guy gave me less than $1 a lb. Today I went to spot across the street because my regular guy was closed. He was going to give me the same price until he actually came out to my van and saw what I had. He gave me $1.10 instead.
So I've got my work cut out for me but I am definitely in the right place. :)
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Make a list of the "common stuff you see mentioned here, like alum. (cast and old sheet) copper (clean and insulated- #1-#2), stainless, and contact the yards to see who has the best prices on what.
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