Scale? And other general questions.

Hi y'all.

I am fairly new to all this and have saved up a few questions I haven't found answers to:

1. How do most of you guys weigh your stuff? We're just starting out so we have a combination bathroom scale/estimation method that seems a little less than ideal.

2. The current vehicular member of our team is a 1973 Volkswagen Squareback named Athena. She is a fantastic car and a total workhorse, yesterday she hauled a good 400lbs of HMS to the yard, but we really don't want to be testing her limits. That was a steel scaffolding that was taking up tons of room and it had to go. Our intention is to focus on e-scrap and copper for now and rent a truck for the occasional large load. Is this plan feasible? Financially sound?

3. Have y'all had much luck setting up deals with businesses like computer repair shops or other tech firms to get their scraps? What seems to be a good approach? Should I offer them $ right away or see if the "free haul-away" is enough?

That's all I can think of for now, thanks!

~Anna, Voice of Reason
YouThinkItScrap

1. Scales...I use a bathroom scale, a digital scale, an a old timey metal deli scale..lol. They all seem to work, off here an there by 5lbs or so, but I can live with that till I decide to invest in a better one. For now tho, they do the job.

2. I use a mini-van, so can't speak on trucks an all that. I would suggest instead of renting a truck, you guys toss that money into a bucket/account till you can get a truck, van or trailer. Remember you just need something that is reliable to get the job done.. No need to go drop 20k on a brand new truck. I would think renting is just a pain. Money spent, worry over any damage to the rental, etc. I'd rather own my own. You can always get a fancy expensive truck down the road if ya'll so desire. Me I love my mini-van. Others swear by truck an trailer, really depends what your moving. I deal with ewaste an the like, so not much need for the trailer, or truck. I leave that stuff to the car guys.

3. Numerous threads on the computer shop route. You can try swapping out bad parts for good with them, ask them for their old stuff they know is broken, won't sell, etc. I'd offer to buy if the first two options don't work. I get some of my ewaste from a computer shop here an me and him mainly swap, other stuff I get from a guy who owns his own IT company, an I pay him, cause the stuff he gives me works most the time..lol. The rest I get from the general public or like the IT guy but I get what they don't have a use for/can't fix. I don't do resales online, an when I do resell computers it's to local folks. The rest I ship out, or save for being refined.

Lots of threads on all three of these subjects, you just might have to dig into the archives a little, as the info in them is worthwhile.

Hope it helps, an I'm sure other wiser folk then me will chime in, an nudge ya in the right direction.

As always good luck an keep letting us know how its going for you! We do enjoy hearing such tales. Oh an pics..we love pictures!

Sirscrapalot - You hear about the cat who swallowed yarn? It had mittens! - I stole that joke from my wife who found it elsewhere.

Scales - I have several bathroom scales around and carry one under the truck seat. I got an old style doctor scale at a yard sale I keep in the garage. Then for packages and smaller buys I got a Dyno electric that measures pounds to the tenth and an electric ACCUTECK that measures pounds and ounces to the tenth ounce and grams. I just compared the last one to the USPS scale today and it was exact to the ounce. The two electrics were surprisingly cheap from ebay. I played around and got the Accuteck for $3.00 plus $8.75 postage.

I have a 3/4 ton and 18' trailer for metal scrap but I wouldn't recommend starting with that. I usually use a 2000 Buick LeSabre that I kept when the wife got her new car for electronic scrap. But I have gotten a couple deals where I had multiple trips with the truck/trailer (one was a call-center upgrade and a school). I always say to use what you've got to start and upgrade as you go.

I agree with Sirscrapalot.

1. Someone on here had a post about shipping scales on Amazon. Like this one. I just haven't gotten around to ordering one though. My work has one almost identical and as far as I know we haven't had any issues with our shipping providers complaining about our weights being off.

Amazon.com: 330 Lb Digital Shipping Scale WeighMax: Office Products

2. I do own my own truck, but now wish I had a trailer. I don't think I will be happy until I have everything I can think of. LOL

3. Depending on the area you live in, I would look around for places that do a spring and/or fall cleanup. I got a good source of e-waste through a township that had issues getting rid of the stuff on their own. I offered to come and pick up everything after they do their cleanup. They were surprised when I showed up, loaded up, and drove away without them having to pay a dime. After I got my first load from spring cleanup they couldn't wait for me to get there after fall cleanup. I work out of a small 1 stall garage so I can't sit on items very long. Everything has to be broken down as soon as possible. But it pays off. Haven't had any luck with local repair shops or anything like that for computers. There is a pretty big clinic/hospital in my town I would like to get in contact with. Hope that will work once I find the right person. Vistaprint.com has 250 free business cards, just have to pay shipping(around $7) That would be a great way to get your name out there through word of mouth.

I have a few digital scales and a gram scale and a dial scale. the digital scales are good that's the beauty of having a mom that works for weight watchers . the only problem is I get a lot of looks , a 17 year old driving around with a scale in the truck lol. im sure you guys get the idea

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redcrossnj

I have a few digital scales and a gram scale and a dial scale. the digital scales are good that's the beauty of having a mom that works for weight watchers . the only problem is I get a lot of looks , a 17 year old driving around with a scale in the truck lol. im sure you guys get the idea

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Let em look. You got a truck. What have they got?

I can only imagine you explaining that to the law up in NJ. Getcha self some business cards if you don't have any already Red. It might help with the law to put them at ease but when others give you funny looks, hand'm a card! ;) Heck hand one to the coppers to! They might have some scrap for ya! lol.

People like to assume the worse about young folks today. Pretty sad if you ask me. Not everyone with a scale is a dope dealer. :mad: Folks like you, Kochy, and our other young scrappers should be applauded an encouraged for actually working, an making your business out of it. An doing it legit no less.

Sirscrapalot - The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. - Friedrich Nietzsche

Scales- I started with an old bathroom scale that I curb shopped when I started scrapping .Then bought a digital scale from Harbor Freight that goes up to 70# which I use for small boxes that I ship out. Last month I purchased a small scale that measures ounces,grams,penny weight and grains for stuff in my "omg its gold/silver buckets" that I refine. Recentley my partner bought a floor scale that goes up to 300# at a garage sale for $10.

Vehicle- 1998 Mercury Sable and a Honda Odeyssey( gotta stick together SirS). I have access to a 3/4 ton pick up and my partner has a Suburban.

Business Contacts- You have to do some cold calling and be willing to make a few visits to the same place before you get a foot in the door. Think outside the box in your approach. I find that small computer shops like to trade their non-working stuff for what you have that works. Start small, maybe even sell few things to them and casually inform them of what you do. Always be honest !!!

I am using a digital bath scale for weighting.Because these scales are available in really cheap price and also provide you accuracy up to your needs. I have bought on in $80 from ebay hope you can easily find one on ebay or amazon.

I use a small scale I was given it tops out at 11 lbs. I use a bathroom scale (when my wife isn't looking) for my buckets.
Vehicles I use a 2002 Ford Windstar minivan or my '94 Honda Accord.
I'd also echo what Sirscrapalot said about having business cards to hand out. I work closely with my local sheriff's dept, I'm a hazmat tech and they are really...ah...sensitive about anything that can possibly be construed as "paraphernalia" to the point of ridiculous.

I weigh my garbage cans full of copper with a digital hanging fish scale. Got it on Amazon for $10..(ASIN: B00B301MPI) Goes up to 110lbs I believe. I have a hook in the ceiling and use a tie down strap to hoist it up, it holds it there then just press the latch and set her down. Works for me and its accurate enough for what I need.

I use an old old old kitchen scale like this one but mine is more square shaped than round. It is accurate for the most part, its only off maybe one lb at times. it weighs to 50 lbs and is still accurate even when the dial goes around again. I use this to weigh my boxes of ewaste I send out and I think I've only even been off a couple lbs at most in the end. I set the scale on the floor, get hunkered down to watch the dial and have hubby or son set the boxes on to get the weights.

Top Loading Dial Scales

I also used to have an old baby scale like this one but it didn't weigh close to accurate at all even with adjustments:

Vintage Hanson Nursery Baby Scale 30lbs Model 3025 | eBay

I have a few of both scales & trucks, I'll talk scales & trucks if you want to help pay DMV fees! I have four scales, but honestly I use only use two on regular basis. A Taylor precision Products 9856 (it's just a fancy bathroom scale) it is digital, fairly accurate up to 300 pounds. I made a little wood adapter so I can set 5 gallon buckets or a 35 gallon trash can on it and still read the scale. The other one I use all the time is a Ohause Scout Pro spx401 a very accurate and useful scale. Works on battery (4 double A's) or AC adapter. Has ability to weigh in seven different units (grams, kilograms, ounce, troy ounce, penny weight, pounds, pounds/ounces). Limited to small weights 2000 grams or 4 1/2 pounds. But it has neat functions it can totalize, do percentage of, count estimate and functions I haven't even tried to figure out. Best part these two scales were free, yep I found them. Maybe that's why I don't use the other two, much of the time and I'm not going say much about except they cost $$$$.