Basic starter scrap toolkit?

Just a quick question, I guess. For simplicity's sake, let's go with a top 5: What tools do you need to have for scrap, and for making it work for you? What never leaves your truck?

I'm trying to scrape together a kit, and am just curious. Does it evolve for you over time?

Right now, I've got my cord cutters, sawzall, cordless drill/screwdriver...I also have a mallet, but that's more because I like to hit things.

If this has already been posted, or is a retread, I'm really sorry; I'm at work, so my search/browsing time is pretty limited right now. If that's the case, feel free to do what you need with the post!

Thanks,
-Dan

So you don't have time to type in 2-3 of those words into a search and click enter, and read the results?

But you do have time to type in 97 more than that.... and read those results?

My calculator is broken.... again

Sorry, brother. I guess I was looking for opinions from everyone. I figured it would be different for garbage picking, cars, e-scrap, etc. I was looking to compile the data in one place. I wasn't looking for trouble.

Sorry to offend. Like I said, feel free to take this down, if there's already hundreds of these posts, and I'm sorry for the hassle. I'm just getting started here, and was looking for something maybe out-of-the-ordinary that someone might swear by.

I'm getting my start doing apartment cleanouts and garbage picking, and have a smaller truck than I'd like. I was just looking for some advice, i guess; sorry to offend you.

it's not a hassle

just didn't make sense to end something that was longer than performing a search with a time restriction as the reason for it lol

I suppose that's fair. Equally impressive is that you took the time to either locate or, worse yet, count my words. ;)

I don't want to cause any problems, trust me. Right now, I'm only scrapping in a Colorado Crew Cab with a 5' bed, so I'm always looking at tools that can maximize my space and organizational skills. Was hoping this forum would be a good place to start.

magnet

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Originally Posted by ScrappyDoo21

I suppose that's fair. Equally impressive is that you took the time to either locate or, worse yet, count my words. ;)

I don't want to cause any problems, trust me. Right now, I'm only scrapping in a Colorado Crew Cab with a 5' bed, so I'm always looking at tools that can maximize my space and organizational skills. Was hoping this forum would be a good place to start.

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oh i didn't count them man. i just threw out the 100 and subtracted the 2 or 3 i was talking about... more than anything else I am just f&@*ing with ya... in one of my moods today.

on a serious note... you choose your tools based off of what you are targeting and/or finding. If you find stuff that needs cut up (large sheet, beam, pipe etc)... a hammer doesn't matter. If you are picking up a bunch of insulated wire, what good does a drill do?

it's all about your surroundings. I can tell you what I keep with me at all times, doesn't mean that you will need half of it, or that it would even solve half of the situations in your path.

But the general rule for me is... if I have needed it in the past week, I take it with me.

but definitely keep a cordless grinder and sawzall with you if you're trying to put 8' pieces on a 5' bed, you will need something to cut things down to size.

Well, I appreciate your frankness, for sure. Yeah, it's tough with a 5' bed, but I've gotta put the kids' safety first. Because we don't have the money for an old beater to drive around (saving for house downpayment) the Crew Cab was the best I could do. I've gotten some pretty fun loads in there, bnut it's a trick with the longer stuff. Lots of ratchet straps and a dropped tailgate, mostly.

The other issue is an apartment complex in town with annoying neighbors, so b reaking stuff down doesnt happen often, and off truck storage even less. It makes it tough, but I'm getting by. Just looking for pointers on what might be a unique situation (but, then, people are scrapping out of Buicks and Luminas, so it's not so bad!)

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...metalforum.com

Nothing wrong with scrapping out of a Lumina!>:)

I have developed mine over the time I've been scrapping, most (and I mean 97%) have come from curbco or cleanouts. My most recent score being a nice little pull drawer tool box that looked like a brand new red corvette when I got it SCORE. I keep an open-style tool bag in the van with: needle nose (w/ cutter), snips, hammer, utility knife, magnet, and of course my prize possession (and the only one I paid for) my cordless drill with every bit you can think of. Those are probably my top 5 I use regularly.

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The other issue is an apartment complex in town with annoying neighbors, so b reaking stuff down doesnt happen often, and off truck storage even less. It makes it tough, but I'm getting by. Just looking for pointers on what might be a unique situation (but, then, people are scrapping out of Buicks and Luminas, so it's not so bad!)

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Don't forget the Taurus. But seriously you might want a cheap storage unit for breaking stuff down to make a little better money. Appliances can be worth more broken down than just hauling to the yard as is, pull motors, pull wiring, etc.

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Originally Posted by ScrappyDoo21

Well, I appreciate your frankness, for sure. Yeah, it's tough with a 5' bed, but I've gotta put the kids' safety first. Because we don't have the money for an old beater to drive around (saving for house downpayment) the Crew Cab was the best I could do. I've gotten some pretty fun loads in there, bnut it's a trick with the longer stuff. Lots of ratchet straps and a dropped tailgate, mostly.

The other issue is an apartment complex in town with annoying neighbors, so b reaking stuff down doesnt happen often, and off truck storage even less. It makes it tough, but I'm getting by. Just looking for pointers on what might be a unique situation (but, then, people are scrapping out of Buicks and Luminas, so it's not so bad!)

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well to be honest with you, i'd rent a storage unit and spend a few hours a week right in it breaking stuff down.

The storage unit isn't a bad idea at all. And, honestly, there will be one literally three minutes from the house we're planning to buy. The question I would have to answer is whether or not the cost will justify itself in profits, as I'm already working a full time job currently. What I'd like to do eventually (as I build clientelle) is go part time and scrap more, so that may certainly be a good idea. I'm hoping once we settle down at the house, since it has some land, the area for breaking things down will take care of itself.

Thanks for all the ideas so far. I don't have a grinder, currently, but that may be worth looking into.

Like was already mentioned, it all depends on what way you want to scrap cause the guys doing cars use a lot different tools than I do breaking down electronics. Figure out what you would like to do, then look around on CraigsList to see if it's saturated with scrappers. You should do what the others are not. Find your niche, then clean up.

my tool box consists of side cutters, Phillips and flat, vise grips and crescent. I try to never work on another persons property when I am recycling... not garbage picking. I don't know of anyone on here that is a garbage picker...just saying. have a great night guys

Sounds like I basically have what I need for now, then. Always looking to be more efficient with loads, with gas at a premium here in Western PA. Everywhere, for that matter.

Once I do get it home, a hammer and gloves, aside from vise grips and a pipe wrench are my tools of choice for disassembly.

I used to pile it up beside the apartment and tear down on my days off work, but the neighbors didn't like that idea as much as I did...

about half on topic

the rectangle cat litter buckets are great for storing/sorting non ferrous scrap. pretty easy to find, and the stack well. Waste less space than the round ones.

Well, I think my list would be (and they are pretty close to being in order of importance)...

1. Magnet
2. File
3. Eye protection
4. Leather gloves
5. Cordless drill/driver
6. Hex bit set with as many different varieties as you can get/find
7. Hammer
8. Puddy knife
9. Utility knife
10. Screwdrivers + and -
11. Wire cutter
12. Bolt cutter
13. Hacksaw