Do you weigh your scrap before you take it?

Hoping for some advice,

This question is aimed at the heavier scrap dealers,
Do you weigh your scrap before you take it? If so, what's the preferred method, floor scale vs hook scale.
Which brands for the scales are the best to go by? Or is it worth just sending a test weight item (5lb plate exp) with the shipment?

Im already past 1500lbs and doing it by a bathroom scale is ridiculous....
Why gathering so much?, hoping to ship international, have a few different scrap yards lined up but that's for another thread.

Really appreciate the advice.

Not sure how the yards are there, but the yard I go to here weighs my truck when i come in and when i go out. I get paid on whatever the difference is.

We don't actually have any SY in Bermy, everything that is collected must be shipped overseas, normally to the east coast.

some guys have been doing it, many just stock pile a load of metal from iron to copper throw it In a container and see how the dice fall......most don't even do it now, only one or two and getting any info out of them is like wringing blood out of a stone, as your cutting their lunch. Only so much scrap,on a 21 mile Island.

my issue is that I will be shipping tonnage, different kinds of metal all separated and packaged. And should I invest in a scale or are the yards trustworthy?

Thanks for for the reply though.

Having never shipped anything overseas, I am one of the last who needs to reply to this, but .... I would think there are a number of factors that require consideration in a case like this that are well beyond the honesty of the scale operators.

We use floor scales and scales on the forklifts, but we also generate over 20 tons scrap a week.

Sounds like somebody needs to open a scrap yard there!

i would think you need a weight for the bill of loading. so answer should be obvious there. scale it.

if in doubt i will spend $5 and run over a semi department of transportation scale. they are by the pound while most yard scales weigh in 20 lb increments.

not sure if it would work for you but flat bed the shipping containers and get a before (tare) and after (product wieght) that way. at least its what i do.

i know exactly what my truck and trailers weigh and i can judge off that what my load weighs and how accurate the scales are. some are more accurate than others.

If I could I would HAH!

Thanks, looks like some of the floor scales maybe what the doctor ordered.... Looking for one up to a 1000lbs maybe 2....

Other thing I thought about, do you guys use the American ton, 2200lbs or the Troy (I think that's the name) ton, 2000lbs?

Anyone have any info (good, bad, etc who I should really talk to etc) on PasCapCo? That's the yard I've been in talks with, as they are close to the Port that we ship into (Port Elizabeth).

Thanks for for all the feedback so far.

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Originally Posted by BDAScrapper

We don't actually have any SY in Bermy, everything that is collected must be shipped overseas, normally to the east coast. some guys have been doing it, many just stock pile a load of metal from iron to copper throw it In a container and see how the dice fall......most don't even do it now, only one or two and getting any info out of them is like wringing blood out of a stone, as your cutting their lunch. Only so much scrap,on a 21 mile Island. my issue is that I will be shipping tonnage, different kinds of metal all separated and packaged. And should I invest in a scale or are the yards trustworthy? Thanks for for the reply though.

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That's interesting but doesn't surprise me any. I trust the yard I go to so if you ever feel the need to ship anything to NY, ship it to me to take to the yard as my yard doesn't accept packages(not to say there aren't other yards members use that would fit this bill also). Regarding a scale, we use the metric ton and if you're going after a scale I'd look into a Hobart hanging scale with a bucket.

Don't you need a scale when you buy scrap? Thats the first point.

Also, when you prepare your packages of scrap to load a shipping container you should know their weights. I assume you would use gaylords for your packages of scrap? (Pallets with cardboard walls around them). Know the weight of the container so you know the weight of what is in it.

Knowing your weights is a big thing when you ship stuff around. It keeps the receiving people a little more honest, as they can't tell you that they received 1000kg when you know you shipped 1200 kg.

If you drive around picking up stuff you need a portable scale. Back at the shop, you might consider a scale big enough that you can weigh pallets of stuff, if you use a forklift to move stuff around.

To satisfy yourself that your scale is correct, you need to make sure it is clean around and under the scale at all times. Its surprising how quickly stuff will accumulate under a scale and block the movement of the scale deck. Ensure the scale deck is sitting solidly on all four corners and is level.

Make sure the scale will read zero when unloaded and have a test weight close to the upper end of the scale capacity that is easy to put on the scale. Make sure it reads the test weight properly. Do that once a day if you are using the scale constantly.

All of my discussion here is assuming you are using an electronic scale. If you happen onto an older balance beam type scale you need to account for the mechanical workings of the scale but the ideas are the same.

But, to answer your question about weights: trust no one. Know your weights. In Kg or lbs. If you must use tons, or tonnes, clarify with your buyer which type of ton it is....2000 lbs, 1000kg, 2200lbs, 2240 lb, etc. Don't get hosed by misunderstanding or confusion.

Jon.

PS--You probably have a lot to learn about shipping the stuff, too. International shipping to scrap yards in the US or elsewhere will be a whole other learning experience.

Thanks for all of the info,
Filling up a shipping container, would be a,most impossible (not only me storing the scrap, but also packing it in there...) I was aiming for a ball park of 5 tons. As a tester. I get about 535 lbs of copper tubing into one 50 gal drum, bronze is at 300lbs and drum isn't even a 1/4 full.... Brass just the same.

Think I'm going to invest in a ground scale, and a drum loader/carrier that way I can just wheel the drum onto the scale and deduct the weight of the drum from the number.

Appreciate all the insight.

i actually don't buy any of it, I ask around and do free haul always and "dumpster dive".

I was was actually going to use 50 gallon steel drums, that way they can get scrapped too, keeping my overheads down to a min. That and old aluminum fuel tanks. I work in a boat yard as a Mech, so I can get my hands on them.

And yes yes I have allot to learn...... So I really appreciate all this.

That is what I'm looking towards, making a link from Bermuda to States, Bermuda is a gold mine, but as always, how does one get the scrap to the yard...... I would look into taking a flight up,meeting and greeting and going through everything, before shipping out. Let me know your thoughts.

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Originally Posted by BDAScrapper

That is what I'm looking towards, making a link from Bermuda to States, Bermuda is a gold mine, but as always, how does one get the scrap to the yard...... I would look into taking a flight up,meeting and greeting and going through everything, before shipping out. Let me know your thoughts.

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First and foremost, shipping will cost you alot because of distance and I don't think Gorvin will go international that far(have to ask him). If you packed your material in gaylords(double/tripple-wall boxes on pallets) that would probably help on shipping rather then attempting to ship an entire container. Also location will dictate price. It'll be less expensive to ship to Florida then to NY.

Secondly, I would suggest video conferencing instead of a physical trip, again because of cost of airfare. Just some logistics to think about when creating business relationships. You can PM me if you have any questions on anything.


-Matt

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Originally Posted by logansryche

First and foremost, shipping will cost you alot because of distance and I don't think Gorvin will go international that far(have to ask him). If you packed your material in gaylords(double/tripple-wall boxes on pallets) that would probably help on shipping rather then attempting to ship an entire container. Also location will dictate price. It'll be less expensive to ship to Florida then to NY.

Secondly, I would suggest video conferencing instead of a physical trip, again because of cost of airfare. Just some logistics to think about when creating business relationships. You can PM me if you have any questions on anything.


-Matt

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How do I PM? Still getting used to this site...

If your on an island then all the supplies are probably shipped in on a boat. There's probably your way to ship stuff off the island. It would take some investigating but that boat/ship does not want to go back empty. Might be a cheap way to ship whatever weight you accumulate.

Click on my name, choose personal message

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Originally Posted by logansryche

Click on my name, choose personal message

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Will not let me do it, according to rules, I may not be allowed. Can send an email, until I am allowed to.