Newbie In Colorado; Dazed and Confused

Just wanted to introduce myself; vent a few frustrations. I'm a brand new scrapper who did my first haul today. It was just a fridge (whole) and a few small things. I made $10, which is what my goal was. I wanted to see what the process was like. Turns out that you have to do a lot of guessing when it comes to figuring out what to do and where to go at my local scrap yard. I plan on trying to scrap full time, though I don't currently have the money, tools, or a proper vehicle to do well. I drive a little 1996 Ford Ranger. It shouldn't carry more than 1,000 pounds, according to its little sticker. I don't think going to the dump more than once a day would bother me much. Moving a 300 pound fridge by myself without a dolly was a bit of an experience. I'm a fat, out of shape, young woman after all. I managed to rip off half of a finger nail, which hurt like a certain place. I also sliced my hand open a bit. Didn't even notice until I was back in the truck. I suppose one should wear gloves occasionally... At least, that's what I'm told every time I garden and get clay under my nails. That's like bamboo stick torture!

So, I only have a vague idea of what I'm doing. I'm sort of winging it. I know I can get a lot more money for things like fridges if I stripped them, however, I don't have the money to buy tools yet. Most importantly, I don't have a place where I can strip things down. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm stuck living with my grandmother (rent in Denver is very high). She absolutely refuses to let me bring scrap into the yard or house. I'm thinking about eventually getting a storage unit, which will run at least $150 a month. But, I'd at least have some place to strip things down. I'm hoping that if I bring in a good haul and make a few hundred in a day, she'll cave and let me strip things down in the yard. At 26, I am biting at the bit. I do not like being told what to do, especially by someone who is affecting my income negatively. Anyone want a grandmother? I'll sell her cheap. :D


Anywho, I'm slowly working my way through some of these threads. There are a lot of them. Half of them are all Greek to me, but I only have less than 24 hours of research under my belt. Until I learn, I'll just remain dazed and confused.

Welcome! Do you have a truck? Start by picking up items that you can break down and separate in the truck? Load up the truck, break down what you can in the truck... take the load in?! Depends on what you have and how far your yard is... but it's a start.

Trust me on the Grandmother.......you'll miss her when she's gone

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Originally Posted by mikeinreco

Trust me on the Grandmother.......you'll miss her when she's gone

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Oh, I know. She just drives me nuts. She repeats the tv when the weather forecast is on even though I'm sitting in the same room. She also, in all honesty, is kind of snobby. Scrapping is for... well, I can't say exactly what she says because it's extremely racist, classist, and sexist. Let's just say that she looks down her nose at anything "not normal". I love her but she needs a right kick in the butt. And a left kick.


ScrappinRed, I have a little 1996 Ford Ranger. The bed is fairly small I'm afraid. I'm still trying to figure out how to mount plywood sides without drilling into the truck. It's technically not my truck but my ex's, who bought it for me two months ago. I'm not allowed to alter it until I pay him for it.

Welcome to SMF. I admire your goal of going fulltime given you do not own your own tools, truck, and live with your grandmother. I think reading the old threads is the best strategy for bang for your bucks towards your goal. A few thoughts:

For tools I would look at garage sales and pawn shops. I agree with Scrappinred, break thinks down in the pickup until you create another area. As far as living arrangements, I think I would be happy to have a roof over my head and thankful. A goal of 30 trips to the yard to impress your grandmother to see your view over her years of experiences is loftier than your other goal. Good luck to you.

Welcome to the forum, coming at you from the Chicago area. Having a truck you can use is the greatest tool to start with. For hand tools, maybe just a small set of basic hand tools, like patriot said, garage sales would be the cheapest. just do as much reading here as you can, you might find a little niche that you can do well with a small truck and still make some cash. Good luck on your scrapping adventures.

Start with wire clippers and a magnet. And a hammer.

An easy way to load large items into your truck, by yourself - Tip the appliance onto the open tailgate, get behind appliance and push into truck bed. I've been using this method for years, it's easy peasy.

scrapping scars are a badge of honor well them well and may the magnetic force be with you

Welcome to the forum. You certainly sound determined, that's a great start. Bad thing is that prices suck right now. You have to work twice as hard to make the same money you could a few years ago.

A storage unit is a great solution. I would shop around and see what you can find. Oftentimes the small operators rent space cheaper than the big companies.

Welcome the the SMF! We are happy to see you getting into the scrapping business, please let us know if you have any questions about scrapping Copper :)

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Originally Posted by nutpie

Start with wire clippers and a magnet. And a hammer.

An easy way to load large items into your truck, by yourself - Tip the appliance onto the open tailgate, get behind appliance and push into truck bed. I've been using this method for years, it's easy peasy.

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Any scrap yard worth its salt will give out free magnets on a chain, failing that she could acquire a magnet from a computer hard drive or an old speaker.

Good advice on how ro load appliances in general, if I have to load a freezer I;;l stand it ion end with the compressor that the top end which is the first end to go onto the tailgate leaving me the lighter end to pick up and shove onto the truck.

I agree with most of whats been said. I might also add a cheap socket and screw driver set from walmart costs $10 and can handle most of what a beginner will encounter. the set is 1" thick 6" wide and 12" long so can tuck neatly under or behind your seat. a side cutter, pliers, hammer, hack saw and most importantly gloves are all good goals for a beginner.

I also might add that carrying a couple 5-6' long pieces of pipe help alot on loading appliances. set them on tailgate and let it ride them up. its easier on the back than lifting shoving it is.

I have the same issue but it's my boyfrieds mother who doesn't like scrap and she has the same mind set. My father says jokingly but seriously that having more than one chick in the house there is always something going on. I have have had over a ton on my ford ranger about the same year. Is she an manual or automatic is the question. For tools I basically went to yard sales or a store that sells good tools cheep (here in Maine that is mardins). I carry a 20 pound hammer, whire clippers or a knife, philip head or flat head screw drivers, adjustable wrench,and a crow bar. Those are the basics I have used for tools as I go along if I need a special tool I will get it and keep it away just in case I need it some other time.

Welcome to SMF. I have family all over Colorado so I get over there often. No reason I am telling you. Just am. :)

My first scrappers toolkit was the tools I found in the toolkit of a car.
The little black pouch of two open ended spanners, a double ended screwdriver, a pair of slipjaw pliers that cut wire etc, the hubcap lever.
I figured that in any situation, this can be found quickly, for free, and from then on I just found tools like hammers and tinsnips and such in cars I scrapped.
I can scrap a microwave using only a hammer. A hatchet axe is very handy too, pref a old axe head with a galv steel pipe handle welded onto it.
My first 'bought tool' was a 9 inch grinder (and safety gear).
If you have never used a angle grinder, always use it so that if it grabs, it will pull away from you, and get somebody who has used one to teach you its tricks. I have never been 'hurt' from using a angle grinder. Ever.
Earmuffs ( 'arry muffs) and safety specks are a must.
Actually earmuffs are a helpful tool, using them you can concentrate on the job without backing off because of the violent volumes involved.
Any 'metal striking metal' sound or power tools will deafen you. Even if you don't know it, use earmuffs and get used to wearing them.