I am in Mesa Az. Scrap prices are still in the tanks here.

What's the scrap metal market like in your neck of the woods? I am in Mesa Az which is a suburb of Phoenix Az. Here where I sell scrap the guy said that copper is going back up but shred here is still at 3 cents a pound. I have about 15 brass radiators stacked up waiting for better prices paid. About a hundred pounds of brass. Lots of bare bright copper and number two copper. When I sold motors recently I had just under a thousand pounds of them. I am close to that again. I have stopped picking up appliances unless they are right around the corner. I still pick up from my regulars. I miss the days when I could go out for a few hours and load out my big trailer and the bed of my truck with shred and misc scrap and cover my expenses.

It recently went up to $100/ton here for shred. But that's only because the local steel mill has ramped up production to fill an order. It'll go down again after they're done with whatever they're making.

Recently they started hiring temp labor for the mill. Since that's a union shop, that means it's short term. The union wouldn't allow it otherwise.
The kicker, the temps are only getting paid $10.50/hr for steel mill work.

In the other thread called "Projects" you mentioned that you scrap and repurpose as a hobby. So if it's a hobby, why are you worried about prices and profit?

Scrap autos/tin is $210 Gross Ton here.

As of last week, our "tin & wire" is the same as your "shred" price, 3 cents a pound. That's still better than in early August when prices had dropped from the week before and I only got about 1.5 cents a pound. I probably wouldn't have taken any in at that point but I did need room on my side of the garage so there's some trade off. My steel loads are very small, because that's not what I target and my scrapping is strictly hobby stuff. The only upside is that the steel taking place is only 3 miles away so there's almost no cost in going there for me.

repurpsoer, what's your brass and #2 Cu price down there? Our #2 Cu is pushing towards $1.80, at least a couple of weeks ago when I took some in, so I don't have a problem with that. I guess if you don't really need the money and can horde, its your choice. I'm always in need for a little hobby cash flow so don't horde unless prices are really in the toilet. Most people have a breaking point, and mine is ok at present...

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Originally Posted by APA

Scrap autos/tin is $210 Gross Ton here.

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The New Castle yard sounds like the perfect location. Shredder right there and buyer (mill) of heavy steel right across the street. Shred price at the albany yard is 43 a gross lower. I think rotors are 41 less. I got 210 for rotors and 198 for short last Sunday.

A hobby means I do this for something to do. I do not depend on it for a living. I do however have an overhead and a truck that loves gas stations. I like to at least break even. That is why I have a limited pick up area and mostly stick to my regulars I know will load my trailer with tonnage every time they call me. I have many irons in the fire. Drag racing, Off roading. Dirt track racing, I build rat rods. The dragster I have as an avitar is mine. 7 second, 180 MPH quarter mile car. A year or so ago my 'Scrap Hobby' covered the cost of a lot of my ventures. But now it barely covers basic expenses. That is why I call it a hobby. What's your story Billy ??

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Originally Posted by mthomasdev

The New Castle yard sounds like the perfect location. Shredder right there and buyer (mill) of heavy steel right across the street. Shred price at the albany yard is 43 a gross lower. I think rotors are 41 less. I got 210 for rotors and 198 for short last Sunday.

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New Castle location does not sell to the mill next door, they battled in the auction bidding for the property. For this reason, they don't do business.

Going to the yard tomorrow with a relatively small load( 1000)lbs of steel and insulated wire. I suspect they are not to good right now but I need the room with the bad weather kicking in here in CT

Wishing everyone the best during this holiday season and a Happy New Year !

90.00 - 100.00 a ton in the dfw area. The guys at the yard today thought prices might make a pretty good increase in the next few months.

In Oklahoma City, #2 copper was $1.85 and brass was $1.35 today.