do scrap yards buy metal powder, for example copper powder or brass powder or aluminum powder? and if they do how are they able to tell what metal the powder is?
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do scrap yards buy metal powder, for example copper powder or brass powder or aluminum powder? and if they do how are they able to tell what metal the powder is?
I have worked on phone systems that are in machine shops and have seen the bins where they save the metal shavings. I don't know who they sell to or if they separate them though.
A PMI (Positive Metal Identification) gun could be used to identify specific metals. This tool can identify all the metals and percentages a specific item contains. I have no idea about a market for metal powder.
For the most relevant info, ask your yard if they buy it. But yes, folks buy and sell metal powders. As example, shredder yards end up with copper powder as a byproduct of wire granulation. But if you have access to metal powder scrap ask your local yards about it
It's called swarf.Quote:
Originally Posted by miyamuto
https://i.postimg.cc/bNFZbgtN/swarf.png
Ace Iron and Metal in Kalamazoo, MI buys powdered metal.
Quote:
Originally Posted by miyamuto
We sold the swarf at the workshop (machine shop ) I worked at.
Aluminium swarf is quite low priced compared to the other Ali prices, it's also wet & oily from the cutting fluids used. I did wash it out a bit, but it's still got it & it's fine shavings, so thin, with a oxide layer.
The other metals were mostly buckets of Brass swarf & various Bronzes. Each seperated, gunmetal, Ali bronze, red bronze & phosphorous Bronze.
It was always a good week that one, as a perk we got to split the scrap metal money between us.
I sold some Alum swarf this spring. My buddy is a machinist. It was mostly shavings and turnings, not to much dust. The scrap yard bought it at .10 less than the clean alum price. Good thing i went threw it and took out the cut offs and rod ends
There is more to powdered metals than swarf. I recently at an auction picked up 650 pounds of 325 mesh metal powders (for $30 :)) ). This stuff is used for cold casting, metal spraying, and in this case from a door manufacturer to coat metal frames with different colored metals. The 325 mesh powdered metals go for $10 to $20 per pound on ebay. I wound up with 190 lbs of bronze, 85 lbs brass, 180 lbs of iron, 40 lbs nickel silver, 90 lbs stainless steel, 55 lbs of white bronze, and 10 lbs of unknown. Life is good.
Starbits