no one around buys appliances

I live in Duluth, Mn. and I cannot find anyplace who will buy appliances. I have a lot of them laying around. There are also lots of appliances that people are trying to get rid of. Is it worth it to take these appliances from others just to strip motors, cords, etc? Not sure what to do!

I,m sorry, I didnt introduce myself, I was laid off from my last "good paying" job 2 years ago. I have taken a lot of temporary, lower paying jobs to try and pay the bills. I have scrapped 3 cars I had laying around for extra cash. I have also scrounged around my property for for copper wire, copper tubing, cans, and and any other metals I could find. I found this site a few months ago and I love it! But I do have a question about appliances I can't find answers to. If anybody can help, I would appreciate it.

Sounds like you could do well! Take out the motors and the wiring. Some dryers have stainless steel drums, so separate those when possible. You should be able to make $10 or so for each.

Not a gold mine but there is money there. The more you break them down the more you make just depends how much your time is worth...sounds like you may have more time then money right now. Stainless drums in some washers too, there are simularities in taking washers and dryers a part and only experience(on the job training)will make you faster. Good luck and welcome.

I thank both of your responses. I did take a motor off of one of the washers to haul in, with other motors I had, but turns out it was a aluminum wired motor and not worth the 25/cents a pound offered for copper motors I guess I have a lot to learn.

No problem and a congrats to U of M Duluth National Hockey Champs!

Another thing to look for is on the dryers if you take the drum out from the top quite often you will find loose change in the bottom of the dryer (usually better than half the time). It may only be a coin or two, but I have found almost $20 in change in one and about $15 in another, so you never know. Some folks have found an occasional small piece of jewelry (I have found 2 gold filled, no solid yet). Also, save your small pieces of scrap steel/iron, and when you are ready to scrap the washer or dryer, throw the small pieces in the drum. Needless to say will add weight, and gives you something to hold the small pieces.

Since your yard won't buy appliances, after youstrip the goodies, make a cut down the side of the body, flatten it out & sell it as tin.

Welcome to the board. I'm in your state in the cities. Good luck with your scrapping, You're ahead of me since I've never done cars or appliances...yet. I stick to small stuff for the most part.

You've had some great tips already.

i dont understand why your yard wont take appliances. does anyone else on here know why or go to yards like this? All the local yards around me take them.

Some yards call it "white metal" and don't like to take it b/c of the coating that is on the out side. I've only heard of yards like that as mine will take everything. Personally I would look for a different yard.

The yard here will take them for free.... haha jerks. 15 minutes and it's no longer an appliance.

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Some yards call it "white metal" and don't like to take it b/c of the coating that is on the out side

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Does that mean they won't take auto's or auto body parts? (their painted also)

Really the reason that some yards still don't accept them is earlier on this century(21st) there was a huge amount of cheap steel coming out of China and steel mills couldn't make any profit from refining so a lot of them shut down. There are only twenty-something steel mills left....... thats sucks compared to how many there were in the 40's. Now that prices have gone back up not many scrap yards will refuse white goods. I believe the paint on an appliance is different than that on a car, so there shouldn't be any problems with a yard taking them. White goods are coated(usually) with an epoxy powder.

Thanks you all for the good tips. It is much appreciated. The two local yards in the area, both owned by the same company, call appliances "white metals'. This includes any household appliance, such as fridge, oven/stove, furnace, hot water heater, microwave, dishwasher, etc. They wont even take car batteries. Well, I think they will take them but not pay for them. I've tried searching on the internet for any yards within 150 miles and nobody I've found will accept white metals.

lobosffl - regarding car batteries. You should be getting at least .20/lb or $7. If you're interested, I might be able to find you a buyer.

Appliances are 90% of my weekly income! My yard loves them, I love them, and people give them to me for free nearly every day now. I honestly probably wouldn't be in this business without them. Sometimes I'm not even able to break them down at all (besides snipping a cord)...just too many to haul and on the flip side, I sell all my working ones to one of two local appliance dealers, who, more often than not, will buy and refurbish them for sale.

I've now got into the realm of selling parts and accessories (mostly off of refrigerators/dishwashers) on eBay. Another revenue stream that is very untapped.

Good luck!

This does seem a little odd. Our local scrap yard takes appliances, and pays fairly decent for them. When I get one that looks half way decent, I try and sell it to the refurbishing places in town. I have had some success with that as well. I get about 25% of my income from appliances.