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I'm trying to get my own full time scrapping business up and running. I would like to hear from you guys who do it full time, but on a small scale just to get some ideas of what is possible and what you guys are accomplishing. I'm talking like one pickup truck and a trailer type deal, no big operations please!!
Brandon
I'm getting darn close to full time. Right now I have 2 trucks and 3 trailers.
What kind of trucks you using buddy?
A 96 heavy half and a 05 2500HD. Looking to add a 1 ton this summer with a 12' flatbed and liftgate.
Full Time for about 5 years and never had so much money or freedom in my life except being a slave to my scrap....LOL
I only work half days, but at least I can choose which half, I can either work the first 12 hours, or the second
full time
Also full time. 1 truck, 2 trailers, decent sized warehouse to work/store.
5 trailers, 4 trucks, 2 wreckers, one tractor, one forklift, one helper. 10 acres, 40x60 shop. most of it is older than I am. Thinking about getting close to full time. Like Bear said....I get to pick which half. I usually take my half right out of the middle.
full time, even sundays now. Feast in the summer and starve in the winter.
Mikeinreco how do you get most your scrap? Cars?
Well, that could be asked of most of you..scrap anything? Mainly one type you deal with? Cars? Thanks for all the input guys!!!
We scrap everything but our main focus is on ewaste. And we are working on fulltime ourselves.
My main focus is appliances, refrigerators, a/c's and anything with refrigerant in it.
Everything, focused mainly on cars and larger iron.
If I told you I would have to kill ya....LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by fulltimejunker
Naw I buy most of mine.....I buy ewaste from junkyards and in large quanity at auctions
I also do residential and commercial pickup but the only way I know of to get a constant supply of alot of scrap is to buy low and sell high
Fulltime, no work to be had so it's fulltime scrappen. Just me and my 1980 ford ranger f100. Mostly e-waste but do other things too, try to stay away from tv's and monitors.
1980 f100 ranger? got photos?Quote:
Originally Posted by happyscraper
Having any luck with your scrapping buddy?Quote:
Originally Posted by happyscraper
Is the better money in cars you think? Also from what I've picked up on so far..cut out CAT, radiator, and battery? You seem to know what's going on..when you buy a car to scrap, you just find out what it weights and make a offer based on what the yard will give you? I'm a noob, so any advice is greatly appreciated!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by c4f5
I live out in the country, you guys think my best bet will be ride around and ask people to haul their junk for free? I'm going to pick up 3-4 aluminum radiators tomorrow evening that a guy is giving me. I understand making a offer on vehicles based on weight, but if it's just all junk metal, how do you make a offer? Sorry for playing 21 questions guys!!! Just really excited to get started, love the idea of being my own boss and possibly making better $ than a 9-5 job!!!
I don't think it's better money as you're limited to doing cars, depending on setup though.
However, as far as scrapping cars, you pretty have it down. I grab the alternators and the starters when cutting the cat, and resell them on kijiji. Might grab the harness but usually leave it.
I prefer to stay away from the car scene but do own a car dolly if the right deal comes along.
I think it's more money in cars for sure but getting them can be a little tricky sometimes. I only use craigslist and my website for advertising Junkcarbuyersraleighnc.com, even though I live about 35 miles outside of Raleigh. It takes a lot of advertising and I do mean a lot but it really pays off trust me, some days you will get so many phone calls that you won't be able to get to them all and you will wish you had help and some days you will wonder why the phone is not ringing, but that's just how it is in the scrap business. My set up is a 2500 HD 2003 Sierra with a full metal deck trailer with an 8000 pound winch. Oh and I forgot to mention I only work about three days a week usually Monday through Wednesday because I have a full-time job hauling mail on an 18 wheeler Thursday through Saturday but even when I'm working I'm still advertising because that's how much it's needed.
The better money will be wherever your talent and equipment can take you. I have been playing with dead cars for most of my 38 years, and have aquired equiment accordingly over time. Most of the cars I intake, sit here for several months to be parted out, at least to some degree, before I even consider scrapping them. I usually have around 100 here on site. In addition to the obvious...cats, rads & batts, there are many other rebuildable cores to be pulled for the core buyer. I base my price on what the yard is currently paying per ton. Considering how long a car sits here, that can be a win or a loss, but the real money in scrapping cars is not in the weight of the body. That's where the quick buck is, but not the bigger buck.Quote:
Originally Posted by fulltimejunker
Full time. One 3/4 ton diesel truck and a flatbed utility trailer. I have a shop on my property so I have a place to stockpile inventory, break stuff down, grade and weigh. I still keep my hands in my old business, but it's pretty much dead. I pass out cards and talk the business up around town, and so far the results for local stuff has not been too bad. Getting ready to go pick up a load of AL siding from a house remodel this morning. I will fool with anything metal. Appliances, grills, auto parts, engines, transmissions as well as non-ferrous materials as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by fulltimejunker
*c4f5 "quick buck vs big buck"....so what's best way to maximize for big buck with cars?
i have already told you lol
full time? weekends 730-5 (i am currently in high school) during break, me and my workers work 6 days a week 730-5 but must be here at 7 then as soon as it is summer i will be working on a farm for free lending a hand in fixing tractors (i am a diesel mechanic) and the farm will be giving me scrap metal, soon a 1950's gleaner combine ;)
Ok focker. I mustve missed ur insight. But i reread, thread n guessing u mean parting things out is best. Ive only recently begun to dabble n that. Still at the stage where i need to scrap out at the end of every month to pay bills lol. But definitely have to get some reliable core buyers on board! Thanks.
Full time, still learning, retired, and still trying to decide what to do with my life.
Also do full time
Planning on going full time when I get a truck and turn 16 in 1 year. So far doing the best I can without a liscense and saving for a trailer.
Full time, one truck, two trailers, 12 trash cans.
I’m thinkin about it. My office cubicle is starting to feel like a prison cell more and more each day. Now that I’ve gotten a taste of being my own boss, being told when I can and can’t take breaks, how loud I can or can’t be, that I can’t have food at my desk, that I can’t check my personal email, that I can’t do this or I have to do that, blah blah blah, it really sucks working for ‘the man.’ It’s much easier to get up at the crack of dawn to go to the yard because I know I HAVE to if I want that money. I really always have been my own best boss and my own worst enemy. I think I’ll have to see how the winter goes and then I’ll decide whether or not I can pull the trigger on going full time scrapping. I think it’d be really great for my soul if I was only working for myself and my family but until I can ensure that there will be a roof over our heads, food on the table and bills being paid, I can’t and won’t do it.
Thats good in this business you need a truck and a good trailer.Quote:
Originally Posted by DevinThaScrapper
I have done the scrapping thing for 7 years and make a decent living at it and i only mess with cars.There is alot of money to be made out there believe me.
Mattynokneck I'm right there in the same spot. The more time I've taken off from my 6-2 everyday job I realize that I hate it there after 13 years. I'd like to scrap full time but not sure I want to make that step yet.
If you want to do that, prepare for feast or famine depending on the year and time of year. Consistency and scrap do not really mixQuote:
Originally Posted by puckett
[QUOTE=lousypirate;210281]If you want to do that, prepare for feast or famine depending on the year and time of year. Consistency and scrap do not really mix[/QUOTE
Not always true. Winter in Michigan definitely proves challenging at times. I have an indoor facility and primarily deal with escrap. With the exception of the trailers i am rarely digging things out of the snow. If you can acquire some office buildings and similar style contacts you can do quite well.
[QUOTE=directrecycle;210286]That's exactly what I'm trying to do right now. If I can find a way to get myself through the winter and it goes well, then I might quit the 9-5 in the springtime. I know that spring/summer can and will be good, it's late fall and winter time in upstate NY I'm worried about. It really all depends on how many regular pickups and I can nail down, either in general scrap or eWaste. I need consistency.Quote:
Originally Posted by lousypirate