Today I put a magnet on my key chain and realized that most of my keys are non-ferrous. Cool. I have tons of old keys laying around the garage that we dont use that I could get a couple of bucks from.
I also realized the other day that I could scrap some of my broken brass cymbals that went to my drum set.
Anyone else have some unique miscellaneous stuff that they have scrapped over the years?
I scrapped a fullsize school bus :P
Yes, most older keys are brass but a few are alum but you can tell the difference.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsamsonite
Wow thats cool! I actually saw a train engine (the entire car) at the yard last time as they were picking it up and moving it around. I wonder how much that thing was worth!Quote:
Originally Posted by Junkcar24
Yes I noticed that. I usually do a quick scratch test. And you Mechanic, what is the most unique thing that you have ever scrapped? You have been doing this for awhile, im sure that you have some stories.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mechanic688
I've seen those weigh about 100 tons, just remember, that isn't all iron, they're mostly diesel-electric, with 4 electric enginesQuote:
Originally Posted by mrsamsonite
Ive never seen a train car scrapped but the school bus weighed 19,000lbs. Scrap metal was like $280 a ton at the time
I found a trunk full of broken watches. I went thru all of them thinking I could find gold or silver or some older watches. But they were all cheep crappy ones. They went in the steel pile.
believe it or not, I found a buyer who recycles clothing! I haven't sent any in but I will probably expand there when I get my ewaste business working like clockwork!
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
Mark Twain
I scrapped a full size passenger bus:pQuote:
Originally Posted by Junkcar24
Recycle or reuse?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hypoman
Yes that would be great. Im trying to figure out what to do with items that have a resell of less than $20. I might store them up and then sell them at the spat-meet or if I can find a regular buyer of clothes and stuff like that I would like to sell them to people every time.
How about donating to Goodwill? Get a donation receipt and deduct from you taxes.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsamsonite
I have been selling clothing to be recycled for about two years now .07-.10 per lbs also sell books and mags. for .02-,03 perlbs
They can sell pretty well in lots sometimes on eBay, for "steampunk" art..."gears, parts, steampunk" in the title.Quote:
Originally Posted by hobo finds
I scrapped a MRI machine once. With all the copper, aluminum, wiring, and steel it was worth about $10,000 and that was 10 years ago!Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsamsonite
no wonder they are so darn expensive! lolQuote:
Originally Posted by mightymite
...i scrapped my mother in law just las week. even tho she wuz perty hevy, i didn't get much for her, but she don't come around much anymore though buggin us and all like she used to - always a silver lining in them there clouds, buckwheat...
I have an ultra sound machine now that im trying to figure out what to do with. I may try to sell it first. Do you have any idea what the scrap value is?Quote:
Originally Posted by mightymiteI scrapped a MRI machine once. With all the copper, aluminum, wiring, and steel it was worth about $10,000 and that was 10 years ago!Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsamsonite
When I was a kid, back in the late-70s, my father used to make me "clean" the key machine in his hardware store so he could scrap the brass shavings. I must have swept shavings off of that machine a thousand times. I wonder how much old man made off of that exercise?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mechanic688
Old porcelain bathtubs. The are up to 300+lbs of cast iron, and they blast right apart with a sledge hammer.
Breast pumps.. yes used.. we got like 4 of them with other baby items..of course my gf wouldnt have ever used them..knew there would be a motor in there..very small motor n misc steel..not really worth it but hey had to try
Back in the early 80's I scrapped 4 miles of spur line and 2 RR bridges.
Wow 2 rr bridges! Thats impressive.Quote:
Originally Posted by freonjoe
we are in the process of scrapping a 30ft tractor- trailer. the diamond plate has so far been the most lucrative part. it really isnt worth much as a whole, because the oxy/ace it takes to cut it all up is really eating into my profits. without the funds to rent a plasma torch, I dont know how long i will continue working on it. I have burned up (2) sawzalls and an angle grinder trying to get this thing into small enough pieces to transport.
Any ideas?
Tons of things are brass. You should always test everthing with a magnet and then do a a scratch test. One off the top of my head I had some bath sink legs chrome plated that were nice hunks of brass. I love brass made some of my first green from brass. Keys, faucets, pipes,flatware,silver plate dishes bowls tea sets, door knobs, locks, hinges.vases, knickknacks, candle sticks, lamps. Tag sales can be loaded with brass. Rule one for me is if magnet does not stick find out why. I love brass.
Use propane it's cheaper and safer.Quote:
Originally Posted by theelectronrecycler
If any of you find watches, as hobo finds did, you can sell the gears in them for a whole lot more than the actual watch is worth in scrap value. There is a sub culture out there called cyber-punk and the gears in watches are in high demand from them in lots.
Where do you sell the clothes?
One of my first scores was 2 huge candle holders, ended up being 50lbs of brassQuote:
Originally Posted by Jonniebrass
I pulled it out of my neighbors dumpster(old couple moving away)
I love brass
Brass is defiantly a nice find. A friend of mind bought a couple of acres that had some trash laying around a few years back. On a walk through with him I spotted an old piston style pump that looked interesting. Half an hour with an impact wrench turned it into 380lbs of clean red brass :D