How do you Protect Yourself when you're Scrapping?

Hey guys, I saw this in an old thread and wanted to bring it up again for fresh thoughts. Personally I keep a semi-automatic 12 Gauge on a gun rack in my truck, which is more psychological than anything else. I've never had to use it, but I have been in quarrels with teenagers more often than not when they notice it. They usually shut up fairly promptly. I often bring one of my pit bull/mastiff mixes when I'm dumpster diving or doing curbco and it never hurts that I'm a very athletic 6'3 male. What do you guys do?

i have an old horse shoe peg i keep against my seat.....it is good and heavy....i actually use it for stripping things ,,it makes short work of ac units and it also cuts house trailer roofs and other light tin very well......i keep it close at hand just in case i need it......ive had to get it out once or twice in the past but ive never had to use it.......

most of my deals are cash business so i have to carry large amounts of cash sometimes...if and when i have a lot of money on me i always pick up an uncle or cousin and bring them along...just haveing an extra body with you will make bad people re think things sometimes.....

lately i try to use paypal as much as possible...if a place accepts it i always pay that way...i just prefer it

It's a matter of towns you live.
For me my quest is to continue to never be bothered by police & they are used to me .
I do my thing and cops drive by .

Now if I started to have to concern my self with any one like you imply, that would not be curb hunting to me .
This type of work for me is simple if it can't be peaceful why do it. I NEVER anticipate arguments and NEVER had ONE !!
I am the Mahatma Gandhi of scrappers

I have 2 pit dogs sure they have a look ,
but truth of a Pit is there not really good protection
unless your getting attacked by a other dog.

Copper Head: I had a hard enough time getting the pits to let my sisters in the house, I wouldn't want to see what one of these 100 pound dogs would do to an attacker. I live in a pretty small town so meth heads who will do anything for a buck are pretty common when it comes to scrapping metal. The dogs are a handy deterrent as far as keeping my stash safe.

Wadarbr: Paypal is an interesting idea. I think I'll talk to some of my regular sellers about it. It would be great not to have to carry cash.

No doubt scrap yards buy , and they happily buy your stolon stuff . Scrap is fast money .
As to Pits well how you rase them but I am stead fast with the breed . I have had many .
When you have a true APBT with true Pedigree what you find you have often is a dog that loves people if not a bit shy with people . But bold with any dog
they wont take crap from any dog . A 40 pound APBT can disable a 125 pound dog . True APBT are game
Now once you add another breed be it a mastiff German Shep any thing . now you have a Mutt and thats all there is to it .
The personality is now not gonna be a true APBT . Human boldness and willing to bite people will be real with a APBT mix. There are exceptions to any dog but generalized,
breeds do have standards that are changed with mix breeding
My male dog is mostly red nose pit but grandmother was Cain corso . So he has a little edge thats different then APBT ( American pit bull terrier ) But looks 100 % Pit
My female is APBT with some americian bull dog .Very pit like but just a littlle more dog then a true Pit. One day to own a true APBT is worth it . then you will know the truth . Heck the Mixs are causeing the real breed most of the problems .

The white male has a very good nature. He loves people and will try to nurture smaller dogs. He really just wants to be friends until he's given a reason not to be. The brown female, his sister, was the runt of a litter of 13. She's very suspicious of everything. She doesn't like other dogs and she doesn't like people until she's forced to integrate with them.

As far as the breed, I love pit bulls. I had pits as a child and they were always sweet dogs.

Needle nose pliers and a crazy look in my eyes.

Usually one of 2 handguns and an short crowbar in the seat next to me. Never had a confrontation and don't go lookin for one but I always like to be prepared. Never be a victim.

Well, I never even considered carrying anything until someone here said I should, especially when it was just my mom and me on rounds so I bought a pepper spray but the only thing I've eve run across is dogs. Most of the towns I scrap in the folks are real nice, no worries about things but, half the time I forget to even carry the pepper spray with me.

The best protection is to use the old noggin:

1: It takes two to make a fight.

2: Choose your battles wisely.

3: Be a person of dignity.

4: Keep a perspective on things. If you get into a scrap over scrap you're fighting with someone else over the trash.

I save the bang bangs for home defense.

The face munchers come with me if I'm out at night, an it's not during the season. Our neighborhoods can get pretty empty come winter what with the majority being summer rental homes. The pups an the bat come with me at night, during the day it'll depend where I am going. If I'm heading off the sandbar I might bring one of the dogs, the bat is always along. same with various other items could be used in self-defense. I've said it before..the dogs look sweet(avatar is one of my face munchers) but screw with me or the wife an they go all bat ****.

Some parts of the sandbar I bring a dog, as they are more rural an far from any help if you need it. I've lived this long by not taking chances so I try to be cautious an wary to a degree. If I don't feel comfortable I don't go, is pretty much my rule. not one I've had to use much but it seems to work. I listen to my gut to. Same thing I reckon..lol.

Far as during the season..there is usually always tourists around, or the cops(small place, so see them more). An it's day light longer. Usually I have no troubles, but as the saying goes..better safe then sorry. Oh..if i go to the mainland an up near the state line or into the city an hour away I let my wife, an a friend or two know where I'm headed an when I expect to be back. I know weird but hey..if i go missing lest they know where! Ha!

I'm always watching my surroundings an people around me. It's done me well so far.

Sirscrapalot - Plan for the best, expect the worse.

One tool, my Arkansas Tooth Pick, sharp and close to me when I can. If I can't get to it got a few pipes in the back of the truck. >:)

Thankfully had little problems with others -I'm only 5'6" but 180 lbs and look harder than i think i am.Polite and reasonable but will stand my ground, If you don't play fair i will walkaway if thats not good enough then will kick you in the 'soft bits',punch , bite and roll around with you in the road.
Trust me i don't look for trouble or ask for it , i would like to walk away but will be nobodies fool (tried that got me nowhere)

British - peace loving man - But attack me and i will fight back.

When I first read the thread, I thought I was going to say leather gloves and safety glasses. Now I am going to say my wits, pepper spray and a LCP.

not to sound dumb but what is a lcp ??????????????????? also i really like what scrappah had to say,,,using your head is a big assett in anything you do

I carry a side arm with me everywhere I go (most of the time, rarely I leave it home). Most of my issues is people braking into my shop when I'm not there but that has not been an issue since i moved out of that hell hole.

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Originally Posted by wadarbr549

not to sound dumb but what is a lcp ??????????????????? also i really like what scrappah had to say,,,using your head is a big assett in anything you do

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Ruger .380 auto...

http://www.ruger.com/products/lcp/images/3701.jpg

I have always been into sports and believe in playing fair and a "level playing field". I have never had a problem of a physical kind with anybody while engaged with scrapping. I keep my eyes open, my ears alert and brain in full working mode at all times. I don't go into places that I don't belong. I stay out of dark corners and never do scrap gathering after sundown. I don't engage or converse with negative and aggressive individuals without overwhelming numbers and good cause on my side. I do live and work in the "big city", I have had my fair share of negative encounters. I handle myself well, don't play fair when others choose to be aggressive towards me and mine. I personally will try to "walk away" and play another day, if I can. If someone insist on going physical with me, they will find they made a bad choice. I will first introduce them to "Louis", we will play baseball and he will be OUT! A "Louisville Slugger" is my first line of defense, I do have a backup, but that would be unfair play or would it?

I have found that the best protection is to be fully aware of your surroundings and know when what you are after is not worth the risk. That said, I always have something heavy with me although I have never had to pick it up.

I have two trucks. So, the equipment for both is different.

In my Chevrolet, I have a lead pipe. It's heavy. It worked well when the starter needed a whack. Now, it just takes up space.

In my Ford, I have a really large tire iron. It's not as nice as the pipe, but I wouldn't want to be whacked with it.

Both trucks have a fire extinguisher. It's good for fires... and spraying into an attacker. If all else fails, I can throw it!

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My best protection: There is another person in the truck. A former soldier who wouldn't hurt a fly, but they don't know that! Just having a second person would probably do the trick. But, I've never needed to find out.

And, of course, I drive with the doors locked. That would probably be enough time to drive away.

I have a CC but seldom use it. There's too much hassle with switching things out going to work (the bureaucrats would flip out if a "firearm" was in the car even though I'm licensed to carry although if its trapping season, the Mk.II has been in a case buried in the trunk. Half the time in the fall & winter when I'm not at work there some sort of bang-bang in the car. We're all pretty mellow around here. I think I stand more of a chance of sliding off of a bridge when its icy than someone trying to rob me...

P.S. Hey taterjuice, nice to hear someone else likes a Mini-14. With all the AR nuts around (my bro being one), that old Ruger has sort of taken a backseat to things. I actually shot mine after about 10 years about a month ago. It still worked!! Probably shouldn't have shot the bro's little spinning p. dog target. I think the .223 was a bit much for it :-/

6'-2", 225#, state champ wrestler & judo, a ""scrap"" little league baseball bat in the passenger side floorboard, and a 3' piece of angle iron on each siderail of my truck. Best defense, though: just pay attention to your surroundings.

If I hadn't lost all of my firearms in a tragic boating accident a couple years ago... *ahem*... I might carry a 38 revolver in an undisclosed location, too.

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Originally Posted by auminer

6'-2", 225#, state champ wrestler & judo, a ""scrap"" little league baseball bat in the passenger side floorboard, and a 3' piece of angle iron on each siderail of my truck. Best defense, though: just pay attention to your surroundings.

If I hadn't lost all of my firearms in a tragic boating accident a couple years ago... *ahem*... I might carry a 38 revolver in an undisclosed location, too.

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Oh my goodness! Scrappers have boating accidents too! I sure hope you weren't carrying because you had to protect your stack of PM's. Quite a few stackers have regrettably lost their stack transporting it by boat.

12 Ga w/ slugs or various rifles
I must protect myself from black bears not people, on more than one occasion they would be in, or come to the dumpsters while i'm there.
generally it's throw a rock against the dumpster and a bunch of hollering, but wildlife is unpredictable. attempting to pick dumpsters without some sort of protection that can reach farther than the end of your hand is sketchy.
Never had to use it to kill, a few times shot into the air and that was enough to persuade the animal to leave.