Printable View
If you are not a yard owner, do you compress your scrap for transport? Do you have a baler? Do you take your scrap to a yard, or, as I do, do you have a container dropped off that is picked up when full?
I am trying to figure out how to maximize my loads and was wondering if there is a way to do it that is not very labor intensive or cost a lot.
I use a tractor and forks to flatten stuff as much as possible.
Yes, if trying to maximize space but if I have a decent load without spending the extra time, I just go. I can get to my yard in about 10-15 minutes so I will take smaller loads sometimes. Also fill cavities of appliances etc to conserve space...load on trailer or truck first if you don't have a way to lift heavy stuff.
I compress all my sheet/tin with either the tractor and loader or the skidsteer. You can easily get 10x the amount of duct work for example on a trailer, plus it's easier to secure the load. I also fill up appliance carcasses with the small stuff.
here is some common sence. if we could all compress our scrap we would. it takes money and or equipment, that is why there are big yards with all the equipment, smaller yards with less equipment, and people like me with no equiupment.
if you want to grow you add equipment or build it as you are able too.
there are a ton of how toos on building crushers on the net that arnt more then a few hundred dollars, the most expensive parts are the hydrolics. you can convert all types of old hydrolic equipment to new uses so never never scrap hydrolics.
for example that ols truck you are about to scrap, does it have a lift gate. that pump, hoses, and perifials are a gold mine.
Not yet, but I think I'm going to have to start thinking about it soon. The cost of fuel is getting out of hand, and I really need to start thinking about being more efficient. My 2 closest yards will refuse any appliances that have been stuffed. Too many A holes loading them with rocks I guess.
For me, it really doesn't matter.... I can make trips all day long and be cost effective (wish I had that much scrap), simple because from the end of my driveway to the edge of the parking lot at the scrap yard is almost 1km on the nose... so I am less than 5 mins from my yard....
I have however considered building a small bailer for thin aluminum... things like vent caps, the flexable dryer hose, etc... the stuff that taked up too much room in storage....
You might be able to modify this one for your use.Quote:
I have however considered building a small bailer for thin aluminum... things like vent caps, the flexable dryer hose, etc... the stuff that taked up too much room in storage....
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermic.../ag473-12.html
like olddude said you could make something that goes over the dumpster that has a hydrolic ram that pushes the metal down. you could put it on wheels that way you can roll it from end to end of the dumpster. it would be like a portable can baler. that would definitely save room and make you more money per load. if you do make something like that, take many pictures to show us.
That's for sure about the hydraulic cylinders. If you have cylinders, a motor and pump, and hydraulic lines, maybe a manifold depending on how complicated you want it to be, you can press about anything. That's really all a trash compactor is, a ram on a cylinder that packs it a few feet at a time
Personal opinion if you have a company drop off a container and you fill it up. They bring you a new one and take the full one away. Unless they are charging you a fee for swapping out the dumpsters why bother spending the money to compact it. I know the yard I use alot doesnt charge a fee they just pay you less per ton for use of dumpster.
I have 4 bins at my shop for scrap tin. When they get about 1/3rd full, i use my full 300 pounds, and walk on it. Seems to do the job well enough. I call up my yard and they pick up the bins, usually around 2500-3000 pounds each.
I use dumpsters for my light iron. Get paid light iron for them. Way more cost effective, no gas used.
However i choose to drive in all cast and better to make sure i get accurate weights.
I've toyed with the idea of getting a cardboard compactor/baler, (they seem to be cheaper than dedicated scrap balers) or something similar, but I don't go through enough light metal to justify owning one. Plus I don't know if it would have enough crush force?
My yard is less than 10 minutes away so it's not a huge issue.
Also wondered if a retired garbage truck would have enough crush force to bale up a pile of tin. I see those come up ever so often.
I know they have more than enough power to annihilate a computer with a cover on it. I had to pry the cover off.Quote:
Also wondered if a retired garbage truck would have enough crush force to bale up a pile of tin. I see those come up ever so often.
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...8/100_0615.jpg
If I remember correctly, those bales are usually close to 1000 lbs each. That's a lot of crushing power.Quote:
I've toyed with the idea of getting a cardboard compactor/baler, (they seem to be cheaper than dedicated scrap balers) or something similar, but I don't go through enough light metal to justify owning one. Plus I don't know if it would have enough crush force?
I consider that mangled. Not compressed. I am thinking more along the lines of something like this.
http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/103...teel_bales.jpg
The machine that baled it I imagine was something like this.
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v6/265...ss_Machine.jpg
Clearly out of budget. :D
I was just thinking in terms of getting the most bang for my buck per load. Especially since I am not so certain they are paying me for the full weight of the scrap I put in my bin. I've considered weighing individual items and doing the math but hasn't seemed worthwhile so far.
I have always cut things down to size so they fit better. But as stated with the gas prices so high it may make more sence to flatten some items like dryers and stack them.
remember any thing designed to lift up can be converted to push down/crush.
Oh, it's just time to break open the piggybank.Quote:
Clearly out of budget. Click here to enlarge
If you thought this was a compact car before...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipx5kp1srsI
Idaho, Other than being slow as crap that is a interesting crusher.
We buy some compressed scrap, but we are very choosey because when it goes to my buyer if there is a big rock in it I have to pay for it. The money isint the issue, it is the lost trust that I dont like. My buyers and I have a great relationship and I takeit worse than they do but it is something to be aware of.
Can you detect if a load is all metal? On one of my yard trips a few months ago I noticed an employee with what I assumed to be a metal detector waving it across each bin on a semi load that had just come in.
With a name like BurlyGuys I am sure you can handle the increased weight of a baled load, but a ford festiva isn't going to appreciate a bale of tin being loaded into it hatchback.:p
Idaho, if it was Pacific, they would have been checking for radioactive materials.
Yes, it was Pacific. So that's what that device is. Thanks.
Maybe a load of non ferrus or alum. and they were checking for any steel or iron mixed in.Quote:
Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper
The bins are steel, so wouldn't that mess up their readings? I have never used a metal detector so I am clueless in their operation.
IIRC the load was aluminum. He wasn't scanning from the top of the bins, he was scanning from the side while they were still on the truck.
Found a dryer today and told myself I was going to break it down flat! It had a stainless steel drum and I also got $3.03 in change out of it!
the stainless steel weighs 16 lbs.