Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 21 to 40 of 58

What items are actually worth the time scrapping for money? - Page 2

| Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
  1. #21
    406Refining's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Billings, MT
    Posts
    253
    Thanks
    317
    Thanked 397 Times in 148 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by bigfoot View Post
    Refrigerators
    Dishwashers?
    Electric saws?
    Fans?
    Light fixtures?
    Scooters
    Stoves
    Microwaves
    I don't do much with saws, fans, scooters...but I do a lot with appliances. Generally, the only profitable way to scrap appliances is by the trailer load. The best way to increase your profits on appliances is to pull the various parts out. I buy appliance parts in the buyers and sellers section for significantly more than scrap value.


  2. The Following User Says Thank You to 406Refining for This Post:



  3. #22
    adda's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2016
    Location
    south bend, in
    Posts
    16
    Thanks
    16
    Thanked 21 Times in 10 Posts
    It is threads like this that remind me of the value Mechanic688 provided as a moderator. For the newcomers, Mech use to recommend reading old threads and knew the forum well enough he would provide links to the proper threads. This provided members a starting point in their research. Mech is no longer with us, but his memory is shared by several members.




    Patriot76, did he use to talk some about - not politics specifically - stuff relating to the country/economy/etc? Just curious, because I used to read a lot here before I joined (I still don't post a lot) but I was thinking about those posts and was trying to remember who posted (a lot of) it. It was interesting (to me at least).
    Last edited by adda; 02-13-2018 at 10:55 PM. Reason: include quote

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to adda for This Post:


  5. #23
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2018
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    268
    Thanks
    212
    Thanked 179 Times in 97 Posts
    Even though this is an old thread, I want to add something that is easy to scrap- Romex wire. Many times I will only remove the soft outer layer and take the paper off the one bare bright copper strand inside. If it is easy enough (and often it is NOT easy), then I will attempt to remove the plastic insulation on the other inside wires. But that one strand of bare bright is very easy to remove. I would just try to keep it out of the rain, as the paper insulation in some cases could get stuck to the bare bright and become more difficult to remove.

    Another thing that is kind of fun to scrap is chandeliers, but be sure to test with a magnet to make sure it is not steel before wasting a lot of time on it.

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to recyclersteve for This Post:


  7. #24
    ChildhoodDream's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    1,276
    Thanks
    1,664
    Thanked 994 Times in 527 Posts
    I found this a interesting read, so a bump to the top
    and then some...

  8. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by ChildhoodDream:


  9. #25
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Las Vegas
    Posts
    1,306
    Thanks
    3,232
    Thanked 1,922 Times in 785 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by ChildhoodDream View Post
    I found this a interesting read, so a bump to the top
    and then some...
    You've got the right idea with these bumps. I encourage people to read older threads but it's good practice to recirculate them so people browsing will happen upon them. Thank you!
    Last edited by JJinLV; 01-09-2021 at 10:58 PM.

  10. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by JJinLV:


  11. #26
    t00nces2's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    1,693
    Thanks
    1,187
    Thanked 2,341 Times in 958 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by bigfoot View Post
    Refrigerators
    Dishwashers?
    Electric saws?
    Fans?
    Light fixtures?
    Scooters
    Stoves
    Microwaves


    Etc...

    What types of metal would I find in the time worthy items?
    Gold and silver and platinum jewelry seem to provide a significant scrap value when you can find it. Gold and silver and platinum items tend to be small so look for them in the bottom of the trash bags, most often found in chicken bones and used tissue and coffee grounds. be sure to rub between your fingers to eliminate the possibility that an item will be missed because of the adhesion of surface debris.

  12. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by t00nces2:


  13. #27
    jimicrk's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    2,825
    Thanks
    2,917
    Thanked 4,838 Times in 1,877 Posts
    That poor, poor horse.....

  14. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by jimicrk:


  15. #28
    ChildhoodDream's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    1,276
    Thanks
    1,664
    Thanked 994 Times in 527 Posts
    Refrigerators
    Dishwashers?
    Electric saws?
    Fans?
    Light fixtures?
    Scooters
    Stoves
    Microwaves

    The list above has only one thing on it that doesn't really fit and that is Scooters"

    Parts is where the money is or selling items as is or fixing and selling if there is a market.

    The things besides Scooters I have plenty of as most is scrap with a few parts of value for repairs, arts and crafts and such.

    I can't understand how people can make a living at scraping most electric tools, appliances and such.

    That's why I've let most of that type stuff just sit until it makes sense for me to do something with it.

    I just might get around to messing with some of it in the future, but life changes and things happen to where it's time to do something with all the scrap here in the yard.

    I don't mind as I'm in no rush to mess with most of it as I have other things to occupy my time.

    It's all paid for so it can sit as I like sitting more these days as I try and enjoy the Golden years ahead.

  16. #29
    hills's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,351
    Thanks
    797
    Thanked 1,276 Times in 721 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by recyclersteve View Post
    Even though this is an old thread, I want to add something that is easy to scrap- Romex wire. Many times I will only remove the soft outer layer and take the paper off the one bare bright copper strand inside. If it is easy enough (and often it is NOT easy), then I will attempt to remove the plastic insulation on the other inside wires. But that one strand of bare bright is very easy to remove. I would just try to keep it out of the rain, as the paper insulation in some cases could get stuck to the bare bright and become more difficult to remove.
    Whoo boy .... scrapping wire is quite a bit of work for what copper you get out of it. The wire stripping machine makes the task much easier but it still eats up a lot of time. It's a never ending job.

    It seems like no sooner do i get caught up on the pile ... that hundreds more feet will come in. I'm grateful for everything that comes in but i really don't think i would recommend stripping wire for money to someone else.

    It's too much like work for most people's tastes. The sensible thing would be to sell it as insulated copper wire at the yard and be done with it.

  17. The Following User Says Thank You to hills for This Post:


  18. #30
    hills's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,351
    Thanks
    797
    Thanked 1,276 Times in 721 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by ChildhoodDream View Post
    Refrigerators
    Dishwashers?
    Electric saws?
    Fans?
    Light fixtures?
    Scooters
    Stoves
    Microwaves

    The list above has only one thing on it that doesn't really fit and that is Scooters"

    Parts is where the money is or selling items as is or fixing and selling if there is a market.

    The things besides Scooters I have plenty of as most is scrap with a few parts of value for repairs, arts and crafts and such.

    I can't understand how people can make a living at scraping most electric tools, appliances and such.

    That's why I've let most of that type stuff just sit until it makes sense for me to do something with it.

    I just might get around to messing with some of it in the future, but life changes and things happen to where it's time to do something with all the scrap here in the yard.

    I don't mind as I'm in no rush to mess with most of it as I have other things to occupy my time.

    It's all paid for so it can sit as I like sitting more these days as I try and enjoy the Golden years ahead.
    I dunno man. All bets are off after you've turned 50. You gotta some thought to to the legacy you're leaving behind. At least ... most guys our age do.

    What's the most likely scenario here ?

  19. #31
    mikeinreco's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    TENNESSEE
    Posts
    4,972
    Thanks
    1,257
    Thanked 5,023 Times in 2,350 Posts
    with the current scrap pricing just about everything is worth scrapping if you are physically able.........highest price in years but the trend is downward from here

  20. The Following User Says Thank You to mikeinreco for This Post:


  21. #32
    hills's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,351
    Thanks
    797
    Thanked 1,276 Times in 721 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by mikeinreco View Post
    with the current scrap pricing just about everything is worth scrapping if you are physically able.........highest price in years but the trend is downward from here
    I dunno Mike. You have to think about the value of your time plus operating expenses. I doubt i'm making more than two or three dollars an hour with stripping the wire.

    It would be one thing if you were an old guy living on Social Security. It would a little extra coming in to help make ends meet.

    Could you actually make a living at scrapping ? That's your prime gig that pays all the bills with no other income sources ? That's no easy thing to do.

    Just cause you're making money ... doesn't mean you're making profit.

    How do you define " Worth It ". ?

  22. #33
    ChildhoodDream's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    1,276
    Thanks
    1,664
    Thanked 994 Times in 527 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by hills View Post
    I dunno man. All bets are off after you've turned 50. You gotta some thought to to the legacy you're leaving behind. At least ... most guys our age do.

    What's the most likely scenario here ?
    I'm just living my childhood dream in that I've never put much thought into getting rid of stuff as my place is like a salvage yard theme park.

    I created my own world here. I figured that I would get stuff sorted out so that if I had a auction in the future the scrap would most likely sell by the pallet or pile to others that were interested in scraping it out.

    I got rid of most of the copper pipe and heavy wire. Some I stripped if easy, but I sold off many pounds of the wire they use in houses and well pump wire. Then there were the radiators and cats. Plus the battery piles I got rid of. One load of batteries was just over a ton.

    I haven't messed with aluminum much as the price is so low.

    The scrap is just extra stuff sitting around.

    It's my hobbies that make me the BIG bucks.

    I just might die here someday. Or I might move on and do something else. Don't matter much to me as I'm still living my childhood dreams and then some.

    Motive is what makes things so different for me as my motives are on a different plane then most others.

    My salvage yard is my home, simply put.

  23. The Following User Says Thank You to ChildhoodDream for This Post:


  24. #34
    406Refining's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Billings, MT
    Posts
    253
    Thanks
    317
    Thanked 397 Times in 148 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by hills View Post
    I dunno Mike. You have to think about the value of your time plus operating expenses. I doubt i'm making more than two or three dollars an hour with stripping the wire.

    It would be one thing if you were an old guy living on Social Security. It would a little extra coming in to help make ends meet.

    Could you actually make a living at scrapping ? That's your prime gig that pays all the bills with no other income sources ? That's no easy thing to do.

    Just cause you're making money ... doesn't mean you're making profit.

    How do you define " Worth It ". ?
    I 100% agree!! The number of people who do scrapping that don't take into consideration that making money does not mean making a profit is huge. It's all fun and games on making money ignoring wear on vehicles. As soon as major repairs show up, things get serious very quickly. I cannot tell you how many scrappers I've seen lose significant business/no call, no show for their customers simply because their vehicle wasn't reliable enough to make it to the pickup location.

    Full time scrapping is an interesting allure. I'm not full time, but I have seen a bunch of people who are. When prices are high they can make money. As soon as it drops though, times get financially slim very quickly. Especially if you're one of the "churn and burn" scrappers. I'm not saying churn and burn is the wrong way to do recycling, but you're at the mercy of the scrap prices. I just have a hard time wrapping my head around spending all the time collecting/taking trailer loads of metal to the yard when a single refrigerator will pay the same amount of money. For me, the scrap metal (especially steel) is just the last pile of material that can't be fixed/resold.

    All that being said, I would honestly say the biggest thing that people don't do is define what they want to/set goals for their scrapping.

  25. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by 406Refining:


  26. #35
    hills's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,351
    Thanks
    797
    Thanked 1,276 Times in 721 Posts
    My perspective is a bit different CD. I'm getting to be an older guy and i've accumulated a lot of things over the years. I try to do the things that make me happy and live every day as though it were my last. There's really no way of knowing. Today might actually be my last.

    Gawd ... i see it all the time. An older fulla dies and his wife & children get stuck doing the cleanout. It's an awful lot of unfinished business / unfinished work to leave as your legacy. Half the time they just scoop it all up into the back of a truck and haul it off to the dump.

    Been making a conscious effort to reduce the volume of "stuff " over the last few years as well.

  27. #36
    ChildhoodDream's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    1,276
    Thanks
    1,664
    Thanked 994 Times in 527 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by hills View Post
    My perspective is a bit different CD. I'm getting to be an older guy and i've accumulated a lot of things over the years. I try to do the things that make me happy and live every day as though it were my last. There's really no way of knowing. Today might actually be my last.

    Gawd ... i see it all the time. An older fulla dies and his wife & children get stuck doing the cleanout. It's an awful lot of unfinished business / unfinished work to leave as your legacy. Half the time they just scoop it all up into the back of a truck and haul it off to the dump.

    Been making a conscious effort to reduce the volume of "stuff " over the last few years as well.
    I have had many ask me what will happen to all the stuff I have if I died. I would tell them that when I'm dead I have no use or interest in it anymore.

    I have let those I know well know what to do when I'm gone. Now getting sick in a bad way would change everything, but I have a good idea of what I would do then.

    I don't put much thought into the things that most others do as most of my thinking is off on another planet as far as most others are concerned.

    I have learned in my older age that I can't do as much as I did in the past, but that don't matter much to me as it's the way things go.

    I mostly do what I feel like doing, or need to do. I have many projects that need attention, but I just mosey along as I do my work/play in a interesting way.

    I don't have a wife and children so I have no responsibility in that area.

    In the past when I had dogs I would put thought into what would happen to them if I died. Big part of the reason I don't have dogs anymore. Didn't want the responsibility.

    I'm wired VERY differently then most others, always have been. We all live in our own little worlds. My world is just far beyond the worlds of most others understanding, simply put.

  28. The Following User Says Thank You to ChildhoodDream for This Post:


  29. #37
    hills's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,351
    Thanks
    797
    Thanked 1,276 Times in 721 Posts
    Ummm .... maybe not all that different from others CD.

    What it all boils down to is " I'm dead so it's somebody else's problem ". Just gonna do my thing and call it good enough.

  30. #38
    ChildhoodDream's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    1,276
    Thanks
    1,664
    Thanked 994 Times in 527 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by hills View Post
    Ummm .... maybe not all that different from others CD.

    What it all boils down to is " I'm dead so it's somebody else's problem ". Just gonna do my thing and call it good enough.
    Not sure what you are saying there. Could you expound on it?

  31. #39
    hills's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,351
    Thanks
    797
    Thanked 1,276 Times in 721 Posts
    Well ... a lot of people are selfish. The world begins and ends with them.

    Kinda getting into junkyard philosophy again ... but have you ever read the writings of Ayn Rand ?

    She had quite a bit to say on the matter and extolled on "the virtue of selfishness".

    It's a somewhat different view on morality & ethics but not unique.

  32. #40
    ChildhoodDream's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    1,276
    Thanks
    1,664
    Thanked 994 Times in 527 Posts
    You won't figure me out as you are going at it with blinders. You are like a guy that is standing one foot away from the wall of the Post Office and believes it's the Public Library as that's what you want to believe for your own personal reasons. Your wife is standing on the sidewalk telling you that it's not the Library it's the Post Office

    You believe you are closer so you have the better view, while your wife can read the lettering on the building.





    had it wrong and had to correct, things happen
    Last edited by ChildhoodDream; 03-30-2023 at 01:15 PM.


  33. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. if someone has time and the items, could you post a before and after pic?
      By newattitude in forum Dismantling, Breaking Down & Maximizing Scrap
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 04-06-2013, 10:30 PM
    2. Items worth more as scrap
      By Allen70 in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 03-10-2013, 07:11 PM
    3. College kid looking for work, scrapping worth the time?
      By college in forum Introduce yourself
      Replies: 27
      Last Post: 02-14-2013, 06:45 PM
    4. are these worth the money?
      By Chiipinscrapper in forum General - Let's talk business
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 12-14-2012, 11:08 PM

Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook