Results 1 to 9 of 9

Do scrapyards buy metal powder/cuttings?

| Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
  1. #1
    miyamuto started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    12
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Do scrapyards buy metal powder/cuttings?

    do scrap yards buy metal powder, for example copper powder or brass powder or aluminum powder? and if they do how are they able to tell what metal the powder is?



  2. #2
    jimicrk's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    2,826
    Thanks
    2,917
    Thanked 4,838 Times in 1,877 Posts
    I have worked on phone systems that are in machine shops and have seen the bins where they save the metal shavings. I don't know who they sell to or if they separate them though.

  3. #3
    Patriot76's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Buffalo Commons
    Posts
    2,949
    Thanks
    10,589
    Thanked 7,220 Times in 2,256 Posts
    A PMI (Positive Metal Identification) gun could be used to identify specific metals. This tool can identify all the metals and percentages a specific item contains. I have no idea about a market for metal powder.
    Give back more to this world than we take.

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to Patriot76 for This Post:


  5. #4
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Las Vegas
    Posts
    1,306
    Thanks
    3,232
    Thanked 1,922 Times in 785 Posts
    For the most relevant info, ask your yard if they buy it. But yes, folks buy and sell metal powders. As example, shredder yards end up with copper powder as a byproduct of wire granulation. But if you have access to metal powder scrap ask your local yards about it

  6. #5
    Snowman18's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2018
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    58
    Thanks
    24
    Thanked 26 Times in 14 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by miyamuto View Post
    do scrap yards buy metal powder, for example copper powder or brass powder or aluminum powder? and if they do how are they able to tell what metal the powder is?
    It's called swarf.


  7. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by Snowman18:


  8. #6
    APA's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Western Pennsylvania
    Posts
    628
    Thanks
    638
    Thanked 545 Times in 289 Posts
    Ace Iron and Metal in Kalamazoo, MI buys powdered metal.
    Quote Originally Posted by miyamuto View Post
    do scrap yards buy metal powder, for example copper powder or brass powder or aluminum powder? and if they do how are they able to tell what metal the powder is?

  9. #7
    eesakiwi's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Dec 2010
    Location
    NZ
    Posts
    2,531
    Thanks
    2,909
    Thanked 2,556 Times in 1,227 Posts
    We sold the swarf at the workshop (machine shop ) I worked at.
    Aluminium swarf is quite low priced compared to the other Ali prices, it's also wet & oily from the cutting fluids used. I did wash it out a bit, but it's still got it & it's fine shavings, so thin, with a oxide layer.

    The other metals were mostly buckets of Brass swarf & various Bronzes. Each seperated, gunmetal, Ali bronze, red bronze & phosphorous Bronze.
    It was always a good week that one, as a perk we got to split the scrap metal money between us.

  10. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by eesakiwi:


  11. #8
    greytruck's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Thornton, Illinois
    Posts
    1,876
    Thanks
    1,642
    Thanked 1,736 Times in 896 Posts
    I sold some Alum swarf this spring. My buddy is a machinist. It was mostly shavings and turnings, not to much dust. The scrap yard bought it at .10 less than the clean alum price. Good thing i went threw it and took out the cut offs and rod ends
    Last edited by greytruck; 10-14-2018 at 12:01 PM. Reason: yewwww

  12. #9
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Oro Valley, AZ
    Posts
    72
    Thanks
    71
    Thanked 185 Times in 40 Posts
    There is more to powdered metals than swarf. I recently at an auction picked up 650 pounds of 325 mesh metal powders (for $30 ). This stuff is used for cold casting, metal spraying, and in this case from a door manufacturer to coat metal frames with different colored metals. The 325 mesh powdered metals go for $10 to $20 per pound on ebay. I wound up with 190 lbs of bronze, 85 lbs brass, 180 lbs of iron, 40 lbs nickel silver, 90 lbs stainless steel, 55 lbs of white bronze, and 10 lbs of unknown. Life is good.

    Starbits
    "Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say, this I am today, that I shall be tomorrow. The wish, however, must be implemented by deeds." Louis L'Amour The Walking Drum


  13. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Nickel Hi Temp Alloy Recycling - Nickel, Tungsten Metal Powder & Sludge Recycling
      By americanscrapmetal.com in forum Introduce yourself
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 12-13-2018, 02:37 AM
    2. Scrapyards: Help Us Help You
      By LordMallard in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 34
      Last Post: 04-06-2014, 03:57 PM
    3. Recycling vegetable scraps and cuttings.
      By ryanw in forum Non Metal Recycling
      Replies: 1
      Last Post: 03-11-2014, 01:21 AM

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