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low background radiation steel

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  1. #1
    ricktejas started this thread.
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    Question low background radiation steel

    Hello Scrap Metal Forum!



    I'm with a construction company in Houston, Texas. We're looking at doing a partial demo on a steel building from the 1920s and we're going to be scrapping a ton of low background radiation steel i-beams.

    Anyone have any idea how to go about selling this? I know it's fairly valuable, I'm not sure how to begin moving it. Any suggestions?


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    You'll want to work directly with a mill if possible. Do you know what kind of tonnage you're looking at?

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    Welcome to SMF. There are several demolition forums that might offer some insight as well.

    I was a consultant for the gutting of an old power plant in Omaha a few years ago. It was around 10,000 tons of metal, a good share was radioactive. There was no problem selling it. Another job included metal from the oil feilds in Wyoming where the metal is radioactive from being buried in the ground. From my experience, it is dependent on the level of radiation. We used gasoline torches and liquid oxygen in both situations.

    For more information on the power plant, it was documented at:

    A Scrappers Dream: cutting torch
    A Scrappers Dream

    There are several other threads titled A Scrappers Dream. Use the advanced search button in the upper right hand corner and search the titles and my name.

    Good luck to you.
    Give back more to this world than we take.

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    It sounds like someone thinks low radiation steel is better than normal steel.

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    Quote Originally Posted by IamTheGreatest View Post
    It sounds like someone thinks low radiation steel is better than normal steel.
    Low radiation steel AKA Low-background steel is more valuable than normal steel.

    Making Geiger counters requires it.

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    Yeah, no. In reading up on this, it's a little bit half truth.

    https://www.straightdope.com/columns...radioactivity/

    https://www.quora.com/Why-cant-steel...t-is-its-worth

    In the 60's it had a little more value. But now they can make it, and I'm thinking testing devices don't take much steel. I'd be leaning towards beams not being of much use in the low radiation field, as they'd have to be melted.

    It is interesting why it's considered low radiation. There is some truth to it, but a lot of it was hyped up. I would think there'd be enough pre-1946 cars around that would do the job for a while.

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    Quote Originally Posted by IamTheGreatest View Post
    Yeah, no. In reading up on this, it's a little bit half truth.

    https://www.straightdope.com/columns...radioactivity/

    https://www.quora.com/Why-cant-steel...t-is-its-worth

    In the 60's it had a little more value. But now they can make it, and I'm thinking testing devices don't take much steel. I'd be leaning towards beams not being of much use in the low radiation field, as they'd have to be melted.

    It is interesting why it's considered low radiation. There is some truth to it, but a lot of it was hyped up. I would think there'd be enough pre-1946 cars around that would do the job for a while.
    Yeah the true low radiation steel has been underwater since then. Everything above ground has some degree of contamination. Where I am there is no demand for it and the only yard I know of that buys it is the parent yard in Kuala Lumpur of my former job lol.

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    ricktejas started this thread.
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    Good info. Now I get to inform the property owner that he missed his window by a few decades lol. Thanks everyone

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    we can buy any kind of scrap metal any over size also can take contact me pm

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    Shipping will kill any profits. Find a local buyer in TX.

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