Our 1st Load (we'll probably get ripped off...right?)

My son & I are taking our first load of scrap to the yard today.
I still don't know how to tell the difference between stainless steel, and regular steel (even though I've read numerous articles & watched numerous videos on youtube) so I'll probably lose a *TON* of money.

Any last second tips before we head out?

Oh, and by the way...our magnet sticks to everything in this load.

You will be fine! Let us know the weight and payout... I guess 280 lbs...

I called the scrapyard to ask if someone would be able to help me determine the difference in my stainless steel and regular steel.
She said if a magnet sticks to it, it's not stainless. I thought that was an incorrect assumption.
Don't magnets stick to some types of stainless steel?

Thanks for the info.
I have about a dozen gutted computer cases...everything's stripped off. Are those ss? I'm guessing no.

No, stainless is only used for things it is needed for because it costs more. test with magnet, as you said it sticks so your yard most likely only pays steel for low grade stainless.

Originally Posted by ChesterCopperpot

Thanks for the info.
I have about a dozen gutted computer cases...everything's stripped off. Are those ss? I'm guessing no.

Some PC cases, can be Al U minium ( < English pronunciation ) A magnet will reveal if steel or Alum.

By me Sheet Iron is $.0275 lb., Dirty Stainless (magnetic) is $.21 lb. When you go to the yard find out if they pay more for Prepared Steel. Up until the end of last year everyone here paid Sheet Iron, now new place buys and pays more for different types of steel.

Stainless steel is graded by its iron content. Stainless that sticks to magnets such as kitchen in knives and junk ware are lower grade with more iron and less valuable content. That is purchased as steel or very close to steel since of its low value. If It doesn't stick hit it with a grinder and if yellow comes up its brass, reddish orange copper, if it sparks it is non mag stainless, if it doesn't and is a silvery it is most likely aluminum. Lots of sink faucets may smell like it's burning when hit with a grinder and those are a plastic composite and are trash, a lot can be brass, and some stainless. Your load looks fine and you won't loose too much, only about 40c difference from steel and non mag stainless depending on your location. Good luck and I guess 650 lbs

All stainless has a small magnetic attraction, even the highest grades.

How stainless steel is made - material, manufacture, used, processing, parts, components, structure, steps, industry, Raw Materials, The Manufacturing Process of stainless steel

For me, the best stainless is old kitchen sinks with the steel rims removed and of course stainless pots and pans- I get a lot of those.
Also, do I see some aluminum lawn furniture in that load ? Cut off the plastic webbing and keep it separated , you'll get more for it than steel prices.
Usually to get the most out of the load you need to do alittle work . When you get some copper pipe going make sure you prepare it to get the best prices.
If you are not sure what I mean by "prepare" there is plenty of info here and on youtube about it. Good luck and keep learning !

The best stainless stuff (for me) is commercial food grade stuff. Usually its non magnetic stainless. Mixers, prep tables, sinks, you get the idea. Also, around my area used to be a slew of small dairy farms, all the milking equipment, tanks and tables and such are usually non mag. I've hauled a bunch of that. My yard says if a magnet sticks, into the shred feed it goes. Since everyone else is guessing at weight, lets go 258 pounds, unless you've got buckets of nails in the bed

Nice load hope you and your kid have a good time. It took me awhile to get the stainless stuff down too. Once you know what it is you wont have a problem with it. My yard pays the same for sticky stainless and non sticky so its pretty easy, some place tho will separate it by the different grades all depends where you go. But it looks like you got a good haul there nothing sticks out to me that might be stainless.