Question about large brass pipe with steel fixtures and cast iron pipe

My work had to redo the water line coming into the building. They cut out a 5 foot piece of large cast iron pipe with vales and fixtures, and a piece of heavy duty brass pipe, plus a ton of smaller copper and brass pipe. They were going to throw it away and I got permission to take them instead.



I've never scrapped anything like either of these big pipes, in the past I did mostly light iron and e-scrap.

The cast iron pipe probably weighs about 150-200 pounds, and has some valves and stuff attached.

The brass pipe probably weights 75-100 pounds and has some big pressure reducing values and other valves attached, but is mostly big chunky brass pipe by weight. The pipe diameter itself is either 3 or 4 inches but some of the brass joints and pieces are probably closer to 10 inches in diameter.

I have an angle grinder that I was barely able to cut the big iron pipe in half with but don't have the ability to do much else with it. I assume cutting the steel valve handles off wouldn't change much with the grading?

The brass pipe is all wonky with different angles and shapes so I can't really get an angle to cut it apart and the big pressure reducing valves (with steel bolts) and what not I think are too much for my grinder to safely tackle.

Any insight into what I should expect to get from this at a scrapyard? Specifically what grade of brass would be reasonable. I just want to go in prepared so I don't get taken advantage of, and I don't really have the ability to break it down much further.

Thanks in advance.

Where I sell, if the vast vast vast majority of the weight is cast iron and is otherwise "contaminated" with only tiny amounts of non-cast irons then it can go with clean cast iron. But otherwise expect HMS prep or something like it whether you separate the steels or not. By your description, see if your yard will give you "95% brass" or something like it for the brass pipe as is. They might categorize it as 80% brass breakage (high grade brass breakage" if it's not a yard that has flexible categories.

Originally Posted by JJinLV

Where I sell, if the vast vast vast majority of the weight is cast iron and is otherwise "contaminated" with only tiny amounts of non-cast irons then it can go with clean cast iron. But otherwise expect HMS prep or something like it whether you separate the steels or not. By your description, see if your yard will give you "95% brass" or something like it for the brass pipe as is. They might categorize it as 80% brass breakage (high grade brass breakage" if it's not a yard that has flexible categories.

So for the brass I would get about 80% of the brass price? $1.60/lb if it were $2/lb?

Thanks for the help.
Cheers.

Originally Posted by bjybjy

So for the brass I would get about 80% of the brass price? $1.60/lb if it were $2/lb?

Thanks for the help.
Cheers.

No because there is recovery costs built into the pricing. They'll either have to pay someone to cut it to separate the non-brass or it goes to a shredder. Either way 80% as a category will usually pay around 55-65% of clean brass. Around Las Vegas anyway, your mileage may vary

can you post a few pics of it?

Originally Posted by Nealcrenshaw

can you post a few pics of it?

This may also can be a great help resolving the issue if you permits to.

I'll try to get a photo uploaded, I don't have the piece with me right now since it is in storage at work. I wrote my local yard via their request a quote on their website and described what it was. They said it would qualify as "refinery brass" which is $.60 a pound. I know a photo will help, but does that sound reasonable? Thanks.

It's probably correct. If you are able to just get pieces of brass pipe all by itself cut off with no valves or anything else on those pieces, then those pieces would be double that price or more...and the leftovers would go as "refinery brass".

Cut the brass to get rid of the steel. It is softer to cut and it is the more valuable resource. You can cut brass apart pretty easily. Now you can cut two linier lines on both sides of the steel (cast) with a hacksaw and just use a chisel to pop the threaded brass of the steel threads. A brass valve should have a threaded packing nut on the top if the valve that can be loosened and removed to take the valve apart. Again, if it is limed together, make some cuts through the threads and loosen to the point where you can remove.