What should I scrap?

[ScraperRick]

There are a multitude of things to go after, what worked the most for you? What pays the best and is worth my time is going after? I'm open to ALL idea's, please point me in tbe right direction.

[IdahoScrapper]

Start small, maybe with something like a locomotive, and go from there.

[Mechanic688]

You might find out what everyone else is doing and you do the opposite. No sense of you trying to scrap what everybody else is picking up, find your niche.

[Bear]

go for brooklin bridge, leave golden gate alone! it's mine

[BurlyGuys]

I scrap everything I can get my hands on.

[happyscraper]

Sorry your gonea have to make up your own mind on this one. The only thing I can think of that dosn't have scrap (recycle) value would be dishes and even dishes might have resale value. Find something that is available to you and that you know you have a way to sell. I like e-waste but sometimes it can be hard to find a good buyer. It took me over a year to find a buyer for e-waste that was not worth shipping.

[hobo finds]

When I started out I would pass up steel as I thought It was not worth it. I only wanted the good stuff $$! Steel now makes up 60% of what cash I make! And with steel little or no breakdown!

[theelectronrecycler]

O K. There are many things to scrap for $$$$. Here is just a partial list. You have to make up your own mind. It also depends on the network of buyers in your area.

Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals
E-Waste
Vehicles
Cloth
Newsprint , Office Paper , Cardboard
Wooden Shipping Pallets
Glass ( automotive too )
Plastics
Books
Tires
Concrete
Asphalt
Oil (hydraulic fluid, motor oil, brake fluid etc)
CD's, DVD's (their cases too)
Carbide
Rubber
Scrap Lumber
Appliances (these also have a re-sell value in used parts, just find a local small appliance repairman)
INFORMATION (this is the most profitable commodity available)
Tools (resale value)
Tin Cans (like the ones food comes in)
Styrofoam
Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Titanium ( ALL Precious Metals ) --- Buying broken jewelry dirt cheap and selling to a smelter, is an idea

When scrapping there are a few things to watch out for. (electric motors, electric transformers, catalytic converters, wire .... I mean the list goes on and on and on and on ....

There are many items that don't or can't be recycled that have cash value through re selling them. Find your niche as the above post mentioned. Find that one item that is worth money, but which no one else in your area is dealing in. Make sure you have a buyer in easy driving range, before you start hoarding materials\items.

I hope this little list will help you. Be safe and Happy Scrapping !!! PEACE !!!!!

[freonjoe]

Rick, it depends on where you're at, what tools you already have, do you have a truck and trailer, can you tell the difference between various metals, do you have room to store materials, can you take stuff apart? A little more information would help in making any recommendations to you.

[TinnMann]

I did the same thing as Hobo fimd that's crazy. Now I am scrapping any metal I can get a hold on. There is a big recycler coming to my small town so it will get a little tougher but I hope there's enough to go around. But the main thing I have found out is anything that you don't have to pay for is what is best to scrap.
Best of Luck it is hard work I had to unload two tons of metal yesterday by myself and I am not a young man but worth it especially when I didn't have to pay for much of it.

[MattInTheHat]

specialize in something you can get a lot of, but always ask what else they have, and remeber 500lbs of steel is worth more than 2lbs of copper. try to hook up with a core byer, i get $10 per car battery. if you are spending gas to pick up stuff somewhere, ask about car batteries and try to beat what they have been offered, once you know what your local core buyer will pay you