Okay, Day one in the books.

Hours worked: 7am-2pm
Amount recieved at yard: $17.80 (10.10 in steel, 7.70 in cast aluminum)
Amount in gas for day: $20

What to change:
---Dont's waste time on cleaning junk.
I get to the steel heap and I see guys throwing in items that are covered in fabric, wood, all sorts of things on them. I guess they don't care. As long as it has metal in it they didnt even notice. So i wont be cutting fabric or removing plastic feet anymore.



---Patience!
So, guilty. First time ever to scrap yard with an actual load and while trying to learn the procedure I look over a few things... I had 2 nice sized electric motors. One was welded to a big blade and the other was a celing fan. I told myself "next time I will find out where to turn in motors." And I threw them in the steel pile. Only to make it over to turning in my alluminum to find a few guys turning in motors with all kinds of blades and bulbs attatched! (Wish I would have known that)

---Get out earlier, and end earlier.
Things were going good in the morning but after noon I couldnt even find a pile of leaves! Next time, start earlier and end at noon. Get out before the trash guys and hopefully before a few other scrappers. I wasted too much gas driving all over to find nothing. (Now if only I could find a money making venture from noon-5... Ideas?)

In short I didnt profit anything today. But I can understand the appeal. A lot of fun in the hunt. Tweak a few things and maybe I can come out ahead. I'll take any advice I can get. Thanks for all your help. Wish me luck.