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When I first started I would pass up steel, not worth it I would say, but things change...
So far here are my %'s over 8 years!
Steel 79% of weight and 39% of cash
Aluminum 9% of weight 28% of cash
Copper 8% of weight 22% of cash
Brass, lead, stainless and zinc 3% of weight, 8% of cash
Glass, Plastic and Cardboard 1% weight and 2% cash
E waste >1% waste and 2% cash
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Brass would be my #1 producer. Then probably steel, then AL.
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How? That's great but how money wise and pounds!Originally Posted by t00nces2
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I am a handyman by trade and I get some of the brass through the changing of faucets and other work. The most common way I get brass is to buy it at garage sales. I buy it at prices I believe is < than 1/3 the price of brass. It just builds up and I usually accumulate a pile 30#+. I can usually build up a pile like that over the course of a couple months.
Rural scrapper
I love aluminum, used in dang near everything ! Easy to get cheap and usually pretty easy to clean and increase the value fourfold, name another scrap you can do that with that is literally everywhere.
Alvord iron and salvage
3rd generation scrapper and dam proud of it
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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Way to let the secret out I always love the guys passing up the steel LOL. But actually copper really doesnt pay good hard to find and light when you do find it. Aluminum is actually the secret pays well and is really heavy actually. Steel is where i make 70% i would say I bring a few tons a week.
It's cool to hear how everyone has different percentages and favorite metals.
Strangely, my biggest money maker (don't have percentages here sorry) is Stainless Steel. I got a demolition contract at a chicken plant and a clean out job at a commercial washing machine plant that was closing and another at a rubber glove manufacturer all at the same time. What was so amazing is that stainless jumped from about 35 cents to $1.20 while I was doing these jobs. I don't get much stainless now, and the price is certainly lower, but it will always have a place near to my heart.
Other than that, copper, aluminum and steel are running a close race with each other.
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Steel is a byproduct for me, but I never turn up my nose at it. Today I took in about 1,000 lbs of steel; all telecom chassis. One unit was over 500 lbs by itself! That was fun to load in the van...my main product is circuit boards, then aluminum, copper and on down the line.
F1 Recycles
Electronic/Electrical/Mechanical Recycling
www.f1recycles.com
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I have to admit for the first couple of years I didn't mess with steel. Then one of the managers at a yard we use, Asked who do you sell your steel to? Talk about wanting to craw into a hole, well after that conversation and education. We started processing steel and for the last two years, has been our #3 money maker. Don't even want to think about how much steel I let get away from me! Steel is literally everywhere and the weights add up fast.
Last edited by bigburtchino; 09-15-2014 at 10:57 PM.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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Right now I live in an apartment with my fiance, and she's nice enough to not get bothered by me always breaking down computers, tvs, microwaves, and any other e-waste. Unfortunately, I only really have room for the copper, the wire, and the aluminum. I have thrown countless pounds of steel in the garbage because I have nowhere to let it accumulate until it is worth driving across town to the yard. For now I can only accumulate the non ferrous.
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Saabsw: Instead of throwing it away, share it with a friend. Find someone who has a garage or shed and let them store the tin and you can split the price when you go to the scrap yard.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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Maybe develop a relationship with another scrapper who can't really do the small computer stuff but is into bulk steel. It brings a tear when I hear of stuff going into the garbage. Maybe just do a charity drop at your dumpster for someone who will take the steel. It will come back to you in a good way.
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saabsw - My yard has a few grades of steel, there's the very low price light steel, shred or "tin". This is by far the easiest scrap to come by (IMO). The draw back is it does take space and I personally won't even think about taking it in unless I have more than 1/2 ton (prefer 1 ton or more to get the ton price). I like to take any light steel, that is "box" like and stuff more light steel into it. Use your old micro wave ovens and computer towers, after you break them down for the smaller light steel scrap. drawers from old file cabinets are also good small steel "boxes" for storage and transport. I like old steel cabinets, gutted large appliances for my larger light steel for storage and transport as well. This will compartmentalize and organize the bulky light steel. Even if you have to take a small "box" of light steel (two or three), this is easy way to take maybe 100+ pounds to the yard. Will only get you $3 or $4 (gas for transporting your more valuable scrap). Your already working with steel, you should get something for your hard work! If you can't do this now, start thinking about how to process for the day you can. Like others have said try to find someone to trade, barter or pay you something for the steel. At the very least put it beside your apartment dumpster (neatly), trust me a great-full scraper will thank you and I'm sure it will only be there for a couple of hours.
There are better paying grades of steel as well. My favorite is heavy prepped steel (1/4" thick or better and less than 3' wide and 4' long). The sizes don't have to be precise cuts, as they just need to fit in the yards steel bin 5' x 6' x 6'. I put all of my scrap steel hardware (nuts, bolts, washers, pins etc.) in this grade. This grade should pay you $.08 to $.10 per pound or $200+ per ton (easy or look for another yard).
A serious scraper should be working with steel, it really starts to add to the bottom line when you do.
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Stack it by the dumpster someone will take it!
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You can get a small storage unit for $100 or so. You may find that the storage space pays for itself with the scrap you are able to turn over. Depending what you do, you may be able to make it work for you in other ways. I garage sale and found the storage unit was a great place for larger items that would make alot of noise.
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Seriously, you're in Pittsburgh...I give it an hour max. LOL
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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Our dumpster is fenced off, so unless I share my apartment building with a scrapper who has room to stack steel, then it will just sit there and the apartment workers will have to clean it up. Judging by the things people in my building throw in the garbage, and the looks I get when I haul in a huge crt, I'm guessing that I'm the only scrapper in the building.
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Advertise it as free on Craigslist, maybe another scrapper starting out could use it.
P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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thats painful just to read
i wonder how i would feel if it was me throwing all the money away
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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It's painful to me too. Right now though, scrapping is a hobby. I don't rely on the income at all. Every once in a while I make a run or send some boards to an e-scrapper, but for the most part it gives me something to do in my spare time, and I can stack copper and some aluminum in the process. I hate to do it, but maybe I'll be able to find a solution so I can stack enough steel somewhere to make it worth a drive to the yard.
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