A Tumbleweeds View of Scrapping - Page 10

It is time for updating this old thread. The low prices and many surgeries have limited my activity in this area of my life. I was asked on another thread to provide pictures of my latest challenges and this seemed to be the best place for an update among the many other threads I have started. For the last several years the focus was stockpiling metal, cleaning shelter belts, and reclaiming old homesteads.

Since the start of the New Year, 15 tons of metal have been hauled to the scrap yard. Still using the Silver Bullet, tub trailer, 30 ft. gooseneck, and 40 ft. gooseneck trailers. Sold the semi, F-450, one loader, and a couple of trailers. I had to say good bye to my two labs this year so I am on my own with the varmints. Ammo is hard to find, but my stockpile should last the rest of my life, assuming I shoot straight.

That leaves three employees on my payroll, me, myself, and I. I usually fire me and myself once a week because of disagreements on how to proceed, but within a week I cool down and hire them both back. This type of work is to hard for just one person. Wanted to share what life is like in the Buffalo Commons.

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Survival and life is a challenge in this part of the country. This time of the year the geese have migrated south, the deer are in their winter ranges, cattle are in feed lots in case of a blizzard, and people do not move around much without a good reason. If I see one vehicle driving 15 miles into town it is considered a traffic jam. To put it into perspective, the closest stop light is 55 miles away, the closest stop sign 15 mi., and within 15 mi. there is two gas stations, four bars, and a grocery store. This is human hibernation and some wonder why we did not have to shut down our businesses because of the virus.

We are in the fly zone so pictures like this are common in the late fall and early winter.

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The posts above are a sample of the grace and wonders I enjoy everyday in my office, the great outdoors. This work and lifestyle is totally dependent on mother nature and you learn to survive in the elements. So it is time for some of the scrapping.

Vehicles are prepared by removing all fluids, non ferrous with easy access, gas tanks, cats, and all tires. After the initial stripping, vehicles are turned on there sides to access underneath.

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This is a picture of a typical scrap site when I show up.

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A torch is used to remove lug nuts from the wheels since most are rusted (welded on). Sometimes things go haywire and a tire will catch on fire. This is the result:

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This is one of the loads hauled from this site. I explained earlier in this thread how I secure these loads, so it will not be repeated. I have been complimented by the Highway Patrol ( I got stopped twice in the last eight years for tail lights) so it is assumed it is legal at least here.

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That is my forty ft. trailer in the previous post. It will haul up to six vehicles when loaded correctly.

Another example of the beauty that is presented on a daily basis. I do not watch much TV and now you will understand why.

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My life is blessed in many ways, many pastimes that I love, beautiful scenery, and total freedom. Contrary to our governors advocating it, please do not plan to move here, you might just get in the way. Just kidding.

The next pictures are down the road from our cabin in Wyoming. With all the rules for social distancing and isolation, I thought some might like to see what the real world is like. I am not a professional photographer, just an old fart that is finally taking the time to stop and smell the roses.

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Building a good relationship with the scrap yard has benefits. This is the last of the load from the previous job site. It is parked next to the loading area for the rail cars. Most customers have to be unloaded in the yard, waiting in line to be unloaded so it ca be sorted. My loads are always clean so I am unloaded up front directly into the gondola cars. If I have to go back into the yard for unprepared items I am moved to the front of the line because I can maneuver my trailer to back out before the load ahead of me can move through the maze.

I have not hauled much in the last few years, but my relationship and reputation still allows for this treatment. This is not meant to brag, only to help others maximize their profit. Show respect for the employees and they will make your life a lot easier.

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A little about my business plan, I do not buy metal outright. Instead it is done on a land-lease format, 1/3 to the owner and 2/3 to me. I cover all expenses including hauling to the yard. When considering time, wear and tear on equipment, flat tires, etc. most are happy with the deal. Providing pictures of the loads and weigh sheets they do not doubt they are treated fairly. Only one client made a counter offer which was declined so no deal was reached.

He contacted me last week and wanted to know if the offer was still good from four years ago. This will be the next chapter in this thread. It starts with three combines and only gets better each time we visit. As a successful rancher he thought he could do it himself. He got tired of torn up equipment and rejected loads and took his neighbors advice and hired it done. A friend has been helping him, but also decided to hire his done. That challenge will be later in the winter.

Motto to consider, under promise and over achieve. The timeline promised was to start next week. All equipment was hauled on sight today. He was told ten days for each combine, expectation is each will take five days. If the weather holds, it should be completed in half the time his wife expects. Now if completed as promised, she will be a happy camper. If completed in half the time, he will have a smile on his face the next day. With any luck, she will too.

Time to go to work. Under promise and over achieve. The project was started two days ago, a full week before it was promised. Owner expects the first of three combines to be completed by Feb. 2. and the other two completed by the end of February, if the weather holds.

The first combine is a 7700 John Deere. The weight of this combine is estimated to be 10 tons. To get to the weight you have to remove the shell and then deal with all the cast iron pulleys and idlers. When recommendations were solicited for the community water tanks the strategy of how to eat an elephant, one bite at a time was highlighted. This strategy has been the cornerstone of many challenges, including this one. This will be a bite at a time.

To start a picture of the combine.

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Combines are a complicated machine that are an engineers nightmare. It is even worse for a mechanic that has to repair them. They are a combination of belts, hydraulics, and conveyor belts that are held together by a hair pin. For those that do not understand, ask your grandmother. My responsibility is to break down this monster without hurting my self or my equipment. Some might think it is easy to break things, but it you do not take the time to study your challenge you will pay a price.

Starting to skin the cat.

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What a mess.

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So after day 2 this is the mess.

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