To Smelt or not to Smelt...that is the question

**Scrappiedoo** · 04-05-2011, 01:07 AM

Hi All,

Just a question...i have over 100kg of stripped copper but instead of taking it to the usual scrap metal dealers....would it not suit me to take it straight to a smelter...or is that not how it works ?

Im fairly new to this all so excuse my ignorance...but if the dealers dont take it to a smelter what do they do with it ?

**Mick** · 04-05-2011, 06:00 AM

How far is it to the nearest smelter? Check into it, but they may have a minimum requirement.

Welcome to the forum. Most everyone has had the same/similar ideas, but logistics get in the way.

**sjones99** · 04-05-2011, 07:42 AM

Most foundrys take 30 to 90 days to pay...if u can afford to wait that long the pay may be worth it.

**Focker** · 04-05-2011, 10:43 PM

I would like to find out where i could take my cars like where the junk yard sales to.Just kinda of skip the middle man.

**Scrappiedoo** · 04-06-2011, 01:07 AM

But is that what happens ? cause i assume if say stripped copper is worth $7.50 p/kilo if u sell it to a scrap metal dealer , then they have to sell it to the smelters obviously at a higher price ? i guess what im trying to figure out is....is that actually what go's on ? Just trying to understand what these scrap metal dealers do with it all ?

**sjones99** · 04-06-2011, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by Focker

I would like to find out where i could take my cars like where the junk yard sales to.Just kinda of skip the middle man.

Go to a foundry

**Focker** · 04-06-2011, 11:21 PM

but how do i find one lol.

**sjones99** · 04-07-2011, 07:04 AM

Look for a steel foundry on your area...like i`ve said before they use copper to strengthen the steel...where i live we have john deere and they use the granulated copper...i have seen 50 barrels at one time there

**lowtechlou** · 11-13-2011, 09:23 PM

I myself plan on smelting my own copper. foundry work was what I did in the navy. its not hard to melt aluminum of copper/brass,bronze. it can be done with charcoal and forced air...you can achieve aprox 2000 degrees f.

**Copper Head** · 11-14-2011, 01:00 PM

Since burning copper wire is nasty Smelting can't be any better , One must have to live away from people I'd say.
I'd say a smelter could pay you more for your product . but since they don't want to compete with the yards i am sure you need a minimum ,Yards have huge amounts to sell at a time .