Until prices improve, I am out of the shred business

Prices here took another huge nose dive from 70 per ton to 40 per ton. Not worth the time any more. I will keep a watch on the prices and will start back up when they start to recover, but until then, turn me over, I'm done.

I drive around and pick up what I like. I picked up a fridge last Wednesday, fixed it, then sold it.

I found a Washer and did the same a few weeks back and a deep freezer too. It's a great way to make extra money if you are even a little mechanically inclined.

I found seven 4'x8'X 1/8" Diamond plate sheets that I have plans for in future welding projects. I already put one in a 1964 Ford Pickup Bed.

I just love the thrill of finding something new and thinking of all the ways to do something with it. I'm sure most of you guys can relate.

Sorry to break into this thread, what is the differance between heavy melt and shred?

If I happen to see a washer, dryer, fridge, etc while I am driving around taking care of business, I will still pick it up. I will just no longer go out of my way. I have started a hoarding pile at the end of my property (I have 7.5 acres), in anticipation of prices going back up, and I think they will. Just probably not to the highs they were a couple of years ago. I am just no longer going out of my way to pick any up. For the first time, if anyone asks me to pick something up, I will say I can, but I will have to charge you. It is what it is, a person just has to change with the times.

I wish I had the space to hoard steel. Working a farm clean up and I took a water tank in on Friday. It had dropped yet again, to $30/ton. Got $61 something for it. Not too long ago it would have brought $330 to $400. So far the tank is the only thing I have scrapped from this job. Trying to resell what I can, but most of it truly is junk.

shred is also called sheet iron or tin depending on your yard and area of the country

Originally Posted by Hypoman

I've been stacking my steel around my burn pile. Got a nice wall going that keeps it contained which is nice since we haven't had that much rain lately. Just keep doing that until prices go up.

I'm trying to stay strictly E-waste now - and, of course, my "better than scrap" guy
Keeps the worthless, unavoidable shred pile down to a manageable mound of byproduct.

I never thought steel would be the downside to recycling.
Sure miss the hunt.

Thanks.

stock piling steel and shred as it comes, I'm not active in looking for it just processing it and crossing my fingers it goes back up at some point.
I saw copper went back up a bit over the weekend
Most of heavy melt no.1 steel is heading out to "steampunk" projects these days

yup, $30.00 a ton for me yesterday too. I just wish I had cleaned up a bit better. I left a few bulkier but lighter items behind because I didn't feel like having to tie everything down. Now I've got maybe 100-200 pounds or so taking up space. I passed up several items along the road today, not worth the gas to let the truck idle while I throw it in or to restart it. My nephew has 2 trailer loads to take in before the snow flies and he was doubly bummed when I told him what I got.

I'll keep collecting it if its a byproduct of some better stuff but I'm not stopping for it any more.

Ive been refocusing on salvage rather than scrap. Lately Ive been getting more calls since that part timers are hanging it up. Which isnt all that bad seeing as how i bring in more larger customers than residents. I know ferrous sucks now but it beats paying to dump it on my way to larger salvage jobs. My advice, hoard, diversify, salvage. I repair more appliances and sell them budget priced which is way more than scrap and less than big retailers.