Advice needed

SoWe have what could be a very large project coming up, we have the opportunity to basically clean out a Papermill. Being new to scrap I am definitely in over my head but excited about the possibilities. A few questions/advice needed are, what should I be looking for? Obviously we will have our eyes on copper and wire, but usually what type of other items in the Papermill could be worth a second look. Also, what type of tool(s) might be needed for a project like this. As of right now we just have the normal safety stuff and miscellaneous wire cutters bolt cutters screwdrivers hammers etc.

Appreciate any help - Nick

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum

A large project needs proper tools and equipment, depending on contents. Other forum members have experience in such matters and could offer better advice. Permits needed?

Separate ferrous into stainless , sheet iron, and over 1/4" steel. Also copper wire, thick and thin separate, aluminum, copper, and brass.

Office furniture is another outlet new and older, lights and fixtures, signs, old doors, etc. Maybe contact an estate specialist or auctioneer to assist.

Only you know contents at the present. I can only give advice based on your initial post. You also could subcontract, as necessary. Don't know much about paper mills but I can envision lots of space within and lots of vats, tanks, pumps, piping, conveyors, etc.

Answer not required: do you have the $ to start this project? The time? Demo equipment? Transportation and manpower? Yard nearby? Getting paid vs. doing for salvage? Lots to consider.

Good luck on you endeavor.

Whenever you have a chance post some pictures,

I've never dismantled a pulp mill but know there is a lot of stainless steel used in the equipment, pipes and valves etc.

Agreeing with Alloy. Plasma cutter quickest way to cut stainless and most anything else. Get spare tips and such for it right away.

Otherwise, you'll go through numerous saws all and/ or abrasive blades and will take forever.

What state are you in? And like others have said big projects like that require knowledge and equipment to be done properly. Patriot is a good person to talk to. and if you really don't know what your getting yourself into sometimes subcontracting out the scrap work could actually make you more money than trying to do it yourself. I've seen guys do jobs like that and when they dump their trailers in the yard I work at we go over and pick out sometimes as much as $1,000 worth of metal that they just sold to us for $75, it hurts me to even think of the things they probably took to waste management and paid to get rid of. If they woulda just found me first I probably coulda made them at least $300 and all they woulda had to do is get up out my way. And I can tell you that any type of industrial job like that is gonna require at least a cutting torch or plasma cutter, possibly a skid loader or something of the like would help to unless your young and can use the landscape as a loading dock, since a lot of the equipment in there is probably at least 1-2 thousand pounds a piece. If your starting out with a budget you could start by getting the smaller more easily moved and possibly more valuable things out first and using that to pay for the equipment you need for the bigger stuff. Also try to find someone with a hammer mill to take your steel to if you can. they usually pay quite a bit more than most of the yards that have a bailer.

also another thing I would like to add is if you are brand new to scrap and decide you want to do it yourself if you want to know what to look for go around to the scrap yards and ask if you can see all the different things that they buy and how they grade everything. Copper and brass might be worth more per pound than most other things but I've made way more money doing high volumes of steel and aluminum than I ever will with copper alone.

This paper mill in Oregon is either due to be decommissioned or already has been. There was no date in the article Blue Heron Paper Mill Decommissioning - Akana

Nice contract if you could get one like it.

Originally Posted by WorBos

SoWe have what could be a very large project coming up, we have the opportunity to basically clean out a Papermill. Being new to scrap I am definitely in over my head but excited about the possibilities. A few questions/advice needed are, what should I be looking for? Obviously we will have our eyes on copper and wire, but usually what type of other items in the Papermill could be worth a second look. Also, what type of tool(s) might be needed for a project like this. As of right now we just have the normal safety stuff and miscellaneous wire cutters bolt cutters screwdrivers hammers etc.

Appreciate any help - Nick

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum

I saw in your intro that you are from Massachusetts. I'm out in the western part of the state. If you wind up doing this job and need any advice, ask me. I also have some really good contacts for all types of wire and copper. Probably be able to match or beat most scrap yard scale prices.

If it's anything like the Verso paper mill in Bucksport Maine it would be a demo contract in the millions. Fair chance that there's rail service to the plant.There might be a lot of value in the steel & heavy machinery.

Originally Posted by hills

If it's anything like the Verso paper mill in Bucksport Maine it would be a demo contract in the millions. Fair chance that there's rail service to the plant.There might be a lot of value in the steel & heavy machinery.

Wouldn't that be a sweet deal, rail service.

The mill had rail, water, and major road access. You would need that kind of access to the transportation network to keep a mill running.

A Canadian metals recycling firm bought the site from Verso for 58 mil and then went into demo mode.

Imagine that ..... just one demo job and you would be set for life.

since im not even on the same continent as you, all i can say is i wish u all the best & PLEASE post pics.
post pics before u remove stuff & also show the stuff you stripped...

its not only for our viewing pleasure- many members will be able to advise you & give u ideas to save you time & help make the project as profitable as possible.

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Originally Posted by alloy2

This paper mill in Oregon is either due to be decommissioned or already has been. There was no date in the article Blue Heron Paper Mill Decommissioning - Akana

Nice contract if you could get one like it.

If that is similar to the type of job it is you really want someone with torching/equipment experience on the ground with you. Not saying your job looks like that but trying to tear that one down with no experience is a good way to end up hurt, or worse. even if the building isn't coming down just the fumes alone could be pretty toxic if you don't know what your cutting into.

I do have some limited experience with paper mill demolition. I bid on a job to take out a debarker but didn't get it. This thing is a log tumbler large enough to drive a semi through and has 6 inch steel walls. I had to bid high because I didn't have the right torch equipment to cut it and would have to hire it done.

I did get to buy a stainless steel pulp dryer that weighed around 10 tons. Had to cut it up to 4x4 foot so had to use a plasma cutter.



A word of warning. Paper mill machinery can have levels of radiation that will set off detectors in the scrap yard. Most yards will just turn you around off the scales and send you packing. One flatbed driver I knew had a large machine on his truck for 4 days trying to find somewhere it could go. If you decide to tackle this project I would recommend getting a radiation detector and find out what levels are ok with the yards you intend to sell to.

I haven't heard anyone else say it but, if the mill kept its tertiary services in-house, there may also be old telecom and computer equipment. Depending on how old the plant was when it closed, there may be networking equipment for the controls and some of those variable-frequency drives, even old and dusty, have decent resale value.

Originally Posted by Pnutfarmer

I do have some limited experience with paper mill demolition. I bid on a job to take out a debarker but didn't get it. This thing is a log tumbler large enough to drive a semi through and has 6 inch steel walls. I had to bid high because I didn't have the right torch equipment to cut it and would have to hire it done.

I did get to buy a stainless steel pulp dryer that weighed around 10 tons. Had to cut it up to 4x4 foot so had to use a plasma cutter.

A word of warning. Paper mill machinery can have levels of radiation that will set off detectors in the scrap yard. Most yards will just turn you around off the scales and send you packing. One flatbed driver I knew had a large machine on his truck for 4 days trying to find somewhere it could go. If you decide to tackle this project I would recommend getting a radiation detector and find out what levels are ok with the yards you intend to sell to.

Radiation contamination could also apply to oil refinery equipment.

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