Experienced Scrapper
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I was wondering how far everyone goes in taking scrap apart. do you take apart electric motors? make aluminum chairs clean or sell things for a higher rate? im just wondering because i dont like to work a long time taking apart scrap and was wondering what other people are doing.
Experienced Scrapper
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For me, I break down everything that has more value than shred, other than motors and small transformers. For electronics, I break everything down to its basic components. (board stripped of transformers and heat sinks, etc.)Originally Posted by matt018
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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Your first thought with scrap should always be, "is there a value better than scrap?" If scrap is the best option I simply decide if the time invested is worth it. Some people simply enjoy breaking it down, others break it down because they simply don't have any other scrap to focus on and if breaking it down brings a higher value to it then they might as well do it. If I was looking at a pile of scrap in my yard and had to decide in breaking it down versus grabbing another available load, I'd choose to go get another load. That may not be the best decision but I believe in the power of numbers. Others may look at that same load, and think breaking it down would bring in more money versus the time and expense it takes to go find another load. But I guess most importantly, it all depends on what type of scrap you're dealing with. Some scrap is always worth breaking down/cleaning. I believe working with the right tools makes breaking down worth your time.
Sweat is the cologne of success!
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
it depends on what you've got, and what you want to do with it, and how much time you have. I've got a busted ol lawn chair out there I'll eventually clean up, when there's nothing better to do. I've broken down lots of things just trying to figure out how, and to see what's inside it, many of which I won't break down again, no matter how much time I've got to give it, it's just become more sensible to toss it in the motor pile, or the transformer pile, etc. I've no doubt made mistakes, spent too much time on some things, and sold others for less than I'd have gotten by breaking them down, but that's just the way it goes I guess. What I've just explained isn't really saying a whole lot, that's just life, but it's my story and i'm stickin to it
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I break very little down. Just being honest; so I guess its my paragative. I get enough tonnage and I make enough I don't have the time or energy. It's not because of laziness. If you need the money or have the time do what you can. Set a minimum hourly rate your willing to work for. Most times I cannot fulfill my minimum. I find searching for more scrap is usually more profitabl at least in my case.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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In my case, I try to break things down as much as possible, like a/c window units or a/c units on houses, you break them down you make more money that way than just taking the entire unit and scrapping it, plus it all depends on what you are hauling off, is it worth it or not
LowLife
It all depends on what you are scrapping n the time you have..also volume..i dismantle all large motors as long as they arent ali...larger transformers..lawn chairs are pretty quick..do those when times are slow.. i also strip a bit of wire almost everyday....love it..do what ya can to make extra cash when times are slow
Thornton Scrapper
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As you said alum chairs, If you cut them up you can fit more in a 22 gallon tote than them not cut. may be a pain to cut up but you can bring in more in less space and easier to carry and store. As to breaking things down, it will all ad up over time. A brass fitting here and another one there, same as the misc wires. There may be only three but cut them out. With elcetric motors, depending on the type, break them down and they turn into heavy melt stator, copper / alum windings and cast alum seals, Dependig on your time availabilty. sorry as i may be babaling
Last edited by greytruck; 08-02-2012 at 03:21 AM. Reason: Missed someting
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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I love taking stuff apart. Been doing it since I was a little kid. Probably lose money on the deal when it comes to scrapping, but it comes with the benefit of being a relaxing way to spend time. Or if I go nuts with a hammer, it's stress relief. That said, I think I'll probably not spend the time on aluminum-wound motors, they're a PITA.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
I don't break down motor only transformers. Take ss off appliances and motors of appliances cast al off grills. I dot have a garage yet so I do very little depending on the weather and my daylight. But when I get a garage I may live in it lol
Scrapper
I generally break down every thing to it's basic components. There are exceptions though. Like the smaller electric motors/transformers, Most of the time though, I break it all down if it contains a little bit of brass or copper, just because brass and copper are always worth more at the yard.
I see guys at the local scrap yard, coming in with SS or cast aluminum gas grills and sell them as shred and others coming in with washing machines/dryers, without taking the motors out of them and selling them as shred too. Makes me sick when I see this, I mean, even if you don't further breakdown the motors, they are still worth double the money, than you would get for shred ... However, this all depends on the individual and how much Time/Storage Space/Energy/ that you have to work with. Still others don't know that they are throwing money away.
For me, Yes, I break it all down (95%) of it, that is.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
I like to turn and burn. I find searching for more scrap is more profitabl to me
then breaking down things. I will break down a/c units, cast aluminum gas grills,
gas motors. Strip wire ? over 10 g NO. If i have free time i'm going fishing not
breaking down scrap or striping wire.
Brake down of almn is easy it brakes easy and bends easy, pays decent. Motars u need time and know how to brake down.
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It all depends on the space I have and free time. I want to get every penny I can, but sometimes I just have to run a load in without it being completely clean because I have my trailor full and need it empty the next day for a much better load.
Seriously thinking about a storage unit these days. My garage is just getting rediculous.
"64K should be enough for anybody." - Bill Gates 1981
http://www.treasurecoastelectronicrecycling.com/
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
If you can, find out what people are charging to break down the piece(s) in question. Start with the price you are getting for the whole piece. Let's say a motor. You have Motor A that buyers are willing to pay 1000 bucks / ton for whole. If the going rate to dismantle (or a calculation of the worth of your own time) is say 100 bucks per ton, and your dismantled motor is now (for the sake of simplicity) an iron housing (85%) and some motor wire (15%), then look at what the index prices / market prices are for the components (ie iron and motor wire). If the sum of the components are worth more that the un-dismantled price (1000) + the dismantle charge (100), then dismantle. If not, just sell the thing whole.
Things we take in to consideration for dismantle are worker cost per ton, electricity, water, gas, etc., transport (if we need to send to another location to dismantle). Also, don't forget your "opportunity cost". Like a couple guys mentioned here, if you (or your workers) time is better spent finding new material or dismantling higher value pieces, or doing sales, or whatever, then you should calculate that into the cost of dismantle per hour, or add it in at the end. Also, storage. If you have no space, and you have some really great stuff to bring in, well, then just get rid of it.
If you're in this business only for a profit, just run the numbers and see what makes sense. If you just enjoy dismantling then screw it... have a beer, put on some tunes, take everything apart, and enjoy!
@parrothead: Man... the space problem never seems to end. The more you got, the more scrap you buy. I just replied to someone talking about "hoarding" material. If I had enough space in my yard I would dismantle everything and hold on to copper, gold, silver, nickel, etc. until prices were are record highs, but alas... is not an option.
USG
Last edited by USGUYINCN; 09-04-2012 at 08:49 AM.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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I wish I had your problem, parrothead!! I have lots of space and not one piece of scrap to work on.
I've been dealing with a lot of industrial valve assemblies that have copper and SS tubing and other components. I break every valve down to the nuts and bolts, stripping the valve stems out and sort all material as to yellow/red brass, grade the copper tubing and grade any fasteners for their SS quality. When I'm done I generate usually two types of brass, SS, shred and copper. Nothing goes untouched. It's time consuming but worth it on the payout.
Experienced Scrapper
for me it all depends on what i will get out of it in the end. big things are always worth breaking down to me. i pull motors and wiring out of about everything i can, and if i can easily get aluminum or stainless out of it i will, but spending extra time to make a few extra cents per pound doesnt fit my schedule. i pull the clean out and make a breakage pile.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
I think for me, this sums it up best!
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I cut and trim alot of escrap boards. I can turn material i pay $5 pound for into $300+ pound material so yea its worth it on alot of stuff if you have the right tools and knowledge.
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