Brand New Plan / Full Time Scrap Business - Page 5

The name of the tool is a sleever bar. It is a straight prybar with a point on one end and a curved flat tip on the other end. We use them for prying and aligning bolt holes. Hardware stores dont carry them as its an industrial tool. Like a halligan bar. I still give props to anyone that makes there own tools though.

even staples sells them, just in case you feel the need to take your frustration out on your office equipment:
Klein Tools® Forged Steel Connecting Bar, Round Shape, 30 in | Staples®

They can be real hit or miss. I wish you luck. They have done well for me. A couple of the things I have done are:

1. Ask for a picture of what they have if they say it is a large amount.

2. Be very clear on what you pay, I always tell people the money I pay is just an incentive for doing the right thing.

3. Don't run out for little loads set them up for a run that you can do at the end of the week. That way calls will come in and you can set up a route.

It has been a very busy time for me. I have completely lost my desire to deal with construction. After completing the roof we were to move on and repair a porch. The roof was way more involving than expected. I replaced a few hundred square feet of decking for free. Now twelve days before x-mas she wants to cancel the porch work. It seems like most people I deal with want to order a Big Mac, fries, and coke. BUT when they get to the window they demand a Shake or because they though it was included. It really just makes no sense to me and it happens over and over.

I have been processing lots of material and have a few more pick ups scheduled. I am liquidating a lot of tools I will no longer be using and investing them into the e-waste business. I know I will do well and if I do not then I will look for anther opportunity away from construction. I will be working the rest of the week in the workshop and hope to get a bunch of pics posted.

Originally Posted by Geiser093

I have completely lost my desire to deal with construction.

I hear you bro...After 20 + years of being in the construction biz and adapting to the economy, illegal immigrants, getting beat up over a couple hundred bucks when the budget was half mill + and having to put up with someone elses wife I walked away on my terms and do what I do now. I couldn't be happier and I feel like working on my own house again.

I wish you the best.

Originally Posted by KZBell

I hear you bro...After 20 + years of being in the construction biz and adapting to the economy, illegal immigrants, getting beat up over a couple hundred bucks when the budget was half mill + and having to put up with someone elses wife I walked away on my terms and do what I do now. I couldn't be happier and I feel like working on my own house again.

I wish you the best.

The worst part is I spent 5 years in school at Pitt for Computer Science/Business. I did not like the office setting and went into construction. Suffered for a few years and things got better. Now the suffering years seem like the good old days and I feel like the industry is just mangled. Sears sells windows for $1000.00 and window world does them installed for $188. Every worker is either completely inexperienced AND knows it all or so strung out on various drugs that I get more done alone.

The little screws holding the computer parts inside the towers are like Prozac. I go into my workshop turn on the radio and everything is OK in the world. The biggest let down is something I used to love has become a nightmare. I am grateful that after I started scrapping more I found this forum and all the information it contains. I have used this forum to gain an education that is worth more than anyone that is not on here really using the information could understand.

I am starting a new chapter walking away from from the construction work I once loved and am excited to move on but depressed at the same time. I can not keep dividing my energy between the two. Th efforts I put the scrap are rewarded and the more effort I put in the better results I get. I keep straddling the fence and just have not been able really go at 100%. I know that once I do Things will take off.

I read somewhere I think Andrew Carnegie said "Place all your eggs in one basket, then watch that basket."

Spent the last night breaking stuff down with a buddy and both our sons. It was a good time to hang out and watch the kids figure out the tools.

Went to the scrap yard this morning to clear out some stuff and make room.

5 lbs #1 Copper.................................$2.95...... .....$14.75

6 lbs #2 Copper.................................$2.80...... .....$16.80

18 lbs Alum.......................................$0.57.. .........$10.26

23 lbs Stainless.................................$0.50... .........$11.50

58 lbs. Mixed Comp Wire.....................$0.85............$38.40

320 Shredder....................................$12/100........$49.30

__________________________________________________ ___

$141.05

I also sent off a little bit of Ram and Slot Proc to PhillyBuyer from the buyers section. I emailed him and he said to send an invoice which I did. He got the invoice while I was out and paid it for $41.06 before I got home. Sent out the box priority mail it cost $8.00 so I was up $33.00 on a little box. I would like to find more cost effective shipping metod and send a larger load next time. This was just a test run and I needed the money on Paypal to reinvest in business cards.

Craigslist Lead

A young kid wit no car called with 15 towers. When I got there they were pretty much broke down into boxes! $5.00 each for a total of $75. I also purchased 2 X-Boxes, all his shredder, and some other stuff at 90% of his yard price which is a little lower than my yard price. The guy is a landscaper and got the computers from a dumpster where he cuts grass. He says the company gave him permission to take all the computer stuff is a 20 yard dumpster. He has no vehicle. We will be going out during business hours and removing from dumpster at which time I will reaffirm the permission to do so and then they will load them and I'll pay the two kids $5.00 each.

1/2 lb. P2 slot
16 lb MB
8 lb Finger Cards
5 oz Silver Mem
15.2 oz Gold Mem
13 lb Hdd
35 lb Mixed Drives
35 lb Power Supply no Wire
7 lb Laptop complete
4 lb Wire
3 lb Alum
3.6 oz Pent Celeron Blk
2.2 oz P4
100 Lbs Shred
20 lb Mixed Copper from low grade boards ( for the kids to unwrap)
1/4 cell phones
1//4 lb gold connectors

40 GB Hdd
60 GB Hdd

Paid $95 - $200 approx value

Referral Lead from above call

The boss of the above 2 kids has over 100 towers in his garage. I will be going out to get the as soon as we can get together.


Here is a pic of my scrap yards price sheet:

Sent out the box priority mail it cost $8.00 so I was up $33.00 on a little box. I would like to find more cost effective shipping metod and send a larger load next time.

It sounds like you could have crammed them into a flat rate envelope and printed the label yourself online and it only costs 4.80 each, just tape the envelope up good so the seams don't pop open.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

It sounds like you could have crammed them into a flat rate envelope and printed the label yourself online and it only costs 4.80 each, just tape the envelope up good so the seams don't pop open.

That is what I will do with the next small load. Thanks.

Originally Posted by landmine

Your thread inspired me to make a cl wanted post

Good luck, be patient and repost regularly. The results will be mixed. Over time the people calling with good qty dealing with.

There are several options for disposing of plastic.

#1 I can pay $55.00 per ton and deliver to the trash place.

#2 I had a dumpster that was for plastic for a local fire compay. I guess it was some kind of fund raiser.

#3 I can deliver to the recycling place and not get paid but do not have to pay either.

#4 Contractor bags from Home Depot hold a good bit of stuff and are always an option. I do not like this option because it is opposed to the goal of reduce, reuse, recycle. I would rather give it away and pay for gas and time to do so than put it out for trash. Doing the right thing means more than a little extra profit. I find when I start cutting corners and working in terms of gray areas it compromises my integrity. Some monitors I get go up on freecycle even though I could sell them for a few buck, or crap them. I feel obligated to give back on the site because I take from it.

Te number one thing you can do int his business is ask for help. Some people just say sorry, but many, many others, are willing to share resources. Google plastic recyclers in your area and see who takes it. Try to find a buyer if you can't then take it to a drop off. The problem I encountered was computer shells and the such are not baleable. Most places wanted baled plastic. The one place I did find to buy wanted to pay like $0.05 per pound. I think it worked out to a couple hundred a tractor trailer load. Which after loading and transporting is a huge loss.