Welcome to the forum. Correct me if I wrong, but it don't strike me that you are getting into the scrap market, you just want to do research for some other sort of venture. With a name like "scrap reporter" and your avatar, that guy probably hasn't worked an honest day in his life, but that's my opinion.

If you are only doing "research" on the field, have to agree with the others in saying "start reading" an you will find your research all over this forum. I would start with "day in the life" folder and work from there.

Chicago isn't the only scrap game in town.