Resourcerer Intro

Hey fellow scrappers,
Not 1,000% new to my local yard, but just now looking to go full-time scrappin'!
I love finding resources for materials, like palettes for example, that otherwise get left for garbage. Now, aside from materials to build/re-purpose/refinish stuff, I want to learn more about grabbing materials I can sell raw for cash.
In NJ we have FreeCycle and also a Free section in Craigslist. TV sets are abundant, so I'm wondering what value they have if stripped of Copper/Silver(?)/Aluminum or whatever else the yard may pay me for? Suggestions? I already refinish furniture, build with palettes and heat my home with free firewood, so this is an extension of seeing value in all things discarded. Advice is always welcomed! Gotta fill my "hillbilly wood truck" more frequently and with more profitable refuse. Not afraid to dig for a tiny nugget of silver in a 637" TV set, either. That's the fun part, yes?
Looking for ideas to start with, thank you to all my peers!
"Dave the Resourcerer"

catchy name, welcome from NY - I think freecycle is everywhere(interesting site).

Welcome from the warmer, right coast. The e-waste section of the yard I deal with, takes my stripped CRTs & TVs @ 5-8 cents a lb. Also,twice a year, the city, by prior appointment, will take 5 CRTs/TVS OR one mattress (go figure on the ONE mattress, lol) left on the sidewalk on the specific day.
Good luck

Well might as get you welcomed from the "dry" half of the golden state. Welcome to SMF , Mechanic gave you some good advice, I can only say it again, read those archives, the "gold" is there you now have to read about it!

you know this "go look for it" attitude does not really feel like it fosters a sense of community to me as a new guy, and I dont even ask questions. it just feels like nobody wants to just chat. I suppose time is money and this is many peoples primary profession. It can be a hobby too, as in my case. Since I like to talk, I'll offer some answers. Most CRT TV's under 32" dont have even a pound of any one thing, however everything can be sold except the CRT's in MOST municipalities and the housing (unless your West Coast, I hear every form of plastic is paid for at one place or another in those states).

A cheap power drill is your best friend if you are going to go e-waste/scrap. Your primary source of copper will come from the yoke, the electric tape insulated wire thing that runs around the set, and a few coils on the board. Very little aluminum unless you are grabbing a computer monitor CRT or projection TV. Your average 32" or smaller CRT set will have probably only a few ounces of aluminum, about a half pound to a pound of clean copper wire (sometimes there is that very tough adhesive stuck to the copper in the yoke, that might make it #2), a handful of transformers you can grab from the board, maybe a few ounces of #2 wire, and then the board itself can be sold as low grade. Thats usually a dime a pound give or take. Based on those weight estimations, I estimate an average under 32" CRT set to yield you about $3-$5 in stripped down resources. Of course unless you are using the right tools it will take you time to harvest that may not be as profitable.

I can gut the unit itself in about two minutes or less depending on the size. With the right shears/wire cutters, the board can then be cleaned off in about another minute. Then you get to nit pick the little things. Unscrewing those chips from the aluminum sinks, unwinding the two or three nice copper coils that are usually worth it is actually what will take you the most time. That adds about another 5 - 10 minutes per unit. So were looking at about $3-$5 for about 15 minutes of time, x4 is about $12-$20 a hour from just garbage people throw away. Sounds better than minimum wage at a box retailer/food service to me and you get to do it on your own time. But that is only from the one example cited. Your adventures will always get you a variety of scrap that can yield better results with more or less effort required.

I have it sorted like this.
1 5 gallon bucket for bare copper,
1 five gallon bucket for insulated #2 (I strip #1 and most home appliance power cables),
one five gallon for aluminum in general (only recently found out there are different pays for extruded vs cast vs cans etc),
1 sterilite square bucket for motors, transformers, ballasts ( i know the ballasts are different pay I just keep them together as they are both heavy lower paying per pound that are easy to sort out at the yard)
1 five gallon bucket for brass fittings, power/wire connectors, terminals etc..
1 sterilite bucket for stainless steel
and then I have one bucket that I keep for things that I need to further refine. When I had my truck I just kept the buckets in the back for the lighter stuff and would bring the motors and ballasts in with me to save on fuel. As I have always lived in apartments during my scrapping time, they are not too happy about filling up the patio with junk.

I may be in a financial position later this year to change all that. A house and a truck are very likely by this time next year. But in the mean time I just stick to it as a hobby. I only look in apartment dumpsters now if I am actually there for a reason, like visiting a friend or doing some kind of freelance work. I only grab small appliances and electronics. I have to leave behind the fun stuff like futons, fridges, water heaters, bikes, etc. I always grab bed frames as they pay a little higher and are easy to store in my outside closet. If there is still copper or brass on a water heater though you better believe I'll take that. Ill just process a dishwasher where it sits and leave the frame for whoever has a truck. Better believe I would grab that too.

I will be dead before I stop scrapping, no matter the market prices.

Thanks so much for "turning the hose on me", and you're right, that's kinda exactly what I am looking for. I, too am turning more time & effort to scrapping, but it will be more of an active hobby. I'll already be looking for other materials & items to repurpose, I just don't want to leave any "money in the dumpster" while I'm playing.
I do have a lot to read, however I welcome the banter & hope there is more like you've offered. Real experiences are more relatable and applicable. Sharing ideas helps many others, as well. Not sure where to start so hurdle #1 will be dismantling some items I already have. A couple TVs, electric lawnmower, computers, power cords, etc. to see what it realistically takes to gather a worthy pile-O-stuff.
Anyone else care to step up & throw some info/opinions at me? I hope so

Originally Posted by dyepes

you know this "go look for it" attitude does not really feel like it fosters a sense of community to me as a new guy, and I dont even ask questions. it just feels like nobody wants to just chat.

Originally Posted by Resourcerer

Thanks so much for "turning the hose on me"

Guys look. This forum is a scrappers dream filled to the brim with information on anything about everything. You guys have to understand that us as scrappers have had to spend time and effort to look alot of this stuff up and if someone comes in here asking questions without searching and doing the research, all of that time and effort was for not. True answering questions as they come is easier, but scrapping is not easy. If you say it is, just stop because it isn't.

And your right it is not easy, but it sure is a helluva lot of fun, I think most of us can agree on that. Lets tap into that and just remain cheerful. It just seems current dialogue, from what I read on the boards, is very limited and far and few in between. I just want to offer that fresh, alternate approach that maybe it isnt all about the money. I mean I turned in a small load today for a pittance of thirteen dollars, and I would normally have gotten double that based on the last time I remember visiting the yard which was only a couple of months ago.

.04 a pound for steel (0.06 for heavy) and .15/lb for motors was dissapointing, But I am not discouraged one bit, because whether I get a hundred dollars or two dollars for the same load, I enjoyed every minute of the labor consuming destructive fun. I have an entirely different outlook on the profession, and for me it is really therapeutic. This is my version of relaxing in bed with soothing nature sounds with your eyes closed LOL yea I know that may sound disturbing, but I am just a metal junkie.

So I come on here with a slightly different approach and I hope I can try to foster some more healthy current dialogue with new and established members alike.



I plan on challenging everyone here soon with "Time Attack" videos. Pick an appliance, e-waste item and I will record how quickly I can break it down, and offer maybe a healthy paypal wager to anyone who can beat me??? LOL, I am certain I will probably lose against some serious members, but I have become rather pro and streamlined when it comes to TV's and microwaves, so bring it on baby!!

Originally Posted by dyepes

And your right it is not easy, but it sure is a helluva lot of fun, I think most of us can agree on that. Lets tap into that and just remain cheerful. It just seems current dialogue, from what I read on the boards, is very limited and far and few in between. I just want to offer that fresh, alternate approach that maybe it isnt all about the money. I mean I turned in a small load today for a pittance of thirteen dollars, and I would normally have gotten double that based on the last time I remember visiting the yard which was only a couple of months ago.

.04 a pound for steel (0.06 for heavy) and .15/lb for motors was dissapointing, But I am not discouraged one bit, because whether I get a hundred dollars or two dollars for the same load, I enjoyed every minute of the labor consuming destructive fun. I have an entirely different outlook on the profession, and for me it is really therapeutic. This is my version of relaxing in bed with soothing nature sounds with your eyes closed LOL yea I know that may sound disturbing, but I am just a metal junkie.

So I come on here with a slightly different approach and I hope I can try to foster some more healthy current dialogue with new and established members alike.

I plan on challenging everyone here soon with "Time Attack" videos. Pick an appliance, e-waste item and I will record how quickly I can break it down, and offer maybe a healthy paypal wager to anyone who can beat me??? LOL, I am certain I will probably lose against some serious members, but I have become rather pro and streamlined when it comes to TV's and microwaves, so bring it on baby!!

Cool someone else that thinks like me - although, I think i might have you beat. I can break a power supply down in 5 minutes even. Thats taking everything apart and desoldering all the major parts.

Originally Posted by logansryche

Guys look. This forum is a scrappers dream filled to the brim with information on anything about everything. You guys have to understand that us as scrappers have had to spend time and effort to look alot of this stuff up and if someone comes in here asking questions without searching and doing the research, all of that time and effort was for not. True answering questions as they come is easier, but scrapping is not easy. If you say it is, just stop because it isn't.

Seems like policing fully functioning adults & members of this site who took the time to welcome a new member and foster a sense of community was judged unfavorably by Logansryche? It is due to the time it took and the fact that new members should know how to find the answers, have it as tough as everyone else and not waste the time of all the dedicated scrappers? Well;
1) I am personally & professionally grateful for all the responses, and with the exception of logansryche, they did make me feel welcome and were helpful in pointing me in the right direction to find answers. 2) upon joining It was requested of me to write an intro and include info about myself, etc., WITHOUT any guidelines for not asking a question or wasting the precious time of elitists, like Logansryche . 3) Logansryche, is it really your job to tell the other members how they should respond? (That type of disrespect and unjustified attempt to control those generous members should not be tolerated for a second, and I understand this is only my one opinion, with a ton of self control and NO references to how I'd really like to handle his funny little narcissistic attitude). So;
First, i sincerely apologize to the group for misusing the site on my first attempt. Those who responded must be horrible at this because you aren't serious enough to feel the strong urge to correct the injustice I'm guilty of, as per this young member (yeah, I can tell you're young).
Second, because this is not always easy, you are NOT to enjoy it. Strive to control others thoughts & actions, not your own outlook and emotions.
Third, get serious about time. Logansryche made it clear when he put you all straight with his comment about all of your comments, you can't waste your time writing comments! Pros like him understand that this site is for people too busy to answer questions.
And again, I apologize for my ignorance. You won't hear much more from me. Logansryche has it all figured out, he'll set you straight and you'll all be thinking about things properly, as long as you don't bother him by asking.
Summary; whomever runs this site, shut that little punk up!! You've got some genuine, generous & caring people involved as members for the support of this great site. But I gotta say, my excitement becoming a part of it has been taken down by one member and his blatant & immature disrespect of other members. It's a shame.

Originally Posted by dyepes

you know this "go look for it" attitude does not really feel like it fosters a sense of community to me as a new guy, and I dont even ask questions. it just feels like nobody wants to just chat. I suppose time is money and this is many peoples primary profession. It can be a hobby too, as in my case. Since I like to talk, I'll offer some answers. Most CRT TV's under 32" dont have even a pound of any one thing, however everything can be sold except the CRT's in MOST municipalities and the housing (unless your West Coast, I hear every form of plastic is paid for at one place or another in those states).

A cheap power drill is your best friend if you are going to go e-waste/scrap. Your primary source of copper will come from the yoke, the electric tape insulated wire thing that runs around the set, and a few coils on the board. Very little aluminum unless you are grabbing a computer monitor CRT or projection TV. Your average 32" or smaller CRT set will have probably only a few ounces of aluminum, about a half pound to a pound of clean copper wire (sometimes there is that very tough adhesive stuck to the copper in the yoke, that might make it #2), a handful of transformers you can grab from the board, maybe a few ounces of #2 wire, and then the board itself can be sold as low grade. Thats usually a dime a pound give or take. Based on those weight estimations, I estimate an average under 32" CRT set to yield you about $3-$5 in stripped down resources. Of course unless you are using the right tools it will take you time to harvest that may not be as profitable.

I can gut the unit itself in about two minutes or less depending on the size. With the right shears/wire cutters, the board can then be cleaned off in about another minute. Then you get to nit pick the little things. Unscrewing those chips from the aluminum sinks, unwinding the two or three nice copper coils that are usually worth it is actually what will take you the most time. That adds about another 5 - 10 minutes per unit. So were looking at about $3-$5 for about 15 minutes of time, x4 is about $12-$20 a hour from just garbage people throw away. Sounds better than minimum wage at a box retailer/food service to me and you get to do it on your own time. But that is only from the one example cited. Your adventures will always get you a variety of scrap that can yield better results with more or less effort required.

I have it sorted like this.
1 5 gallon bucket for bare copper,
1 five gallon bucket for insulated #2 (I strip #1 and most home appliance power cables),
one five gallon for aluminum in general (only recently found out there are different pays for extruded vs cast vs cans etc),
1 sterilite square bucket for motors, transformers, ballasts ( i know the ballasts are different pay I just keep them together as they are both heavy lower paying per pound that are easy to sort out at the yard)
1 five gallon bucket for brass fittings, power/wire connectors, terminals etc..
1 sterilite bucket for stainless steel
and then I have one bucket that I keep for things that I need to further refine. When I had my truck I just kept the buckets in the back for the lighter stuff and would bring the motors and ballasts in with me to save on fuel. As I have always lived in apartments during my scrapping time, they are not too happy about filling up the patio with junk.

I may be in a financial position later this year to change all that. A house and a truck are very likely by this time next year. But in the mean time I just stick to it as a hobby. I only look in apartment dumpsters now if I am actually there for a reason, like visiting a friend or doing some kind of freelance work. I only grab small appliances and electronics. I have to leave behind the fun stuff like futons, fridges, water heaters, bikes, etc. I always grab bed frames as they pay a little higher and are easy to store in my outside closet. If there is still copper or brass on a water heater though you better believe I'll take that. Ill just process a dishwasher where it sits and leave the frame for whoever has a truck. Better believe I would grab that too.

I will be dead before I stop scrapping, no matter the market prices.

There's a forum if you want to chat. Off topic.
Personally when I point out the archives as a starting point it has nothing to do with not wanting to answers a question.
My reason for doing so is I want the new members, like yourself , to get the same benefit that I get from the archives. By not using the search feature your missing out on 90% of what this forum has to offer.
Maybe you'll take this for what its worth maybe not. It's up to you.
You might feel different about telling new members to hit the archives after you've been here several months or years, instead of just mear days.

Disclaimer: The above post does not represent the opion of SMF or it's members. It is only the opinion of the original poster.

Originally Posted by Resourcerer

Seems like policing fully functioning adults & members of this site who took the time to welcome a new member and foster a sense of community was judged unfavorably by Logansryche? It is due to the time it took and the fact that new members should know how to find the answers, have it as tough as everyone else and not waste the time of all the dedicated scrappers? Well;
1) I am personally & professionally grateful for all the responses, and with the exception of logansryche, they did make me feel welcome and were helpful in pointing me in the right direction to find answers.
2) upon joining It was requested of me to write an intro and include info about myself, etc., WITHOUT any guidelines for not asking a question or wasting the precious time of elitists, like Logansryche .
3) Logansryche, is it really your job to tell the other members how they should respond? (That type of disrespect and unjustified attempt to control those generous members should not be tolerated for a second, and I understand this is only my one opinion, with a ton of self control and NO references to how I'd really like to handle his funny little narcissistic attitude). So;
First, i sincerely apologize to the group for misusing the site on my first attempt. Those who responded must be horrible at this because you aren't serious enough to feel the strong urge to correct the injustice I'm guilty of, as per this young member (yeah, I can tell you're young).
Second, because this is not always easy, you are NOT to enjoy it. Strive to control others thoughts & actions, not your own outlook and emotions.
Third, get serious about time. Logansryche made it clear when he put you all straight with his comment about all of your comments, you can't waste your time writing comments! Pros like him understand that this site is for people too busy to answer questions.
And again, I apologize for my ignorance. You won't hear much more from me. Logansryche has it all figured out, he'll set you straight and you'll all be thinking about things properly, as long as you don't bother him by asking.
Summary; whomever runs this site, shut that little punk up!! You've got some genuine, generous & caring people involved as members for the support of this great site. But I gotta say, my excitement becoming a part of it has been taken down by one member and his blatant & immature disrespect of other members. It's a shame.

I figured I'd explain it to you before someone did and by the way you answered me, it's clear you would've blamed someone else, so for that I bid you vale.