Newbie In Colorado; Dazed and Confused

Just wanted to introduce myself; vent a few frustrations. I'm a brand new scrapper who did my first haul today. It was just a fridge (whole) and a few small things. I made $10, which is what my goal was. I wanted to see what the process was like. Turns out that you have to do a lot of guessing when it comes to figuring out what to do and where to go at my local scrap yard. I plan on trying to scrap full time, though I don't currently have the money, tools, or a proper vehicle to do well. I drive a little 1996 Ford Ranger. It shouldn't carry more than 1,000 pounds, according to its little sticker. I don't think going to the dump more than once a day would bother me much. Moving a 300 pound fridge by myself without a dolly was a bit of an experience. I'm a fat, out of shape, young woman after all. I managed to rip off half of a finger nail, which hurt like a certain place. I also sliced my hand open a bit. Didn't even notice until I was back in the truck. I suppose one should wear gloves occasionally... At least, that's what I'm told every time I garden and get clay under my nails. That's like bamboo stick torture!

So, I only have a vague idea of what I'm doing. I'm sort of winging it. I know I can get a lot more money for things like fridges if I stripped them, however, I don't have the money to buy tools yet. Most importantly, I don't have a place where I can strip things down. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm stuck living with my grandmother (rent in Denver is very high). She absolutely refuses to let me bring scrap into the yard or house. I'm thinking about eventually getting a storage unit, which will run at least $150 a month. But, I'd at least have some place to strip things down. I'm hoping that if I bring in a good haul and make a few hundred in a day, she'll cave and let me strip things down in the yard. At 26, I am biting at the bit. I do not like being told what to do, especially by someone who is affecting my income negatively. Anyone want a grandmother? I'll sell her cheap.


Anywho, I'm slowly working my way through some of these threads. There are a lot of them. Half of them are all Greek to me, but I only have less than 24 hours of research under my belt. Until I learn, I'll just remain dazed and confused.

Originally Posted by mikeinreco

Trust me on the Grandmother.......you'll miss her when she's gone

Oh, I know. She just drives me nuts. She repeats the tv when the weather forecast is on even though I'm sitting in the same room. She also, in all honesty, is kind of snobby. Scrapping is for... well, I can't say exactly what she says because it's extremely racist, classist, and sexist. Let's just say that she looks down her nose at anything "not normal". I love her but she needs a right kick in the butt. And a left kick.


ScrappinRed, I have a little 1996 Ford Ranger. The bed is fairly small I'm afraid. I'm still trying to figure out how to mount plywood sides without drilling into the truck. It's technically not my truck but my ex's, who bought it for me two months ago. I'm not allowed to alter it until I pay him for it.

Start with wire clippers and a magnet. And a hammer.

An easy way to load large items into your truck, by yourself - Tip the appliance onto the open tailgate, get behind appliance and push into truck bed. I've been using this method for years, it's easy peasy.

scrapping scars are a badge of honor well them well and may the magnetic force be with you

Welcome to the forum. You certainly sound determined, that's a great start. Bad thing is that prices suck right now. You have to work twice as hard to make the same money you could a few years ago.

A storage unit is a great solution. I would shop around and see what you can find. Oftentimes the small operators rent space cheaper than the big companies.

Originally Posted by nutpie

Start with wire clippers and a magnet. And a hammer.

An easy way to load large items into your truck, by yourself - Tip the appliance onto the open tailgate, get behind appliance and push into truck bed. I've been using this method for years, it's easy peasy.

Any scrap yard worth its salt will give out free magnets on a chain, failing that she could acquire a magnet from a computer hard drive or an old speaker.

Good advice on how ro load appliances in general, if I have to load a freezer I;;l stand it ion end with the compressor that the top end which is the first end to go onto the tailgate leaving me the lighter end to pick up and shove onto the truck.

Welcome to SMF. I have family all over Colorado so I get over there often. No reason I am telling you. Just am.