So What First Got you into Scrapping?

There may be other threads on this I haven't been able to find; if so, I am not offended at all if an admin/mod were to elect to merge this with such or move it to a different board/category.

What first peaked your interest in metal recycling? Let's hear your stories. I'm curious if there are general trends...

Here's my story: I grew up in rural Alaska. Was disposing of my refuse in less than environmentally responsible ways, but what else are you gonna do in such a situation? I was looking into what it would take to get our community to ship its trash out of there to someplace else.




Later, I got into old army trucks. Stories of these beasts being scrapped had me thinking "Can they even crush that thing?" Granted, I later considered cutting one up myself. So in a way, I was just curious to see the processing end of it. I'm one of those types who has always enjoyed watching "destruction" of any type, so the processing end fits in with that...

Anybody else have their stories?

Originally Posted by M923

There may be other threads on this I haven't been able to find; if so, I am not offended at all if an admin/mod were to elect to merge this with such or move it to a different board/category.

What first peaked your interest in metal recycling? Let's hear your stories. I'm curious if there are general trends...

Here's my story: I grew up in rural Alaska. Was disposing of my refuse in less than environmentally responsible ways, but what else are you gonna do in such a situation? I was looking into what it would take to get our community to ship its trash out of there to someplace else.


Later, I got into old army trucks. Stories of these beasts being scrapped had me thinking "Can they even crush that thing?" Granted, I later considered cutting one up myself. So in a way, I was just curious to see the processing end of it. I'm one of those types who has always enjoyed watching "destruction" of any type, so the processing end fits in with that...

Anybody else have their stories?

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What Proton said. The plant I worked at got closed down and I couldn't find other work so scrap was a hustle to get by.

Originally Posted by M923

There may be other threads on this I haven't been able to find; if so, I am not offended at all if an admin/mod were to elect to merge this with such or move it to a different board/category.

Your obviously Gen X and want everything done for ya.

Bet you never even used the forum search feature, there are plenty of stories on how we got started or introduced into the scrap industry and its merits.

I started picking up soda/pop bottles when I was 7 or 8.

Originally Posted by Patriot76

After retiring from my profession, I wanted to be my own boss. I was a millwright working my way through college and when a family member wanted a farm cleaned up I jumped at the opportunity. This project took over a year and I still have some large machinery to remove. The lifestyle, freedom, and challenges were addictive and the rest is history. This is my eighth year and I would not trade it for anything.

This is indeed...addictive! I can sense it already! What all do you still have to remove?

My addiction started this past Jan. I was injured on the job. I pulled my bicep muscle right off the bone and it curled up towards my shoulder. After surgery I didn't have much to do so i watched YouTube videos. I came across someone melting brass and copper and putting it into molds. I was hooked, I bought a furnace. I had some scrap metal laying around and I took some things apart for the copper and brass. I had a good melting down metal. Then I realized I have to get rid of this other scrap. Went back on YouTube to see what to expect at a scrap yard. Then I was hooked. It was easy and fun. I never did cash in my brass or my copper. Maybe one day I will. Mostly light metal.

Heres how i started, I was going to to get gas and around the corner from my house was a pile of air ducts, conduit pipes and a braker box. I knew of 2 guys who scrapped, scrapper Dave and my buddy Goon. Thought i should bring it in and see what i get. Well i rounded up some other stuff and brought it to the place i brought my cans to as a kid with my mom. Got a whole $17. Figured i will do this again. So the next time i went i wanted to beat my $17 from last time. Next load i brought in was $36, Man was i so excited for $36. So i was hooked. 9 years later and still at it.

My story starts when I was assisting a friend of mine replace all the thermostats and exit signs in the church I attended when I lived in Panama City, Florida. Not only did I get all the junk wire (which was a large amount, 50+lbs), but there was an entire 1000' spool extra ordered. I received that as well. With it all being CAT3 cable, essentially telephone wire, I didn't bother to strip it. The Romex I got I did strip. I also got some copper pipe, copper connections, and brass plumbing bits. When I took it to the scrap yard, I made about $450. I was 9 y.o. at the time. Ever since then, I've been carrying on scrapping. About the same time, I realized electronics held more value than just simple metals. Been doing electronics since that point as well. I'm 19 now, and absolutely love what I do. Working at a computer repair shop also helps bring in junk electronics on a weekly basis.