How do you do it at $85 per ton??

We are getting 85 dollars a ton. And there is still a lot of competition. You need to be pulling in at least 400 pounds per hour to make it worth it? How are the full time scrapers making ends meet? Thanks

I look on craigslist and scrap grills my only last an hour. I talking about the competition racing around for a light weight items . Usually by the time I see it and can call its gone. It doesn't make scents to me to have an unplan route? Not maxizing profits? IMo. Maybe I am ranting a bit to.. Sorry

If I can't get to an item within 30 minutes of its posting I consider it gone already

I have read many posts most of them are back in 2010-2012 when prices were great. I understand that people have business that they deal with and generates more scrap then curb shopping. Let me ask a simple question are you pulling in 2 tons a day fulltime scraping and or 1 ton or less part-time?

Not trying to be rude or upset anyone. I know there is successful businesses here. But I read a lot that people are holding on to more and more due to the low prices. I always scrap as a hobby. Never has a pt job.

I am breaking down more and more items, even steel. Hold onto the prepared steel and hope price rises. Don't get me wrong I still have lots of shred, some things not worth it to break down. I took 260 pounds of sheet iron and only got $.0225 lb today. But in breaking down this I got #2 ins wire, brass, aluminum, #2 copper, electric motors and several things for our next yard sale! I only made $5.85 for a gutted microwave oven full of shred, Christmas tree with lights still on, 3 rolling desk chair bases, and various other items with plastic or wood attached. Same load last year would have made almost $30...

This forum has great info. Keeps me up all night reading. . escrap mades my head hurt which means I am learning . Kinda like hobo post the price isn't there.

If scrap is the total of your business plan, you will not be making ends meet in this downturn in the commodities. Many on this forum see scrap as a by product of their business. For me art, reselling structural steel, and farm restoration is the by product of my scrapping. Right now I depend on the by product. The scrap is being stored for better prices.

Thanks guys for you responds. Glad you all found a way to make ends meet

Patriot do you have any pic of your work? And do must of you strip wire by hand or made a machine to do it?

I can't see how anyone who just hauls steel to the yard can make ends meet, either.

I refurbish computers. What goes to the yard are shells, worthless printers, and copiers. The good stuff on the inside gets taken out, and is either sold to a specialty buyer, or is reused in another system.

The scrap trailer is the last place I want to put something.

During times like this I rely on my other 4 businesses including auto repair and firewood to get by. Its close to impossible with prices like they are for anyone just delivering metal to yard to get by right now. I take any metal I can get as it comes in but I stock pile as much as I can into prices go up but with the snow on the ground I dont get much scrap into around early May. But im finding myself breaking down more stuff in the light iron pile and preparing more #1 iron then usual the longer prices are low like this. Usually in the summer I just deliver my light iron as I fill my trailer to the scrap yard for quick cash but if prices dont up soon Ill just keep adding to the pile and call the tractor trailer when I can no longer fit anymore in the yard.

I strip most my copper wire by hand as I get it. Its harder and takes longer but if its thick enough it makes up for your time depending on what copper prices are and how thick the wire is.