Metal too rusty for scrap?

I have a 25-year-old dump site in the woods near my house. It is full of rusted-out junk (metal buckets, fencing wire, lawn mowers, driveshafts, gears). The buckets and drums make up the majority of the junk, but they are very thin and rusted very badly. I have looked all over the place for specs on how thick sheet metal needs to be in order to be considered worthy scrap, but can't find info. Can this stuff be too old, thin, and rusted? or will they take anything? Most of this sheet metal is REALLY rusted--to the point of having holes in it and being breakable with my bare hands.

Ain't nothing too rusty to scrap! If it's breaking apart in your hands, shovel it into a barrel! Won't get sheet metal price for it though....but if you have a lot of stuff to scrap, go for it.

My advice would be get as much of it as you can load that will stay together long enough to get it to the scrap yard,hahaha...Look for old bottles and antiques while your there....

Originally Posted by junkdude1959

My advice would be get as much of it as you can load that will stay together long enough to get it to the scrap yard,hahaha...Look for old bottles and antiques while your there....

There are a bunch of old glass bottles out there. You think it would be worthwhile to scrub/powerwash them? I see random bottles at antique stores going for crazy money.

Might be worth$ checking into, my brother runs a auction house and sells alot of old bottles,dishes and all kinds of glass ware...if nothing else, box up a bunch and take to a nearby auction house and see what they go for...Scott

If you go to the scrap yard with a whole load of really old,rusty,thin metal.. it doesnt look to good. They might give you a lower light iron price than normal. My advice, try and mix the crappy stuff with some better looking light iron. It all depends on the guy who marks your load, if he wants to bust balls he can, if hes a good guy then you will have no problem. Good luck

A few more questions for you guys: I have two old lawnmowers out there, very heavy. Do I need to drain the fluids and separate all of the components? I know the engines are aluminum, so I will smash those out and do them separate. Is there anything else I should do? Batteries?

What about the rubber on the tires?

I can take a push mower in as is and get light iron for it. IF I separate the block from the frame, then they expect it to be drained before you get the higher price.