New Seller with Scrap Metal Questions

**melissa5** · 08-18-2011, 12:59 AM

Hi,
I am new to the site, I found it on google while trying to look up some info on selling scrap metal. I recently inherited a house from a family member and everything that was in it. In the garage is a large amount of tools, various parts, and lots of different sized pieces of metal. Most of it looks like it's steel. There is some large 100lb (or so) pieces of brass I think. Some of the pieces are long and flat. Some long and round.

Is any of this worth anything? Is it worth me hauling to the recycle yard and get some money to fix up this house?

Thanks for any advice!

**Dumpster-Dee** · 08-18-2011, 01:05 AM

sounds like you may have inherited a goldmine !! You'll get lots of help from the more experienced scrappers here and the best advice I can give you is to start by reading through the archives here. For specific questions, you can use the search feature at the top right corner of the home page. And go to the introduction thread and read the sticky by hypoman. Look forward to hearing about your progress.

**melissa5** · 08-18-2011, 01:12 AM

Do I have to sort all this stuff before I take it? Are there size limits on the stuff a recycle yard will take? Some pieces are long, maybe 10-12' are so. Some are pretty rusted.
I'm going to take a picture and put it on here. The stuff needs to be cleaned out of the garage anyways, but if I could possible make some money off of it to put back into the house I would love that.

**melissa5** · 08-18-2011, 01:19 AM

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**IdahoScrapper** · 08-18-2011, 01:25 AM

If it's rusted, it's tin/steel. Pays around 8 to 12 cents a pound.

Sorting gets you top dollar, so long as you go to an honest yard.

Size limits? None that I know of. I've seen dump trucks/busses in the pile at my yard.

Best option is to grab a drink of choice, a pen and pad, and start sifting through the archives. Deep in the archives you will learn how to tell the difference between stainless, aluminum, steel, brass, copper, etc.

**IdahoScrapper** · 08-18-2011, 01:28 AM

That stuff on the floor is likely worth more as is, versus scrapping. Looks like some C channel, flat stock and tubing. I know when I have to go buy steel they hose me on it.

**melissa5** · 08-18-2011, 01:33 AM

What would be the difference between selling something "as is" and "scrapping"? Do you sell them to the same place?

**IdahoScrapper** · 08-18-2011, 02:04 AM

"As is" I would post on Craigslist. There's always welders, hobbyists and fabricators looking for material and if they can get it cheaper through you versus being bent over at the steel yard, you both win.

You might have a $150 piece of steel, and only get 15 bucks by scrapping it. There is a huge spread between scrap prices and what new steel costs.

I might even be interested in some of it if you happen to be in or around the Boise, Idaho area.

**Bobby** · 08-18-2011, 08:29 AM

Going by what I can see from the pic on my phone... It looks like this stuff has been seimi sorted already..items on the floor the long ones look to be steel...the ocean spray box, looks copper, and the two round prices nest to that box the bigger of the two ..yellow brass?

But that's just my opinion and I'm no expert...welcome to the forum and good luck though.

**zakmattingly** · 08-18-2011, 11:53 AM

You will definitely get more if you separate it all. And not just separating the types of metals but sub-types as well. For instance aluminum. You could have extrusion, cast, or sheet. One will pay more than the others but mixed prices are lower than any. Most yards won't sort it for you. Just do some research and If you have anymore questions than that's what we're here for. I keep finding more and more way to separate everything. Always needing more buckets.

**fiat128** · 08-18-2011, 12:32 PM

Nobody said the obvious, use a magnet. If it sticks it's steel. Those big brass round peices are going to net you a decent bit of change at the scrapyard (take the magnet and check to make sure there are no steel screws attached to it, if so remove them first). The copper pipe in the box is worth $3.00 - $3.50 a pound depending on your area (do the magnet thing again). The silvery white material in the trash can is most likely aluminum (50 -70 cents a pound, check for screws). I would turn it all in together as there really isn't enough of it to sort (it's mostly extrusion, which is a good grade).

Looking at that lot, I'd say you've got $100-$200 worth of scrap there. The guys who say sell the steel on Craigslist are right. They have a section for "materials" and you can browse it to get an idea of what that stuff is worth. You may have $300-$500 worth of scrap and useable stuff there if you are lucky. The brass cylinders are pretty high dollar items to a machinst if they had to buy them.

**CMHN** · 08-18-2011, 12:49 PM

For me, Looking at that stuff I would post most of it on Cragslist. There is a lot there that a machinist or welder would like to get a hold of. I have sold many items that way and you will get more selling as is. Ask your local scrap yard on how much they pay for their metal there may even be an ad in the classifieds of your newspaper. then take the pieces and weigh them to get a ball park figure on how much you will get for scrap and then mark it up to make a good profit, you can always haggle with a potential customer but don't go under the scrap price.

Good luck.

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