Sheet or Extruded

**bcoop** · 04-24-2012, 02:07 AM

Only been doing this a year and still learning a lot. I would say my metal “classification skills” are average but improving. I have come across a fair amount of aluminum lately and used to just throw this kind of stuff in the "sheet" pile for .55LB. I am not beginning to wonder if some of the heavier thicker Alum is not extruded. Seeking some help here.

Below is a picture (or link) to some Aluminum that I have in question.

What would you or your yard classify these as?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64582621@N08/7108661649/

#1 is out of a deep fryer (assuming it’s not SS, non-magnetic, throws no sparks and not super heavy or shiny)
#2 is a case used in traffic control equipment.
#3 is the backing to a wheel chair
#4 is out of a computer.

Any advice is much appreciated

**Dunemaul** · 04-24-2012, 02:26 AM

That is all sheet. If you cant bend it then it is extrusion. and if you dont got muscles hit it with a regular hammer if it doesnt buckle the its ext.

**Bear** · 04-24-2012, 04:06 AM

that first one looks like it would be hard to bend anyway. Is there a thickness dividing the 2 types?

**Dunemaul** · 04-24-2012, 04:21 AM

The people i learned from dont speak English well and varies from yard to yard based solely how much money they have lost in the past.

**myekem** · 04-24-2012, 07:06 AM

The advice I give at my yard is if it was formed through a die it is extrusion... Like from the kids play dough toy. Most of it is easy to tell apart, they are complex shapes made out of one piece of aluminum that aren't folded or bent into shape. And the shape usually continues for the whole length of the piece. One common example is the outside framing of a screen door. And one of the common mistakes people make are the pieces that I think hold the screen (never actually looked at an intact door to see what part it is) but if you look close it is a folded piece of sheet aluminum with bumps on the top where it was crimped.

**BohemianLush** · 04-24-2012, 10:53 AM

I would classify pics #1 and #3 as MLC (mixed low copper clips) if it is at least an 1/8 inch thick. My yard is paying $.60 for clean old sheet and $.70 for MLC today. BTW my yard has about 50 different categories for aluminum with at least 10 of them being extrusion.

**RSComputer** · 04-24-2012, 12:28 PM

Wow. So where does aluminum wire fit in? Have about 200 feet of damaged 500mcm aluminum wire but not sure what to classify it as.

**Mechanic688** · 04-24-2012, 12:58 PM

I cleaned up a sliding glass door (took off rollers and removed the insert for the glass/handle) and that paid extruded price.

**metaljacket** · 04-24-2012, 01:13 PM

Then what the hell is cast aluminum. For example I thought that the many of the heat sinks were cast. I broke down a sewing machine and it had an aluminum base. Is that extruded or cast. What about aluminum from walkers (medical) and crutches. Also have broken down lots of ceiling fans and the frames that hold the fan blades I thought were cast alunimum.

**BohemianLush** · 04-24-2012, 01:38 PM

Aluminum wire we call EC...goes for $.77 a lb. today. Cast is cast. Price depends on whether its clean or dirty. Some heat sinks can be extruded but I buy them as MLC. Aluminum from walkers and crutches I would generally buy as old sheet. Each yard has its own categories, but keep in mind we all have to ship to the mills based on the ISRI specs. All scrappers should print a copy of the ISRI specs!

**Mechanic688** · 04-24-2012, 01:38 PM

On the heat sinks you will run across both sheet style and extruded. The extruded looks like it has been pushed thru a die and the sheet style has the "fins" pinned to the base. Anything tubular should be extruded but it depends on your yard. Some heatsinks from TV's are just cast alum. that has been bent in a right angle. If you break off a piece you should see kind of a rough inside.