Looks like we need a bit of common sense and caution here

Originally Posted by olddude

The older and the professional scrappers here can uaually spot over zealousness and those who get ahead of them selves. with out referring to any single person. let me advise you (particularly you noobs), this is not a fast buck or, easy profession.

This is an open forum any one can post any thing they want. we thankfully are not (yet) like you tube where it's a 50/50 chance of getting info that can literally kill you but with the mass growth of this forum a few slip in. Add that, Gold fever (yes it is real) and can be fatal, to un informed or over zealous in-experience can lead to financial disaster and worse. Most of those types are soon discovered and ostracized by this community and soon fall to the way side. the interned term is Troll but here we refer them to Skippys.

I will not say more or, point fingers in any direction. There is a PHD in this business here waiting for all of you. All you need is a little patience and, a lot of reading archives. There are hundreds of experts here with years of experience, none of them will miss lead you and in most cases be glad to help and answer any and all questions not under company secrets like, where do you get your metal or, boards.

Just invest a little sweat equity and your answers are there for you.

Remember the # 1. common sense rule. If it sounds too good to be true it usually is. mcw.

OldDude,

As usual, your experience and common sense is greatly appreciated. As is your ability to post what needs to be said, to hopefully help some others avoid making mistakes that many of us see as obvious. Let's just hope, for others sake, that they heed your advice before getting in over there heads.

I look forward to many more of your posts that show not only your scrap metal experience, but as important, your life experience.

Thank you again.

Mark

I've had my head buried in the archives all day..... Amount of info in there is amazing.....

That's an issue we have in Bermuda as well, people have seen a few do well at it, and have started snapping up scrap, after a while they realize just how much they need to make a shipment and then they end up trying to "sell" it, yeah right...... I just follow them to the dump...

Its not not easy, it's dirty, tiring, boring at times, and heavy work.

I remember the first time I went out on my first run, took a set of bolt cutters with me, at a dump site for A/C units, cut into the first one (copper tunnel vision) *snip* and promptly shot in the face and engulfed in freon and what ever else the hell was inside the tubes..... Not pretty..... Not smart....

Awesome advice, look fwd to more of your posts!

Originally Posted by BDAScrapper

I've had my head buried in the archives all day..... Amount of info in there is amazing.....

That's an issue we have in Bermuda as well, people have seen a few do well at it, and have started snapping up scrap, after a while they realize just how much they need to make a shipment and then they end up trying to "sell" it, yeah right...... I just follow them to the dump...

Its not not easy, it's dirty, tiring, boring at times, and heavy work.

I remember the first time I went out on my first run, took a set of bolt cutters with me, at a dump site for A/C units, cut into the first one (copper tunnel vision) *snip* and promptly shot in the face and engulfed in freon and what ever else the hell was inside the tubes..... Not pretty..... Not smart....

Awesome advice, look fwd to more of your posts!

You're fortunate, here in the states we have the EPA to answer to for that. But yes, this forum has lots of knowledge. It was once said when I first came here that many will join and many will get into scrapping but after awhile only the serious ones will remain.

Originally Posted by logansryche

You're fortunate, here in the states we have the EPA to answer to for that. But yes, this forum has lots of knowledge. It was once said when I first came here that many will join and many will get into scrapping but after awhile only the serious ones will remain.

So true.
I became a member in Sept of 2013 and have already seen many come, stay for a while and then leave, never to be heard from again.
I'm still trying to figure out what the deal is with Skippy, but I have an idea.

90% of all my scrap comes from diving.... You learn really fast to be careful.
Our environmental protection here is a joke, it's disgusting in fact, one of my buddy's owns an plumbing/electrical/a.c service and the amount of people he knows that don't prep the ac's for the dump is unbelievable, I've had to pass up a few units as they weren't prepared for the landfill correctly....

Originally Posted by olddude

The older and the professional scrappers here can uaually spot over zealousness and those who get ahead of them selves. with out referring to any single person. let me advise you (particularly you noobs), this is not a fast buck or, easy profession.

This is an open forum any one can post any thing they want. we thankfully are not (yet) like you tube where it's a 50/50 chance of getting info that can literally kill you but with the mass growth of this forum a few slip in. Add that, Gold fever (yes it is real) and can be fatal, to un informed or over zealous in-experience can lead to financial disaster and worse. Most of those types are soon discovered and ostracized by this community and soon fall to the way side. the interned term is Troll but here we refer them to Skippys.

I will not say more or, point fingers in any direction. There is a PHD in this business here waiting for all of you. All you need is a little patience and, a lot of reading archives. There are hundreds of experts here with years of experience, none of them will miss lead you and in most cases be glad to help and answer any and all questions not under company secrets like, where do you get your metal or, boards.

Just invest a little sweat equity and your answers are there for you.

Remember the # 1. common sense rule. If it sounds too good to be true it usually is. mcw.

GREAT POST!! As a newb myself I can see how certain individuals could get caught up and end up getting hurt either physically or financially. At the current time I look at this as an adventure and not a get rich quick scheme.
I have a day job that I work 14 days on and 14 days off so on my days off I head out in the truck and see what I can find. I make a few bucks and meet some interesting people. I by no means have the knowledge that some of the veterans on this site have. But I have spent hours reading on here since I joined and am blown away by the willingness to pass on info,tips and tricks. So hopefully the other newbs out there take your advise and STAY SAFE.

Old dude, your quote at the bottom immediately let me know I was in the right place: "anyone who thinks scrappin is easy money ain't doing it right." I'd uttered the exact same words before I came here. If only they would let THAT truth sink into their grey matter for a minute!

Originally Posted by MattInTheHat

Just face it....refrigerant should be handled properly.
You seem eager to learn and be a respectable member of this community and our world, so be prepared for some jokes from some of us.

No problem, it's all part of the learning process, I can take the heat lol
yep, your right it should be handled properly, I know check the s/valves on units before I chop into them.
You have to remember, no one buys scrap here, we dive for it or set up contacts, I can't set up contacts as I can't handle the volume of weight..... Yet.... I'd have over a ton a week dropped off on my door step,n form one place, I can't handle it.... Yet. Lol



Looks like a good opportunity for you....Does your buddy have the equipment to recover refrigerant? Would he teach you how to use it? You could have an ongoing deal, or set up a temporary deal till you have enough cash to buy your own.

Doubt it, again unless I can take all of the scrap off his hands that day, but it's worth asking so I will give him a shout.

As for becoming a true scrapper, I'm working on it, I have allot more going against me than most, space mainly.
Bermuda real-estate is very expensive.
Your only allowed ONE car per household! no trucks without special license F150 yeah right....
we are only 21 miles big
I spent 2500 on pouring a slab to handle 22 tons of weight in a 10x12 area, re jigged my garage to turn it into a workshop for breaking down scrap, working on setting up international links for scrap (the only way to make any money doing this) laughed at by many, thought to be nucking futs by the parents and gf and friends, The only thing I'm not doing, is it full time, and that may happen if this first shipment works out.
Its not easy and allot of hurdles in my way, but I enjoy it, and I believe it will pay off, you have to have 100% invested or you will already defeated (the Sgt coming out in me).

I started scrapping because I love taking things apart and it looked easy I was wrong about it being easy I learned after the cuts and scars started popping up but i love I've been scrapping for a year and a few months now and i love it and it's become an addiction but a good addiction

I got into this after a CBS report. They were bringing to light a story(was the first I'd heard of CBS reporting on it) about how companies were claiming to be recyclers and were instead drop-shipping the stuff to a village in China(I'm told some outfitters still do for whatever excuse they pull out their but), so I wanted to do something about it. I went into this knowing it was going to be rough(because no one turns the E-Waster market over in a day). I continue to learn new things every day.

BDA- Don't they drive a lot of electric golf carts around in town on Bermuda?? I think it saw it somewhere on tv...

Originally Posted by DakotaRog

BDA- Don't they drive a lot of electric golf carts around in town on Bermuda?? I think it saw it somewhere on tv...

Hah, ah, nah, just on the golf courses, the only thing we have more of per square mile in Bermuda than gold course is churches.... More than any where els in the world, and I hate golf, and I'm Atheist....

If I was surrounded by that many churches I'd be an atheist too >.<

Olddude, very concise and very well said.