Just Starting Scrapping

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/forum...ap-Metal-Spots
Welcome to the forum and read up on this for some starting spots. Other scrapper in your state are not gonna give you their "secret" spots. But some tips here may get you started or at least give you an idea. Also be sure to network with friends and family, they know lots of people also.

Those and HVAC, independent garages, auto body shops, welders, loggers (I get a LOT of batteries from those). Really just depends on your situation. Sit and think about it - Who has stuff they throw out? Drive around your neighborhood and look. Appliance repair shops or new appliance sales. Computer sales. Boat sales/repair. Auctions. Farmers.

Maybe we should make a list for people who ask this and make it a "sticky"?

Whether to pay for stuff or not is pretty much a judgement call. I don't pay for most stuff. I am providing a service - picking up their junk in exchange for what I get for it at the scrap yard. BUT - it took awhile for me to get to that point. I started by buying batteries and radiators, alternators etc. I still pay for batteries and brake rotors (0.25 a piece for rotors). For instance, today a regular came by and dropped off a couple hundred pounds of iron. He does this on a fairly regular basis and looks through what I've gotten since his last visit. Today, he found a galvanized rod with an eye on one end which he took.

So, the answer to your question is - It all depends. You'll just have to develop a feel for what works for you. Being 17 years old, you might emphasize that you're doing this to build a college fund (if that's true) and see if they'll just give you the stuff.

A lot of the people on here kind of specialize on what kinds of scrap they do. Then they put the effort into generating scrap of that nature. Some people do cars, some car parts, boat parts, or escrap. Some do residential cleanout, etc. Figure out what you want to mess with, and go that direction as far as looking and asking/buying. Bigger loads you might have to buy or split the ticket 60/40-70/30. As an example, we just bought a large box of motherboards w/processors, 30 HD's, 80+CD drives, and other mics. thrown in for $90. Should be able to triple our money after breaking everything down. But we stockpile it till we have a much bigger load to make it all worthwhile. That just how it works well for us, we concentrate on escrap, but don't turn down any other junk. Hope this helps,,,
PS; there is other scrappers from Ohio, maybe someone you know in the business already you could sit down with at a fast food place and talk business with them. Take a few notes, maybe get a few ideas from them, good and bad.

escrap - electronic (equipment) scrap. Most people start out just taking anything and everything they can get and have the equipment for. Then specialize as you go along.

Yes but I don't bother tearing apart washers and dryers. Some do, just doesn't seem worth it to me. You'll get the motor and maybe the tub will be stainless steel. I just throw it all as Light Iron or Tin; whichever your yard calls it.

i tore a few down when i first got started. i will never tear one completely down ever again. if i can access the motor fairly easily, i will cut it off with my saw. if i need to remove a million panel bolts to get to it, it goes in whole. if you have the time, and are willing to work for $2-3/hr, then by all means, go for it... but i cannot bring myself to tear down washers anymore unless its a 5 min process.

like mick said, though... take everything you can get your hands on, figure out what works best for you. i scrap everything from a dryer to a dell,a fence post to a flat screen

Well, I guess it takes me about 10-15 minutes to tear down a washer/dryer. I take the motor,wiring, and the front panel behind the knobs (aluminum). The motors I don't fool with till a rainy day. The wiring (minus the power cords) all goes in the ins. wire pile. As for the front panel it's really not worth it. Just hate to let it go. I've yet to come across a stainless steel tub. I know some have them and if I ever do I would probably harvest that too. It only takes a few tools to do the job. But, as others have said it's what works best for you. I can certainly understand just scrapping the whole thing. Either way, have fun and good luck! Oh and welcome aboard!