Scrap Metal?

admin

I am looking for ideas what everyone does for scrap metal in there shop? On the farm we accumulate a lot of scrap every year, and really it either goes to the dump, or we stick it in an old truck in the yard, but I am to the point where I want to take it in and get money for it, so I am just curious what do people use for storing scrap metal? I dont want to keep it inside, but I dont want to leave it outside and have the container get full of water/snow. I don't really have time to build anything fancy, and I am on a farm 3 hours from the nearest big city. I have tons of old plastic barrels, with no deposit on them, and rinsed out, thought about cutting the tops off of them, and making lids for them so they can sit outside on a pallet, or even better yet just using a tote with the top cut off, its got a metal frame already, and easy to load as well. But how exactly do you unload scrap metal? I am unfamiliar with this process too, it would be simple for me to load up something in the back of the truck every once in a while and take it in, granted it is easy to unload at the scrap yard.Looking for any advice, or tips, kinda curious what the process is, and an easy way to handle it, sorry if this is in the wrong forum, but I have seen a lot of innovative ideas here, and thought many of you would have great advice! Thanks!
Reply:We have alot of blue plastic 55 gal plastic drums from the local Coca Cola distributor. We just cut the tops off (leaving the top rim intact for structural integrity) drill some holes in the bottom and I'm rapidly filling them up with practice scrap welding material. CL usually has them listed inexpensively. https://www.google.com/search?q=plas...x-a&channel=sb
Reply:Steel barrels for smaller pieces.  I scrap the barrel and all when I get a truckload worth filled up.  Bigger pieces could be put in a cheap pickup box trailer or stored on a clean gravel or concrete pad.Do not haul the scrap to the scrap yard in the back of your truck unless you either want to unload by hand or really hate your truck.My name's not Jim....
Reply:We have a 12'x6' dump trailer that we fill up and take to the scrap yard, gets filled about every other month. Usually has about 3 ton in it when we empty it.
Reply:am sure i can use  your metal scraps on my projects ....i regularly make rounds to some scrap yards and buy some reusable metal scraps--..but  i guess it will cost me too much getting your scraps... i saw some old container vans turned into large storage bins like this Attached Images
Reply:Do not let scrap pile up around you property.It will attract crack head scrap collectors, while they are stealing your steel they will look around and load up on anything else that isnt bolted down. For me I just use a bucket for the real small things to include pulled nails or anything that could puncture a tire.The little tire puncturing things are more important to me than the larger items.Just make sure that when you use barrels to make sure you can lift them when they get full, so you dont have to empty and refill them.Other wise my stuff I don't want any more goes in a pile in a locked fense in area where it stays concealed from passers by.I usually let it pile up through the bitter cold of winter and opressive summer heat.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:I am a HUGE pain in the butt about small nail sized pieces of scrap.  Each piece of scrap metal is worth 15 bucks.................................. if you run over it. The  tire repair cost that much.  I just have a bucket for the small stuff and a metal box for anything larger.   Batteries dont forget to save those for scrap as well.  It is amazing how much it can add up to over time.
Reply:Yeah I agree, I dont like saving scrap metal or batteries to be honest, it does attract free loaders who want to make a buck off me. I currently have about 6 pallets stacked 2 high with batteries, and every year 3 or so battery collectors stop in and offer me 2-3 bucks a battery, I tell them to get lost, I can get 4 times that for them!  I am going to use a clean old chemical tote and cut the top off, then I can just use the pallet forks on the tractor and load it up whenever no matter how heavy it is! Joys of being a farmer is I have lots of barrels and totes laying around to use, unless of course they have a $500 deposit, then it goes back to the manufacture!  I dont usually like taking a good vehicle to the dump, afraid of getting a flat tire, so I take the one I am gonna be changing tires on soon, same goes for the scrap yard I think. We usually reuse as much scrap as we can around the farm in a project, or for anything! but you get busted bolts, nuts, broken rusted steel etc and its just not worth saving for another use.Sure does add up!! I can't stop thinking about how much metal we go through in a year, while it seems little everyday, once you get it into a pile its not very small! Love the ideas
Reply:I'm just a small scale hobbyist when it comes to metal work, but I take my scrap to a metal recycler and get money for it.  Once or twice a year I get $25-50 for scrap metal loaded in the trunk of a car.  REAL quantities of scrap are worth real money nowadays.  Different grades of metal get different $$ too.  My recycler told me that brake rotors are worth more than "plain scrap" because it is higher quality steel.  When I replaced the catalytic converter on my wife's car, it was an automatic $30.  Even scrap pieces of copper pipes add up.  You could be sitting on more money than you think.  I also agree with Mad Welder 4 about the crackheads looking for a quick scrap score.  That happens around here a lot too.Hemi-T"Ignorance can be fixed, but stupid is forever."Hobart BetaMig 2510Everlast PowerPro 256 TigMiller Radiator-1 Tig cooler
Reply:I lay "weldable" on Pallets, sorted mostly by type and length.I keep a 55 gallon drum for throwing definite steel scraps in, bucket for lead, bucket for brass(they don't differentiate), bucket for clean copper, bucket for covered copper, bin for small engines, bin for electric tools/motors/transformers, bucket for cast aluminum, bucket for sheet aluminum.When the buckets get full, I go threw each one doing a check, then into the truck they go.The 3 or 4 pieces of sheet steel scrap(tin) go in the bottom of the dump trailer, everything steel 2 feet and under go on top with that 55gallon drum of contents spread liberally over it.Any machine chassis, farm machinery, 3 foot and larger goes on top.This way they look at the load give you a price for the "Heavy", then a price for the slightly lower grade which is the mixed below.They then lift off the heavy and I dump the rest. I see the scale weight when I go in, so I know if I want to weigh through twice or not.Batteries actually go to a Battery Manufacturer factory to pallets at a time usually.
Reply:Agreed!!!! Last time I had an employee take one of the services trucks to the local scrap, he came back missing the back right window.... Originally Posted by BoostinjdmDo not haul the scrap to the scrap yard in the back of your truck unless you either want to unload by hand or really hate your truck.
Reply:here in california, our scrap is considered a low grade hazardous waste. it is not alot to touch the ground, so it must be stored in containers. we primarily work with stainless steel, steel, we don't use much of it, scraps are stored the same way, and pretty much get donated with the stainless (only get pennies for it).Last edited by sausage450r; 03-11-2014 at 11:18 PM.'14 HTP invertig 221Thermal Arc 201ts'15 HTP 2400'13 Hypertherm Powermax 30Esab 875Esab 251Clark Metal Servicespecializing in stainless steel exhaust systems
Reply:Originally Posted by jlamesWe have alot of blue plastic 55 gal plastic drums from the local Coca Cola distributor. We just cut the tops off (leaving the top rim intact for structural integrity) drill some holes in the bottom and I'm rapidly filling them up with practice scrap welding material. CL usually has them listed inexpensively. https://www.google.com/search?q=plas...x-a&channel=sb
Reply:Originally Posted by sausage450rhere in california, our scrap is considered a low grade hazardous waste. it is not alot to touch the ground, so it must be stored in containers. we primarily work with stainless steel, steel, we don't use much of it, scraps are stored the same way, and pretty much get donated with the stainless (only get pennies for it).
Reply:Found out this Saturday night from a friend that another friend of ours had his crane truck stolen (older model he erects commercial buildings). The friend that called me said he happened by the scrap yard and thought he saw cut up parts of a crane truck . After closer inspection a meth users stole Charlie's truck and cut it up and sold it as scrap.When we cut up a lot of old earth movers that we parted out a few years ago. We had scrap dealer drop off a 40 ft trailer that we filled several timed with any thing from 10 ga material to 6 in h thick frame plate that had to be cut in 3x3 pieces.  Hydraulic cylinders had to be disassembled to prevent explosions. If you have enough scrap most recycle folks will supply a large trailer or various size roll off  dunpsters. We have had trouble with the dopers coming in the back side of our farm on four wheelers and loading them up with rebar, short pieces of angle, channel. They make a lot of trips till they get enough to make it worthwhile to go to scrap yard
Reply:My dad and I just pile it up until we get enough to fill a dumpster.  Takes a while by the time the pieces get too small to be useable but we usually have a fair amount of stuff thats too bent up to use.  Most of our steel comes from construction projects.
Reply:I feel sorry for you guys down in Alabama!When a person won't respect another guys property, then they need to be shot!Coming by and taking one piece is one thing, but to come in repeatedly thats just plain totally wrong!Same Deal with the Truck Crane, Law won't prosecute them to the Fullest extant, Justice needs to be Served!
Reply:We had an issue with scrap being stolen out of our scrap bins. That is, until we electrically charged the bins. Funniest sight ever. Saw the thief come up, as usual started digging. Went over to the "valueables" bin (al, copper, etc) and touched the top of the pile. Guy about crapped himself. Never had a guy steal scrap again.
Reply:Turis, what did you use to electrify it? Battery charger? Elec fence unit?
Reply:120 vac works  220 is betterSent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2Backed my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Originally Posted by sausage450rhere in california, our scrap is considered a low grade hazardous waste. it is not alot to touch the ground, so it must be stored in containers. we primarily work with stainless steel, steel, we don't use much of it, scraps are stored the same way, and pretty much get donated with the stainless (only get pennies for it).
Reply:Originally Posted by toofast_28Turis, what did you use to electrify it? Battery charger? Elec fence unit?
Reply:Originally Posted by toofast_28Turis, what did you use to electrify it? Battery charger? Elec fence unit?
Reply:Michael.T it might help if you put your location in your profile.  Here in VA your batteries go for about 20 cents a pound, steel/iron 8-9 a pound, motors/starters 20 cents, alum 40-50 cents, stainless 35-45.  Copper is in many classifications up to about 2.90 for bright. I buy some mil surplus stuff and when I have what I want, use a flat bed  equipment trailer to go to the recycler and go through the scales several times, hand offloading the smaller more valuable stuff from the pick-up bed and letting the yard offload the big stuff from the trailer.  About $250 every 2 months.Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:Originally Posted by mad welder 4Whats wrong with it?I get 50 cents a pound for ss.