prep before scrap help needed

[acevillav]

I cashed in 340 lbs of scrap steel for $45 today. They had me take the basalts out of an eight foot light fixture before tossing it on the heap. Are there any other items or appliances that I need to prep before taking them into the yard ? Thanks and happy scrappin all !

Ace Villa-v

[wayne1956]

In general I just try to remove any of the non-metal on appliances that are easy to remove. As far as refrigerators/freezers and AC units go, most want the compressors removed and drained of oil. Washers and dryers I remove the wiring harness also, as you can get a lot more for insulated copper than letting it stay on there and getting steel price. Most people, myself included, also remove the motors from washers and dryers. Again, the yards will pay more for these than if you just left them on there for steel price. Try to remove any non-ferrous (brass, copper, aluminum, etc) metals from the steel and put those aside until you get a stash saved, then turn them in. Steel here goes for about .09 per pound, but you can get over $3 a pound for copper, about $1.25 a pound for brass and about .60 a pound for aluminum.

[acevillav]

Thanks Wayne !

[wayne1956]

leave the oil in compresser xtra weight= extra cash

Depends on the scrap yard taking the material in. The ones around where I am from require the compressor to be removed and the oil to be drained from the compressor (they generally look to see if holes have been drilled in the casing to remove the oil).