My latest trip to the scrapyard

[Steve in PA]

It usually takes me about two or three years to dig enough scrap brass, copper, and lead to make a trip up the road worthwhile.

 

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[xr7ator]

How many hanker slides would one need to find before chucking them into the scrap pile? lol

I've got to seperate about 100lbs of brass and copper and get mine in.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Here in California at least in the central valley they won't pay you the same day they hold it, State rules,Because of all the thefts of copper from building sites and wire thefts.Even though you can tell mine has been dug they are not allowed to use discretion on who they pay.I live over 60 miles from scrapyards and I don't want to waste my fuel to drive back to get my check so I end up having to give up even more $ for them to mail it to me even aluminum,and the scrap yard I went to wouldn't take aluminum cans because of Covid concerns yet the local guy on the corner can take your cans and then sell them to the same scrap yard that wouldn't take them in the first place.Makes no damn sense.

 

[metrotec]

can man is the middle man, you get screwed outta $
only in Californication

 

[Duckshot]

... ,and the scrap yard I went to wouldn't take aluminum cans because of Covid concerns yet the local guy on the corner can take your cans and then sell them to the same scrap yard that wouldn't take them in the first place.Makes no damn sense.

But that's what government does to create jobs. You see, your government figured out that your vote and the Can Man's vote are equal, and despite the fact that you earned you cans the government has decided for you that the Can Man has got to eat too or he won't be alive and able to vote for the politician that took your money.

 

[Johnnybravo300]

My bud and I went to his dads house and hes a retired electrician from goodyear.
He had mounds and mounds of old copper wire in piles around his land he wanted cleaned up so we loaded my truck up and took a trip to the scrapyard.

Easiest $650 I've ever made and we went back for a second trip but when his dad heard what we got for the first load he put the brakes on. He said hed take the rest of it!
We thought we had hit the jackpot!

 

[fistfulladirt]

Nice return!
Cannies here in Mich make a career out of picking up 10c returnables just walking the roadsides.

 

[pepperj]

You got a good return on the copper, you might have taken a hit on the brass though.
Down grade to tap brass when it was a minimum a yellow.
I would of given a yellow brass price and did the sort.
The slides are yellow 70/30 same as shell casings/zippers/pocket watch brass.
Threaded brass pipe/old threaded taps are red brass.
A small grinder is the best way for a person to ID the brass if unsure.
Easiest way of making money is an upgrade.
Lead is leadaunless it's tested there's little difference

 

[Steve in PA]

You got a good return on the copper, you might have taken a hit on the brass though.
Down grade to tap brass when it was a minimum a yellow.
I would of given a yellow brass price and did the sort.
The slides are yellow 70/30 same as shell casings/zippers/pocket watch brass.
Threaded brass pipe/old threaded taps are red brass.
A small grinder is the best way for a person to ID the brass if unsure.
Easiest way of making money is an upgrade.
Lead is leadaunless it's tested there's little difference

I use a file to determine copper or brass. I had the wire in a separate bucket from other copper like pipe, flashing and other misc but threw the wires in with the other when I went.

 

[pepperj]

The brass categories are taps, yellow, c-metal, red.
Copper categories are Millberry, #1, #2, #3
I always educated the customers, they would sort clean yhe loads up better.
I save labour sorting, cleaning, and we both made a little extra $$$
A little bit here and there adds up after awhile.
Weĺl done.