I made my first trip to the scrap metal recycler, there's about 4-5 of them within a block or two of where I work in Louisville. So not terribly inconvenient (other than waiting in line) but definitely an interesting experience. I think I got more entertainment value out of the ordeal, than the money I received for metal.
I have a complex about throwing metal away; I know full well it's cheaper to recycle used metal than to dig new stuff out of the ground.
I separated the aluminum out and took those in separately. Got about $50 for aluminum alone.
They paid:
$0.30/lb for alum radiator
$0.38/lb for cast aluminum (intake manifold for example)
$1.00/lb for cast alum wheels
$0.78/lb for aluminum cans
For steel I think I really messed up here. I had several years worth of old axles (my cars and others' I work on are old enough that there's rarely a core charge), brake rotors, calipers, control arms, suspension components, etc. Probably 400-500lb. of heavy steel/iron car parts, with a lawnmower deck, blades, and other semi-heavy steel/iron. I had another 300 or so pounds worth or random metal like computer cases, thin gauge steel decking, mattress springs, etc.
I had to load all this stuff on an open utility trailer (sides are framed with angle iron but otherwise open), so I carefully put the heavy automotive parts (some of which are small) on bottom, then covered them up with random sheet metal, old mattress springs, whatever other misc. metal I had that would give me a semi-flat surface to put some tie-down straps over.
When I went over the scale, the fella flagged it as sheet iron, because that's probably all he could see other than mattress springs. After checking out, I see that it pays pretty terrible, 7 cents per pound. I walked away with $52 / 740lb of steel, which was semi-worth my time (no flat tires afterward thankfully!). I assume the heavy stuff pays better, should that have been separated out before hand or placed on top where they can see it? I'd hate to make two trips through the scale, the line was pretty long. Just wondering the best way to approach this in the future. Hopefully it'll be a few years, it was an experience I don't want to repeat very often I need to work on my "tweaker" look to fit in... Also do these prices seem in line with what you guys are seeing?
I have a complex about throwing metal away; I know full well it's cheaper to recycle used metal than to dig new stuff out of the ground.
I separated the aluminum out and took those in separately. Got about $50 for aluminum alone.
They paid:
$0.30/lb for alum radiator
$0.38/lb for cast aluminum (intake manifold for example)
$1.00/lb for cast alum wheels
$0.78/lb for aluminum cans
For steel I think I really messed up here. I had several years worth of old axles (my cars and others' I work on are old enough that there's rarely a core charge), brake rotors, calipers, control arms, suspension components, etc. Probably 400-500lb. of heavy steel/iron car parts, with a lawnmower deck, blades, and other semi-heavy steel/iron. I had another 300 or so pounds worth or random metal like computer cases, thin gauge steel decking, mattress springs, etc.
I had to load all this stuff on an open utility trailer (sides are framed with angle iron but otherwise open), so I carefully put the heavy automotive parts (some of which are small) on bottom, then covered them up with random sheet metal, old mattress springs, whatever other misc. metal I had that would give me a semi-flat surface to put some tie-down straps over.
When I went over the scale, the fella flagged it as sheet iron, because that's probably all he could see other than mattress springs. After checking out, I see that it pays pretty terrible, 7 cents per pound. I walked away with $52 / 740lb of steel, which was semi-worth my time (no flat tires afterward thankfully!). I assume the heavy stuff pays better, should that have been separated out before hand or placed on top where they can see it? I'd hate to make two trips through the scale, the line was pretty long. Just wondering the best way to approach this in the future. Hopefully it'll be a few years, it was an experience I don't want to repeat very often I need to work on my "tweaker" look to fit in... Also do these prices seem in line with what you guys are seeing?
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