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Falling Scrap Iron prices

colson04

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Apr 11, 2016
Messages
2,057
Location
Delton, Michigan
The local scrapyard will buy motors and generators. They only pay like 10 cents per pound for them, but they pay ~$2.50/pound for dirty copper. I really dont want to scrap the unit out, but after 4 years, I've realized it must not be a big priority for me to actually get it fixed. There is a generator shop about an hour from here, but I have not put out a call to them yet.
 

Old Doug

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Oct 16, 2013
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Mo
I would take the generator apart. The last one i scrapped after it was off the engine took about 3 hours to take apart. But this all depends off how much free time you have and what your time is worth. I bought a generator at a place were i was cleaning up i cant remember what i gave for it but it was the last thing i bought . I remember thinking he wanted alot for it i didnt know how it would work out but i had did ok on that job and would have bought it no matter what. I took it apart it payed me over $100.00 a hour to do it i made out very good on that deal.
 

Old Doug

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Oct 16, 2013
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Mo
I run a generator shop and have a lot of rotor and stator scrap and nobody seems interested in it. Lots of copper, but lots of iron mixed in too.
It must be alot different were you live for the wright price there are alot of guys here that would buy your scrap and clean it. I know guys that buy motors and generators from scrap yards clean them and sell it back to them.
 

Shimmy1

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Aug 14, 2014
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4,260
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North Dakota
I know guys that buy motors and generators from scrap yards clean them and sell it back to them.

Do these guys have day jobs, or are they doing this to support their meth habit? It would sure be nice if some of these degenerates would actually join the workforce.
 

Old Doug

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Mo
Its mainly retired guys and guys on disability that need extra money or some thing to do.Its a good deal for the scrap yard they sell AC units to them for 00.15 a pound then buy back the cleaned stuff.
 

Old Doug

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Mo
The last load of shred i sold was $95.00 ton but its been i think 3 weeks ago. I have been cleaning up some stuff that was in the way so i will haul a load monday. The non ferrous stuff has been holding ok i have hauled 2 small loads because i had to get parts and it was on the way.IMG_20220918_111443.jpg
 

walkerv

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Jan 21, 2016
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wingate nc
I took back a tiny bit of scrap yesterday . Sheet steel was .06 cents a pound , #2 copper 2.95 extruded aluminum was .29 .... was expecting the steel to be a bit more then that .
 

Old Doug

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Oct 16, 2013
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Mo
I wish i would have gotten .06 a pound i got .045 a pound. I hope it dosent go down any more. If i could get .06 i would work on a cleanup job it will not pay alot but getting in over will be worth something.
 

walkerv

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Jan 21, 2016
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1,125
Location
wingate nc
I wish i would have gotten .06 a pound i got .045 a pound. I hope it dosent go down any more. If i could get .06 i would work on a cleanup job it will not pay alot but getting in over will be worth something.
I do have one small advantage in that the scrap yard is 5 minutes away from me but any less then .06 lb for short steel is not worth my time or my back to load . I do have those 2 old diesel mercedes to hual in regardless of price , city wont leave me alone about them .
 

Old Doug

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Mo
I am holding on to some stuff for a better price but the real junk i am hauling regardless of price.
 

Delmer

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Jan 3, 2013
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WI
2 DIESEL MERCEDES! can't you find a bigger fool, I mean ambitious person who would at least haul them away for scrap price and save you the hauling and pay for some of the hassle of dealing with crazy people?
 

Old Doug

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2 DIESEL MERCEDES! can't you find a bigger fool, I mean ambitious person who would at least haul them away for scrap price and save you the hauling and pay for some of the hassle of dealing with crazy people?
From what i have found there is alot less crazy scraping than there is selling a prodject.
 

colson04

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Apr 11, 2016
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Delton, Michigan
I have a load I want to clean up around the yard before winter. Local scrapyard quoted me $137/gross ton this morning.

Copper was $2.57/pound for #2

I'll probably haul off what I have just to have it gone, but I wish I would have done it back in May when it was $215/ton.
 

Old Doug

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Oct 16, 2013
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Mo
I have a load I want to clean up around the yard before winter. Local scrapyard quoted me $137/gross ton this morning.

Copper was $2.57/pound for #2

I'll probably haul off what I have just to have it gone, but I wish I would have done it back in May when it was $215/ton.
Its always interseting to see what other parts of the country are paying for scrap. I guess the closer to the foundry the better.
 

colson04

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Apr 11, 2016
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Location
Delton, Michigan
I could see that. About $0.015/pound difference. It was $.095/pound, 6 months ago. I'm only about 90 minutes away from foundries in Indiana, and about that far away from foundries on the east side of Michigan. I have 3 scrap yards I can sell to within a 30 minute drive, and others farther out, though it usually doesn't add to the check any to drive farther away by the time I pencil in the fuel cost.
 

Randy88

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Feb 2, 2009
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2,149
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iowa
In my area it has more to do with monopolies than it does distance to the foundry, certain companies own all the scrap yards in x number of miles so there is no competition, once you get to an area yards are competing for scrap business, the prices go up considerably, but its not economical to haul anything less 80,000 lb loads that are prepared that distance, to the larger towns or cites that have three or four competing scrap yards in them.

If you have enough sorted and sized, you can then bypass the local scrap yards and haul directly to the foundry yourself. Many of the local salvage yards do that, once they have enough castings from engine blocks and axle or differential housings, they haul direct to the foundry, but not many have several semi loads of castings to haul at one time, same goes for crushed aluminum or stainless unless your a manufacturer of something specific.
 

Old Doug

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Oct 16, 2013
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Mo
I haven't been wanting to haul much for others but i hauled 3500# of 1/2 conduct pipe i needed to go to that town any way. I got $90.00 a ton. I have a bigger clean up i have to do this month i wish the price was better. I may try to keep a trailer or two loaded and see what happens.
 
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