1. When scraping a car make sure to remove the Battery, Aluminum wheels, Converters, Radiator, and Condenser. Pro tip: cut the easiest wiring harnesses you can get too.
2. When cleaning aluminum a few screws should not affect value. You should be allowed 3% iron with clean aluminum.
3. The most common grades of brass are. Hard Brass (Found in high ware items like gears bearings.) it has the highest value. Red Brass is typical (Valves and electrical connectors) 2nd place in value. Next is semi Red Brass found in (water meters) 3rd place in value. Last is Yellow Brass (Plumbing fittings, Trinkets, Statues, Doorknobs, and collectables.) Pro tip: grind it a little this will reveal its true colors. Somethings look like Brass, but it is really Diecast. (Use safety glasses).
4. Insulated copper wire (ICW): Low grade low value is (Christmas lights, Computer cords and harnesses, Small extension cord, Small Jelly wire etc.) #2 ICW is (Electric cords with ends cut off, Cat wire, Phone cable, and Appliance cords) must cut the ends. #1 ICW is anything .05 and greater with no tin/silver coating. (House wiring, Industrial wiring, etc.) Pro tip: To get the most value you can strip the wire (NOT BURNING IT). Makes Bare Bright .05 or greater this is one of the best ways to up your value of wire.
5. Window units will bring you way more then scrap if you take a little time to harvest the goodies. (Reefers, Compressors, Copper, and Electric motors). Let your local HVAC to drain the freon. Pro tip: cut the ends off the reefers this will make them clean, adding value. Keep the ends they are #2 copper without the steel.
6. The more you treat your local scrap yards with kindness. The more willing they are to give you a fare shack at the scale. Build a trust with them. The more you can bring the better price they can give. Having your metals separated and ready to grade can easily get you a better price. Time is money!
7. Keep your Short Iron and Scrap separated. Iron under 3ftx18in is Short Iron. No (Shocks, Hydraulic Cylinders, Tanks, Toque Convertors, Gear boxes, and NO sealed containers). Remember Iron adds up fast it does not take a lot to make a good load. Pro tip: Even a bolt’s, nut’s, 3ft of chain, 3ft angle iron etc. are all short iron. Under 3ftx18in.
8. Watch how you load your trailer. Try not to load it so that something hangs up when they use a grapple or magnet pipe, and angle iron are the worst to hang in your trailer. It will damage a trailer easy and the operator may never notice.
9. Electric motors can be a great way to make fast cash if they are (NOT) aluminum wound. Make sure they are copper wound before you pull them off. Pro tip: Make sure to take the attachment off the shaft of the motor. Most yards will doc you if leave something on there.
10. Fastest way to turn a profit is turning #2 copper into #1. For it to be #1 it must (NOT) have any (Soldier, Paint, (Coatings, Plastic, tin, silver, and enamel) must be .05 or greater in wire size). Pro tip: shinny wire/stripped would be Bare Bright it holds a greater value then #1 copper.
Following these tips and I Guarantee you will put more money in your pocket and have a much greater time recycling. Scrap yards follow these guidelines to get their material ready for the mil. When scrap yards don’t have their material correct, they get doc just like you the customer.
Bounce: 5 things to get off your car when you scrap it #1 Converters #2 Battery #3 Radiator #4 condenser and #5 Aluminum wheels.
P.S. This information has never been released to the public like this.
