Scrapping Kinda Sucks

[BOOT]

For the cool peeps I've enjoyed chatting/posting with n my H8ers. Guess I'm back posting some kinda

So I've been busy scrapping since early fall AND around here it makes no sense, just not enough money for the time. Too many scrappers and not enough scrap, especially now in winter(seems more are hunting for street scrap as Marketplace pick-ups slowed down). Scrap yards are kinda far as well(30mins). BUT I need to be active n get in better shape and making a bit of money is also nice.

I've scrapped kinda on/off my whole life but never tried to make any real money cause I'm good at math. Around here it just don't add up most the time. So only really if it was in my path, my own junk cause i got room to pile it up, i was helping someone out or didn't take much effort. Never really liked the haggle part of scrap yards, always shady. For example, the last time i took cars in, well over a decade ago, they hit with me so many downgrades that i got barely over $100 for 2 four door cars full of scrap. Or when i took in a bed of nonferrous and they had multiple math errors, that i had to catch n correct them on(around $200 worth out of almost $600 in scrap).

I've only been hauling in bed loads of tin/steel/shred(was at $145 or $140 a ton but my truck can only haul 1600 max and took in loads 1200-1400 $80-95) and one parted out car only so far(just wanted it gone), to this small yard that seems ok. Rest I'm just piling up and setting aside(some needs more processing). Wanna makes sure i get the nonferrous properly sorted before i haul any in. Lots more categories these days, well some of the yards round here only have a few(they wanna pay you a lower rate n sort it themselves for more profit). Kinda like e-scrap, they are quick to downgrade if you don't sort n process stuff good(one place i saw that you ship to). But the local yards are use to dealing with mostly crackheads or hagglers i think.

Youtube is full of micro-scrap vids, a good way to make a few bucks in a hour LOL The best explanation I have for micro scrapping is. It's a way for some, to do something with their hands, after work that is low effort, a hobby that makes a bit of money. Most of the stuff I drag home is what others pass up or I'd have an empty truck bed, so I micro scrap. I do find it interesting, to see how some stuff is put together and save the bits that will/may come in handy.

Now people do not understand how bad of shape I'm in/my health has been the past decade(starting to decline before that). And I've finally been figuring it out/getting better, the last couple years. I'm not talking works sucks n it's annoying, I'm saying a few hours of work and i need sleep. No stamina! Or if I push myself for one day, i need days to recover(heal slow). For years now my week of progress, anyone else can do in a day. So it takes me forever to get anything done. But i gotta get back to work here eventually AND the leg thing(thread last winter) set me back good. Only just got full use of my leg back n started to walk normal just as i started to scrap in mid-September. [Dr thinks nurse hit a nerve in my back with the shot] This is to explain my capabilities, not for sympathy(see my other past threads, inquiring bout ideas for work at home n such).

It's A TON of work, I know min wage is a better rate for the time it takes. BUT a job ain't gonna let me work a few hours n take a long nap before getting another few in LOL Not been on forums much, just too tired and still not getting in the hours of a norm job. Also my hands really been bugging me, finally found/figured out a stretch that helps a lot and got some carpel tunnel braces. Literally couldn't feel texture with one for a couple months(winter slow down has also helped), my main hand was just pins & needles nonstop. Figured I'd eventually make some post as things slowed down for winter. I just got caught up on my micro scrap pile(well not some stuff). Cleared out my workshop(was packed full of junk to clear out garage LOL) to start on some dirty stuff i need to tear apart.

Forgetting something i wanna mention but i already typed this out basically the other night and accidentally deleted it n it's Hella long enough. I'll add w/e i forget later.

 

[Steve439]

Health issues suck.

Good luck, dude!

 

[BOOT]

I mean it's not all bad. I like to drive around randomly, always have but haven't much for years(to save my vehicle & money). Prob should of started to scrap more long ago. Also l Like to learn bout how stuff works and not have to put it back together LOL I've found some cool/useful stuff to keep, sold/given away a few things I found that were fine/worked or saved metal/stuff I'll use for fab/future projects. Prob should test more junk before i tear it apart LOL but I don't wanna really fix too much, I'm not looking to sell a ton. Scrapping is a pathway to get in better shape for a normal job(slow progress). The money I earn buys me more time to get my shit together as well

 

[Mixed up]

I hear you on the shady yards.i have small totes to keep ferrous from non ferrous that I use and I sort heavy from other metals if I have to roll the scales multiple time im good with it .
It's good to hear your doing better

 

[Mark D.]

I drop all my scrap off at one of my renters.Appliances,water heaters,steel,etc. He makes a few bucks and I eventually get it back.Like you said no money in it. Glad to see you back.

 

[BOOT]

I hear you on the shady yards.i have small totes to keep ferrous from non ferrous that I use and I sort heavy from other metals if I have to roll the scales multiple time im good with it .
It's good to hear your doing better

I've been considering sticking to one metal type, to make it less complex or only two per trip. Like waiting for a full load of alum or if i take some steel just one non-ferrous type with normal load. Like a bucket or tote of something. Also considered, I may try to save up for a large load and go farther to avoid local places.

Good thing i find plenty of free totes and a few buckets. I've filled up several medium size totes but i just toss all the non-ferrous in unsorted(wires/cords, bits of alum or brass n copper). Prob kick myself later for that but i started out with barely any containers. I wanna chase down some FREE 55 gal drums/barrels to further sort stuff. Been using some old trash cans for the longer alum pieces.

Yard i go to(cause it's easy) don't have any diff steel types. Just shred n rotors. So I've not taken any cast iron blocks/heads in and set aside all the thick steel, dense car parts. I'm sure one of the other yards do but not wanted to call around yet. Wish i had a trailer cause that stuff will be too heavy for a full bed load. Another reason i may fix the white truck, that i only bought for it's engine. It's a 2WD reg cab 2500. Needs a 4L60e trans, brake line and patch up the exh they cut when tried to remove the cat.

I got some non-ferrous scrap in the barn, stuff I've set aside for years as well. Not a large amount but maybe enough mixed types to fill my bed. Also if i want i can cut some tires off all the stock alum rollers i have LOL got more than i thought.

 

[BOOT]

I drop all my scrap off at one of my renters.Appliances,water heaters,steel,etc. He makes a few bucks and I eventually get it back.Like you said no money in it. Glad to see you back.

I think some around here pay for that stuff, very competitive. Not that I'm saying you should charge but hope he appreciates it. One of the ways it'd be a ok way to make living, is if you had contracts/agreements with several places to pick-up stuff on a regular basis. I'm sure many do around here and I just don't feel like trying to outbid or know anyone that wouldn't prob already have someone that gets their stuff. I'll stick to street scrapping n the random Marketplace pick-up. I've found enough in warm weather to keep me busy and still got plenty to process this winter(a normal stamina person wouldn't). But who knows, in time i may meet the right person or things could work out enough to keep at it. I like to keep an ope mind

Actually got my first furnace the other day, once in awhile i find a water heater but mostly i find dryers & washers. Tore apart 15 or so w/d this fall, only way to get the weight up with all the BS shred steel. Is if stuff is broken down and of course I separate the more valuable pieces. Still that isn't upgrading the value much for the time it takes. If i was closer to the yards, i'd prob save a lot of time on unloading and the quicker turn around wouldn't be worth breaking it down. I got a pile of microwaves to tear apart, even a brand new $500 one in the box(set aside, may try to sell it but it's over head type and a mouse got in the box by the backside, why they tossed it, tho it didn't look bad, just not had time to deal with it).

 

[BOOT]

I ended up by this kinda mansion(3 stories and wings), idk know where it was or really how to find it again. But they tossed out a small 3D printer, it was just on a chair that was also being tossed. So i grabbed it n set it aside. Got a guy i know who wants to mess with it, i have zero interest in that stuff and figured it would be worth trying to sell as parts at least. YT scrapper I've watched for years always says, scrap is the lowest value. And if yah can sell it for more, that saves time from tearing it apart as well.

Still gotta get these two acoustic guitars I found checked out. Saw a pile of trash n a metal thing in it but behind the pile was two guitar cases and they had guitars. It was dark, so all i did was crack them open to see if anything was inside n decided to drag them home n gamble that they had value(I've dragged home lots of stuff, to find it has no value n gotta throw it away myself). Turns out they are some really nice condition guitars. But i know nothing bout that stuff.

I've come across several clean-out type of piles. Sold some NEW G-body rear Bilstien shocks from one LOL Still those types of piles kinda makes me sad, prob someone passed away or got kicked-out/locked up. Whoever tossed out good stuff, that sometimes had prob more sentimental value than actual.

I find stuff in runs/multiples for some reason LOL It's been ironing board season for a bit(prob cause the holidays). Some of it makes sense, like table umbrellas after a wind storm. Found several ladders(step n full size) one month and a bunch of push lawn mowers right before winter. Be interesting to see the spring clean-outs patterns.

 

[BOOT]

Fuel cost is the biggest factor. I've figured out better areas but winter has made even those less likely to be worth it. I'll drive along n add up the value n watch the miles, to keep track of my finds/cost. For example i went to a close area last night and got like $22 in scrap and spent $6-7 in fuel. That still was 2hrs-ish and I gotta unload, break down/process most of the few items(TIME). Min wage is deff better $$$

[edit] Oh n my poor front brakes, so much dust n the rotors don't look so hot. Put some new pads on not many miles ago but INC new ones this spring.

 

[BOOT]

Oddly all the better areas around here are non-white LOL

 

[440roadrunner]

I no longer enjoy driving, at all. A lot of it is traffic, but a good part of it is my health. When I find the guy that coined the term, "The Golden Years," I am just gonna kill 'im.

Any of my scrap has been from me. I've cut up and scrapped (lost count) 7 or 8 glass boats, and 1 aluminum, which required barely any cutting. I can do NOTHING of what I've done or try to do without the outdoor 2 post hoist, and the little Farmal with front loader. I also bought the Grandaddy of small tractor backhoes, an old "Dual". "Dual" was bought out by Wood or Woods, and for awhile, bore both names, before just dropping the Dual name. At least some of the hoes you see on the botas and Deere and etc are actually made by them, painted the correct color and decals, etc. But that was actually a failure for me, as the lifting capacity is far less than the downforce, because of course, of the rod, which reduces cylinder area. I mainly wanted it to lift outboards. It struggles with an old OMC V4, AKA "fat 50" or 75 and larger. I have no V6's and likely won't

Just about the most ambitious project of my life was when I converted the 01 Cummins to 4WD. I had to tear two complete running pickups clear down to their BARE frames and put one back together. The parts truck I just sorta stacked together, and got lucky and sold it to a guy "package."

Not a pretty sight, is me?


In the midst of swapping rear axles. I used my original 3.54 rear, and a matching front out of a rolling frame I bought that was wrong wheelbase, but correct front/ rear axle ratios

Pulled my cab off complete with front clip. Did not even drain the A/C. Just unbolted the compressor from the engine and tied it off to the fender

Beginnings of the 4WD on left. Frame is out of a 96 V10 auto, mine was Cummins 5 speed. here we have the axle out of the rolling frame swapped in, it still needs rebuilt, my original axle and the Cummins set in. My old 2WD frame to the right



Setting the cab and bed back on went too smooth to believe. I rolled the frame under, and aligned a couple of the mounts from a few feet up with a plumb bob down to the frame. Just rolled it fore/aft and then used a come-along to skid the frame a couple inches to one side and align it left/ right. Got one corner bolt in, went to the other end of the cab, and jiggled it with an aligning bar. In less than 10 minutes I had all the cab bolts started, let 'er down and rattled 'em in.



Yup. I've got an old Ammco brake/ disk lathe. In "another world" I have literally turned thousands of rotors and drums, from Fiats/ Vee dubs to over the road trucks/ trailers.

 

[Gdogg]

I just cut up a chassis and loaded it in the trailer today, $145 a ton just bummed me out, shred was over $200 last year. You would think think with the tariffs on imported steel that scrap would be up.

 

[BOOT]

I just cut up a chassis and loaded it in the trailer today, $145 a ton just bummed me out, shred was over $200 last year. You would think think with the tariffs on imported steel that scrap would be up.

Felt the same, by the time i started scrapping, price was down from last winter/spring. Normally they dip some by fall and go up over winter. Still that's my luck with most things, sell when it's low LOL But this steel/shred junk takes up too much room and i want it gone anyway. Got a truck that is gonna get scraped this spring w/e the price is. Been piling up the steel only cause it's cold and don't wanna deal with it till things warms up some. Prob got 2-3 loads for when it does tho. I seen the price was up to $175 on one Michigan yard/places site as of Jan 12th but not called any local yards n figured they are slow to adjust anyway.

With the car i took in for fall and two others i want gone this spring, I'll be glad to have the room anyway

 

[BOOT]

Oh n a major reason I've been able to scrap/be active as much in the cold weather as I have, is my hands, the skin on em that is. By now the cold has them tore up decent, still tolerable BUT when i Lived with the dog(allergies). They would have been this way by November or worse. My hands would hurt all winter w/o even being outside hardly at all, with tons of lotion while living with the dog. I'd of not gotten a 1/10 or even greater factor of what I've done this fall back, then when living with the dog. Feet would be a mess too, cracking n bleeding. Prob effected my overall health more than i realized.

Also i started TRT shots(mentioned in my prior leg thread last winter, the first shot messed me up back then and just this fall decided to give it another shot LOL pun intended) But i do them myself of course LOL I don't see a boost in energy at all, actually makes me sleepy the first day and I'll limp in that leg But i do recover from being active much faster after that. Think it helps me sleep better some, I sleep a lot LOL

 

[AutomaticWeapon]

Interesting this topic came up. I'm probably gonna have questions for you guys.

Back story: A couple months ago we found out we were all losing our jobs, and I (we all) officially lost our my jobs on 1/19/26. Since the announcement was made a couple months ago, I haven't worked a full week. The hours were there if I wanted them, but I can't stand being bored. There was literally nothing to do except wander around and (try to) look busy. I would go in for 2 - 4 hours a day and I used PTO to make up the difference. Severance kicks in next week and once that's gone I'm going on unemployment. For the past couple months I been thinking about what I want to do and I kinda decided that I don't want to do a normal job anymore.

FF > Couple weeks ago I took two damaged wheels from my Magnum to the scrapyard and got $55. Easy money. I sorta made up my mind right then that I can be a scrapper(?). My main specialty will be scrapping/selling aluminum wheels and selling/installing used tires. I'll be sourcing everything off MP. I'd pay like $10 - $20 for each bare wheel and like $30 - $50 for aluminum wheels with good tires. Seems feasible. My goal is to at least double my money.

I'd also like to try parting out cars and scrap the carcasses. Something that scares me about cars is titles. There are tons of cheap cars/trucks on MP here, but a bunch of them don't have titles. I don't think we can't scrap a carcass without a title in Illinois.

Another issue might be getting rid of junk tires. I don't know if we have a public dump here.

All I'd need to get started is a truck, a tire machine, a air compressor, and a place to store everything. Bonus is I'll have a place for all my tools and a spot to work indoors.

Am I nuts?

 

[BOOT]

Interesting this topic came up. I'm probably gonna have questions for you guys.

Back story: A couple months ago we found out we were all losing our jobs, and I (we all) officially lost our my jobs on 1/19/26. Since the announcement was made a couple months ago, I haven't worked a full week. The hours were there if I wanted them, but I can't stand being bored. There was literally nothing to do except wander around and (try to) look busy. I would go in for 2 - 4 hours a day and I used PTO to make up the difference. Severance kicks in next week and once that's gone I'm going on unemployment. For the past couple months I been thinking about what I want to do and I kinda decided that I don't want to do a normal job anymore.

FF > Couple weeks ago I took two damaged wheels from my Magnum to the scrapyard and got $55. Easy money. I sorta made up my mind right then that I can be a scrapper(?). My main specialty will be scrapping/selling aluminum wheels and selling/installing used tires. I'll be sourcing everything off MP. I'd pay like $10 - $20 for each bare wheel and like $30 - $50 for aluminum wheels with good tires. Seems feasible. My goal is to at least double my money.

I'd also like to try parting out cars and scrap the carcasses. Something that scares me about cars is titles. There are tons of cheap cars/trucks on MP here, but a bunch of them don't have titles. I don't think we can't scrap a carcass without a title in Illinois.

Another issue might be getting rid of junk tires. I don't know if we have a public dump here.

All I'd need to get started is a truck, a tire machine, a air compressor, and a place to store everything. Bonus is I'll have a place for all my tools and a spot to work indoors.

Am I nuts?

If your into YT I'd check out some scrap channels or dumpster diving ones. Many of the things they do/find, are useful for entertainment only but still, it gives you a idea of value of a lot of stuff n if it's worth it for you.

No titles, not worth the hassle unless you know the person(I got one to cut up but i bought it from a guy i know). Just inviting the cops to maybe hassle you n cause you drama(even if you think you're fine, might be a H8er closer than you think, that'll call the cops). I honestly should-of/should-now start to part out cars but it's overdone around here(more cars guys than scrappers by far). Just depends on your area.

Junk tires, call/ask around. I took a couple hundred tires to a place that charged me $2 each or more for the few larger ones i had(most my dad left me). That place had mounds of them and guess they shredded them for stuff.

Trucks are not cheap these days and the cheaper ones are pretty used up. I got lucky with the Sierra 2500 i bought for it's engine, only like 130k+ and not super tore up but crusty.

Selling/fixing stuff goes kinda hand-in-hand with scrapping. Some can make extra money doing labor type clean ups with the bonus scrap or trash removal. Lots of FREE stuff on Marketplace, if you are quick. I've gotten some even w/o a smartphone.

I don't think it's nuts to have multiple forms of side-gigs if your ambitious. I'm not the self boss type and would prefer a job but plenty make it work with all kinds of odd jobs/stuff. Thought bout a tire machine myself, would sav eme tons but I am not social enough to make any money enough to justify it. FYI beware of cheap used, the china ones are cheap new on ebay, seen exact same type used for same price on Marketplace. You could at least double dip while you collect n see if it will work out. But being a small time independent, competition can always pop up Too many scrappers around here and I expect more the way things are going.

[edit] If you are gonna try to have a small shop/business, then you'll need some type of coverage or w/e. I've seen too many get sued. One of the reasons i prefer to not work on people's stuff or start a business. Guy i know had some fab work done on his car, it wasn't right so he was gonna sue. But the person who did the work told him to get lost, tho he used his relatives garage/home shop, so that relative was the target of the lawsuit. I knew a good shop that had to change their name cause they did work for a rich guy, turns out he had a rep for trying to screw shops over n had good lawyers. So many crooks n shady people round here LOL

 

[AutomaticWeapon]

I hear you on the shady yards.i have small totes to keep ferrous from non ferrous that I use and I sort heavy from other metals if I have to roll the scales multiple time im good with it .
It's good to hear your doing better

What is 'roll the scales multiple times' ?
You do that to dispute their scale if the weight seems light?

 

[AutomaticWeapon]

I no longer enjoy driving, at all. A lot of it is traffic, but a good part of it is my health. When I find the guy that coined the term, "The Golden Years," I am just gonna kill 'im.

Any of my scrap has been from me. I've cut up and scrapped (lost count) 7 or 8 glass boats, and 1 aluminum, which required barely any cutting. I can do NOTHING of what I've done or try to do without the outdoor 2 post hoist, and the little Farmal with front loader. I also bought the Grandaddy of small tractor backhoes, an old "Dual". "Dual" was bought out by Wood or Woods, and for awhile, bore both names, before just dropping the Dual name. At least some of the hoes you see on the botas and Deere and etc are actually made by them, painted the correct color and decals, etc. But that was actually a failure for me, as the lifting capacity is far less than the downforce, because of course, of the rod, which reduces cylinder area. I mainly wanted it to lift outboards. It struggles with an old OMC V4, AKA "fat 50" or 75 and larger. I have no V6's and likely won't

Just about the most ambitious project of my life was when I converted the 01 Cummins to 4WD. I had to tear two complete running pickups clear down to their BARE frames and put one back together. The parts truck I just sorta stacked together, and got lucky and sold it to a guy "package."

Not a pretty sight, is me?


In the midst of swapping rear axles. I used my original 3.54 rear, and a matching front out of a rolling frame I bought that was wrong wheelbase, but correct front/ rear axle ratios

Pulled my cab off complete with front clip. Did not even drain the A/C. Just unbolted the compressor from the engine and tied it off to the fender

Beginnings of the 4WD on left. Frame is out of a 96 V10 auto, mine was Cummins 5 speed. here we have the axle out of the rolling frame swapped in, it still needs rebuilt, my original axle and the Cummins set in. My old 2WD frame to the right



Setting the cab and bed back on went too smooth to believe. I rolled the frame under, and aligned a couple of the mounts from a few feet up with a plumb bob down to the frame. Just rolled it fore/aft and then used a come-along to skid the frame a couple inches to one side and align it left/ right. Got one corner bolt in, went to the other end of the cab, and jiggled it with an aligning bar. In less than 10 minutes I had all the cab bolts started, let 'er down and rattled 'em in.



Yup. I've got an old Ammco brake/ disk lathe. In "another world" I have literally turned thousands of rotors and drums, from Fiats/ Vee dubs to over the road trucks/ trailers.

I remember you doing that truck conversion and thinking you were half nuts to take on something so extreme.
In the grand scheme, you seemed to make it look easy.
I could never take on something like that. I just don't have the patients for it.

 

[BOOT]

What is 'roll the scales multiple times' ?
You do that to dispute their scale if the weight seems light?

For each metal type. Weight in, unload one metal type n weight after. Then drive back to another area n u load the next metal type and weigh-in after again. Rise n repeat until you are empty. Some yards use smaller scales for the nonferrous, so you park n take them in separate(depending how much you got). The small place i go uses the big scale for steel/vehicles(tho it's not that big, won't fit both a truck n trailer at same time) and then some smaller scale for other metals i was told, not brought anything other than steel to them so far. They get a lot of smaller type scrappers(junkies) with cars or crossovers from what i've seen.

Also you gotta talk to your local yard n find out what they take. I'm 90% certain I over-clean my steel shred, yards use to be more picky from the stuff I've seen others dump in my fall trips. I honestly should talk to them, i may be wasting too much time cleaning-up or passing-up/junking stuff that i should bring in. For example i seen entire flat-screen TV's and bikes with tires or other items with non-metal pieces I'd remove to clean them.

 

[AutomaticWeapon]

I just cut up a chassis and loaded it in the trailer today, $145 a ton just bummed me out, shred was over $200 last year. You would think think with the tariffs on imported steel that scrap would be up.

What is 'shred'? Does that mean different in-tact objects all thrown together in one truck load?

As in, you might have a complete washer, complete refrigerator, complete engine, and whatever else thrown together without separating plastic?