Scrapping Kinda Sucks

I've seen a lot of other scrappers on my street trips. Surprisingly a lot in crossovers or min-vans, even some with a car or jeep pulling a trailer. I like using a truck and wouldn't mind a trailer sometimes but don't wanna drag one around all the time.

Always see the non-trucks zipping around neighborhoods and think prob a junkie clipping cords, with his mothers or baby-mamas vehicle LOL

Cops haven't been bad, kinda expected more harassment but I'm 100% legal, don't drive reckless and not a junkie/drunk/felon/thief or have any warrants. One was kinda cool, tho he did want my ID to run even tho i technically wasn't pulled over or doing anything wrong. But it's to be expected with the rep that scrappers have round here. Heck before i was scrapping, I've been hassled on my walks or riding a bike. Like I'd do anything illegal close to home, if I even was a crook n I'm not LOL Shortly after i started scrapping this snitch did reach out to me, so they must think I'm desperate LOL

Just trying to get into better shape n makes a few honest bucks with hard work :)
 
Oh I took out my passenger mirror one night backing up(nothing serious), that sucked and i was like I'm done, time to go home(not a good scrap night either). Ordered a replacement glass off ebay for like $15 shipped. kinda was a pita to get the old one off but when i folded the mirror(not the only time I've done it but first for breaking glass) it popped the backing(front really) loose, so i was able to remove that n get it from the backside. No way it was coming off easy like the YT vid LOL i broke most the tabs prying from the back!

Truck has a few more scratches and a dent from some POS metal, that caught my pants pocket when i went to toss it out at the yard. Could of been worse, at least it didn't pants me standing in the bed for all to see LOL
 
How 'stripped down' does a car have to be to scrap it?
I read the fuel tank has to be removed, and all the fluids have to be drained.
Will they accept a car that still has it's interior?

If I try to part and scrap a car I'd only want it around for a week or two before I junk it. That should be enough time to sell whatever I can off it. I'd keep the wheels, tires, rad, a/c condenser, battery, and the cats.
 
The local to my home scrappers are kinda dicks. Drove by several places that are deff scrapper houses. I don't like to do this area much anyway, too many n not enough metal. Left my house with a load to take in to the yard n one was cruising this are kinda early I'd think but he was not happy to see me loaded up LOL Another time i went to the local store and this dude parks real close to my door. As I'm getting in he's like sry bout that bud but his smile/expression don't look sry. I pull out and realize it's a shitty truck n he is prob a local scrapper, that recognized my truck LOL(stands out a bit more with the color n stickers). I'll rem if he does it again ;) Still I'm use to drama, i attract assholes no matter what i do.
 
I don't collect scrap but I do keep it behind the barn from work that I do thru the year on cars I might make a run as needed just to clean things up
 
AutomaticWeapon said:
How 'stripped down' does a car have to be to scrap it?
I read the fuel tank has to be removed, and all the fluids have to be drained.
Will they accept a car that still has it's interior?

If I try to part and scrap a car I'd only want it around for a week or two before I junk it. That should be enough time to sell whatever I can off it. I'd keep the wheels, tires, rad, a/c condenser, battery, and the cats.
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Depends on the yard, ask them. For example i drained the tank n this new place I'm going acted surprised. Long ago i had a place ding me for not draining a tank, tires disposal of course(why i take them, pre-loosen break free from rust fyi), other fluids(one that i drove in LOL but i didn't care), random junk in the car(even tho i had two entire engines n iron complete heads in the backseat n trunk, they still dinged me for two wood tool handles, more than the wood weighted) and one place even the battery(WTF they buy them, ultra dicks). I think more places might be less picky these days, with all the other stuff they pull(e-scrap and higher copper prices) but gotta ask/check with em or suffer penalties/bad rep. Gotta know your shit or gonna get ripped off.

The car i took in last fall(made a vid I'll edit here prob soon), i wasn't gonna play games and drag it back home, if they tried to ding/downgrade me(some do after it's unloaded, ultra dicks/crooks). I took everything out and had two buckets of broken-glass/nuts/dirt, tossed anything loose non-metal(even if it was part of that car) But i also took the time to clip the harness or take non-ferrous stuff off. I even took the drums(higher price than shred also) off to not have the wheels drag and i had to make sure the wheels came off quick n easy anyway(i was really glad i did that, as i got rushed when they picked it up with the front-loader, to put it on the scale). Always do your prep(bring tools), some places will try to rush you because that's how they screw you n most peeps will just give-in to get out of there. I also wanted the steering box off that car, so i pre-loosened n freed it up. Guy was like we can't have you work on it in the yard pulling stuff and i'm like, that's why i parked on the street and am in here asking how we gonna do it/where am I gonna take it. After i make it not steer and I want the wheels/tires. I also pre-removed the straps, that i had on the metal hanging out the back, for the hatch area(no glass) before pulling into the yard(i expected unorganized chaos). Expect some attitude, they deal with junkies n crooks all the time and prob aren't paid much.

Not a fan of scrap yards, not had great experience with them in the past.
 
Had the cops called on me and prob my picture/truck posted in many Facebook community pages(cameras are everywhere these days, it's to be expected). I don't have any friends or family to embarrass anyways, part of why i started to scrap now and avoided it in the past. But I'm not doing anything illegal, i don't trespass or leave a mess. If i see junk I'll pick it up n always say, "I'll get that, won't leave a mess" if something falls as i'm getting the metal. A YT scrapper i watch has a good motto, "Leave it better than you found it" and some people do make a mess around here(part of why scrappers have a bad rep). I'll make sure to make things neat again, if i move stuff around to look or close boxes n lids i open. Had to explain what I'm doing to many people, why i try to be quick n gone before they come out. Had people shine me, I'll stop n wait to see if they want to talk(again nothing illegal, if they wanna call the cops I'll wait n explain). I won't ask or harass people for scrap, not even people i know(they wouldn't give me some anyway). Lots of scrap beggars on Marketplace but hey what works for some, is not for me to judge.

I'm polite but i do kinda look like a bum, I'm not gonna wear nice cloths to scrap(kinda clean freak for that n wash my stuff if it gets dirty, don't want my truck getting nasty inside). I've stopped at big stores to use the restroom and get looks, like I'm gonna start grabbing stuff n run out the door LOL I don't look that bad really i think(maybe a little homeless LOL) But honestly I've walked into places, when making a quick trips long ago with friends that also were dirty n wearing rags from working on stuff/vehicles and they never acted like we were bums(prob cause i wasn't alone n lots of shoplifters these days). Old hoodie n sweat pants is the shoplifter look i guess LOL

Had a few chics at diff times try to get me to take non-metal stuff, that they also had out/wanted gone. They came out while i was loading the metal. I asked to make sure it was ok, not that i need to really but I'll leave if they want, not worth it to me. LOL like they think they can play dumb n helpless, to get me to take glass n wood :rolleyes: One chic thought if she repeated it multiple times, I'd give up n just take it all, i bout left the rest of the metal.

Had a few peeps promises me more metal n none delivered. Think they just wanted to mess with me, forgot or something. I'll still be polite in the future, thank them n just ignore it n leave when I'm done.

I won't take anything with refrigerant, even if it was already vented/leaked-out. Not gonna mess with it, H8ers are closer than you think sometimes ;) Had one person stop n tell me bout their fridge while i was loading a dryer. Thanked them anyway n explained, i don't take those but they should make a Marketplace post, I'm sure someone picked it up.

No real bad experiences with homeowners yet but i do my best to avoid people and if i see them out I usually pass on by. If they come out I just point at it and state just grabbing the metal. Many act surprised n yah think they know bout scrappers, as many as are around(we always had them come by here long ago).
 
AutomaticWeapon said:
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?
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Yep, it’s what the scrap yards call it. You see those scrapper guys driving around with a truck or trailer load of anything metal they can find, when you take that stuff in it’s called “shred”
 
Like I said in my one post I give all my steel scrap away to a guy who rents off me,its just not worth the time to me for what little it goes for ,and he collects a lot of it so its worth it to him. Copper and brass on the other hand I save and usually end up with a bucket of each every year. I do some plumbing and electrical repairs ,and old valves are good ,heavy, easy to clean up in the shop on a Sunday afternoon for a project. Old faucets,Old copper fitting,pipe etc. too.Old Romex easy to strip while having a beer. Need to get with someone like myself that has rental properties,I changed out 3 water heaters this year alone,and My guy helps me haul the old ones up out of the basement and onto his truck,its a win/win.Appliances too.
Last trip to the scrap yard I had 58 pounds of beer cans,lol. My yard quit taking crushed cans because people were putting things in them to make more weight,they have to be uncrushed in bags and that's a lot of bags to haul so I stopped saving them,I give them away too.
 
My son that works in the oil field ,his boss give him 1300' of copper wire that was about 3/4" thick after stripping it. He cutt it into 3' lengths and put on a pallet. $3200 and they said come back anytime. Only scrapping story i have.
 
BOOT said:
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.
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Are you sure it's a 4L60E? I didn't think they put that little trans in a 2500. I have a 4L80E in my 2500 & 3500. I want to build a 2nd Gen TA in the future and it will have a 4L80E. No way am I going to use a 4L60E if I have an option. Glorified TH700R4 and I know how shitty those were.
 
Mark D. said:
Like I said in my one post I give all my steel scrap away to a guy who rents off me,its just not worth the time to me for what little it goes for ,and he collects a lot of it so its worth it to him. Copper and brass on the other hand I save and usually end up with a bucket of each every year. I do some plumbing and electrical repairs ,and old valves are good ,heavy, easy to clean up in the shop on a Sunday afternoon for a project. Old faucets,Old copper fitting,pipe etc. too_Old Romex easy to strip while having a beer. Need to get with someone like myself that has rental properties,I changed out 3 water heaters this year alone,and My guy helps me haul the old ones up out of the basement and onto his truck,its a win/win.Appliances too.
Last trip to the scrap yard I had 58 pounds of beer cans,lol. My yard quit taking crushed cans because people were putting things in them to make more weight,they have to be uncrushed in bags and that's a lot of bags to haul so I stopped saving them,I give them away too.
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We have deposit in this state. So any cans/bottles I see, I'll grab and a couple times I've made more on those than scrap. One time i found a eviction and they had like 7 medium/kitchen trash bags of cans/bottles, old rotted bags. That same day someone also put out two normal size trash bags of cans, plus a few strays on the other stops. Granted, the eviction bags, i had to dump out literally half the bottles that had too much pop in them.

It's not something i try to hunt for but if I am stopped n see some, I'll pick em up. Lots of places have recycling totes/bins and I see Tons of refundable cans/bottles in them But i know to leave em alone. One YT had the peeps call the cops on him for taking them out and it's not worth the hassle for me. Visible trash or loose n i figure fair game but pass on recycle bins. I'm not desperate to pic em all out or break open trash bags but any easy to grab, is easy money :) I keep an eye out for a bag of cans, sometimes they are obvious and others not so.

I got a collection of Full/unopened beer cans/bottles, up to over 20 or so. Found a case of Labatt blue bottles that a few broke at one real nice house, six pack of Coors at another I frequent and a box with some singles/cans of bud n flavored stuff one time. Too bad i don't drink or know someone that does LOL

Found several random milk crates as well, always liked those for storing messy stuff in the garage/polebarn and many of my old ones from my father got brittle n broke(super old). Got my beer collection in a couple atm. Might come across someone to donate them too.
 
Mike Beck said:
Are you sure it's a 4L60E? I didn't think they put that little trans in a 2500. I have a 4L80E in my 2500 & 3500. I want to build a 2nd Gen TA in the future and it will have a 4L80E. No way am I going to use a 4L60E if I have an option. Glorified TH700R4 and I know how shitty those were.
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Didn't know that and no i have not verified. But i did plan to pull it before buying, I was considering getting it rebuilt. Tho now, if it is a 4L80e, I'd prob shop for used instea dof rebuild if that cost more than the 4L60E. Still it only has 1st & 2nd, no reverse either with not much over 130k, sounds more like it could be a 4L60E from that LOL

I also considered putting in a 700R4 I have n carb swapping it(96 sierra 350 vortec) but that'd be more work really n i like efi the for the frequent stops/starts of scrapping. I do have a auto parts truck for the trans crossover/driveshaft, if it's the larger trans. Might be a more viable option if it's a 4L80E. When the snow melts I'll look it over, might be on a sticker and should be able to tell by the pan(not really been under it, as i bought it for the motor).

Glad i brought it up n you mentioned the trans for 2500's
 
badgascoupe said:
My son that works in the oil field ,his boss give him 1300' of copper wire that was about 3/4" thick after stripping it. He cutt it into 3' lengths and put on a pallet. $3200 and they said come back anytime. Only scrapping story i have.
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Nice bonus!

Scrappers on YT i watch find good copper wire to strip all the time. I rarely find copper period! Mostly just cords and sometimes a bit of brass. Not a ton of nonferrous, gets picked up fast round here. Like i said in another post, lots of competition and figured i get mostly what others pass up.

I've tried to start at diff times or take diff routes for the same area to mix it up and seems I'm always behind another scrapper n run into them. One time i had a mostly full load n just wanted a few more items to be full n head home(not really packed in good, just tossed in, prefer to be quick n leave before cops called). Then i saw another empty scrapper and we kept bumping into each other. Every time i saw him, he had more n i wasn't finding shit! It was funny, we'd both entered an area like 3 times from the main street. He'd go one way and I'd the other, somehow i'd always pick the no scrap path LOL I gave up after an hour or so of that shit n went home, dude filled up his bed and I had been out already a few hours. Helps he had a passenger to help load but that also prob meant he was sharing the profits. Tried that area first another time with nothing, king of bad timing n always have been.
 
Nothing worse than finding something Good at the start to get you hyped. Then nothing or only bits for hours LOL I've run up a deficit of fuel several times and had to go home at a loss(not even counting the time spent). Few times i was like dang it drove away my profit, should of just grabbed the one thing n called it a night but who knew. Gotta learn to not be greedy sometimes. Why at the start i would go to the store or run errands at certain days, on certain paths. But i prefer not to n don't wanna mess up my nicer cloths(hate to go into the store looking like a bum, only chics get away with that LOL).

I try to avoid pulling in driveways but sometimes it can't be avoided, side of road too small or busy n not safe. I'll back up a street if there is no turn around and low traffic. If i have to I'll only pull in the drive part-way. Avoid turning around in a business that someone shady may want to break into. Nice areas, no pissing on deserted back/dirt roads LOL

Always try to be quiet n set stuff in the bed gently. One night this dryer would not cooperate n kept sliding over, as i tried to slide it up on the tailgate. Stupid plastic top! Had to pick it up n set it on the tailgate, as the last time peeps came out and a dog started to bark at me. It was a misty rainy evening, i know to keep a towel in the truck now.

Not a lot of good places to stop n adjust or rearrange my load, always gets me too much attention. One YTer i watch does that all the time to get the max stuff, he'll pull everything out LOL I prefer to go home if it's close enough n just unload what i got n head back out.
 
Are yards if you have large amount of copper they take ID and will mail the check on the copper .
Most of the yards I go to are not picky if you tell them what you have straight up they let you do the multiple scale trips
 
Mixed up said:
Are yards if you have large amount of copper they take ID and will mail the check on the copper .
Most of the yards I go to are not picky if you tell them what you have straight up they let you do the multiple scale trips
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They write down your Driver License for anything round here, even a bed-load of only $70 in shred. Too many crooks/junkies stealing n scrapping stuff. One yard got busted for taking all the stuff your not suppose to, they got big fines i herd. I've seen em/yards melting it down in pits(prob manhole covers n alike), like 2am or so while out street racing LOL

I pass up stuff they won't take obviously, chain-link fence even if left out at a legit place. Went to a Marketplace ad, for free metal omw to the store, in case i got there too late(ad was 40mins old, been too long for many and why i don't do MP ads much). At another trailer in that park. I saw a shopping kart with other FREE items(chairs n other stuff i didn't want), for the store that i was headed to . Thought for a sec, that i should return it, since I'm going that way next BUT immediately was like NOPE! I'll get accused of being the one that took it or have the cops called on me while unloading, maybe come out to find them waiting at my truck LOL Even in my better cloths, people judge me by looks and the age of my truck.

Don't mind a check, i have a bank account n had them do that for cats n batts i took in several years ago.


 
For the car i took in last fall. Pulled in a sub division to check the straps and on my way out, found some more steel(exercise something tore apart). So stopped n loaded it up as i was headed in to the yard anyway LOL

One scrapper for sure drove by as i loaded and another maybe in the company work truck as i got back in. Not sure if it was posted but maybe to get that much attention. I just got lucky n picked up another 100ish lbs

Only had one person stop while i was loading n start to grab stuff as well. Wasn't a big deal but kinda rude if you ask me. Also why i make sure to load the best stuff first!
 
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