Scrapper's #1 Rule
ALWAYS check everything with a magnet! Read on to learn more about our scrap metal recycling.
Brass
General Information
Check each piece with a magnet and grind the surface of questionable pieces. Steel is often chromed to prevent corrosion and will resemble brass, while die-cast is often coated with a yellow coating, which also resembles brass. It’s important to understand the properties of each material for metal recycling.
Yellow Brass
Yellow brass is the most common brass you will come across. It is used in belt buckles, plumbing, plaques, jewelry, marine hardware, musical instruments, and other things that call for an anticorrosive material. It can be painted, tarnished, or chromed, so always grind the material to see its true color. Yellow brass is completely non-magnetic, so a magnet should not stick.
Red Brass
Red brass is the second-most commonly used brass, and it's found in most markets. It is generally used for heavier, non-corrosive applications. Red brass ground against an abrasive wheel will show a reddish color. It also cannot be chromed, and all die-cast must be removed. Red brass is also non-magnetic.
Copper
General Information
Outside of scrap metal recycling, the most common uses for copper are for plumbing and electrical applications. Copper has a reddish appearance but can take on a green tarnish as it ages. Copper is also non-magnetic and does not have a spark. Steel can be coated with copper to protect it from the elements, as for lightning rods and sheets.
#1 Copper
#1 copper MUST BE CLEAN! There can be no foreign materials, paint, melted solder, or attachments on the surface. The wire must be pencil lead-thick or thicker, and natural tarnishing is fine.
#2 Copper
#2 copper includes copper tubing with solder, wire with shellac, hair wire, and borings. It cannot be over 15% tin-coated, lead-coated, or solder-coated. This class does not include thin-hair copper wire or burnt, brittle wire.
Light Copper
Light copper is also called sheet copper. Copper roofing, flashing, kettles, pots, hanging artwork, and gutters can all be considered light copper.
Insulated Copper Wire
Insulated copper wire can be identified by cutting back the surface material on jacketed electrical wire. Removing the jacket should expose copper.
Radiators
General Information
All radiators must be cleaned of steel.
Auto Radiators
Most auto radiators are made of copper, tin, and lead. They are identified by the dark copper center and yellow tanks on either end. The radiator that cools the water in the engine is the auto radiator. Auto radiators are found in cars and trucks.
Aluminum & Copper Radiators
These are found in air conditioning units. Before removing, make sure that the CFCs have been removed. To identify, look for the aluminum fins with a copper pipe running through the middle. All steel dividers should be cut off.
Aluminum Radiators
These are found in cars and air conditioning units, and they are all aluminum.
Heater Cores
Heater cores are found in cars. They are small in size, usually weighing three to four pounds. Yellow brass is the primary metal.
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Aluminum
General Information
Aluminum is a lightweight, non-corrosive metal. The color of aluminum does not change; it's a grayish color. To identify, check for the following: no rust, non-magnetic, no spark, lightweight, and a unique grayish color.
Aluminum Siding
Aluminum siding is removed from houses, and aluminum gutters and spouting can also be sold with siding. Paint is fine, but all steel screws and rivets must be removed for the siding to be considered clean. Siding is also made from steel, so always check it with a magnet.
Cast Aluminum
Cast aluminum can be identified by the rough texture found where it is broken from the mold in which it was created. Watch for magnesium and die-cast—they have a darker grey color than aluminum. Magnesium is lighter than aluminum, and die-cast is heavier.
E.C. Aluminum
This type of aluminum is used in electrical applications. Busbar and wire are two products classified as E.C. aluminum. It is very soft and pliable, as well as easily bent by hand.
New Aluminum
New aluminum is either square or round stock. There should be nothing protruding from the main body of the material. Look for factory markings.
Aluminum Cans
Aluminum cans DO NOT have to be crushed. It takes approximately 18 cans to make one pound of cans.
Lead
Lead has a very distinctive dark grey color. It's also non-magnetic, has no spark, is very soft, and is very heavy. If you're not sure, take a knife and cut a piece. Lead will carve off easily in a curl shape. If it chips, it is too hard to be lead. Lead will also leave a mark on white paper.
Ferrous
Heavy Melt
This type of metal is at least a quarter-inch thick. Most ferrous metals come from demolished buildings, truck frames, and heavy-duty springs. Prepared lengths are three feet by two feet; anything larger is considered unprepared.
Appliance Tin
This type of tin is also known as major appliances, white goods, and shred. Appliance tin includes any domestic or commercial device or appliance, including but not limited to: washing machines, clothes dryers, water heaters, dehumidifiers, conventional ovens, microwave ovens, stoves, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, trash compactors, and residential furnaces.
Whole Cars
We accept whole cars for metal recycling, and the title must be surrendered at the time of sale. All tires should be removed. If not, $10 per tire will be charged for the disposal fee. The gas tank and battery should also be removed from the car. However, we purchase both of these items separately, which is ideal for finding ferrous metals. The average car weighs approximately 3,500 pounds. Therefore, as of 3/11/08, an average car would be worth approximately $280.
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