I Made $200 Last Month From Collecting Scrap Metal I Found for Free
The Urban Treasure Hunt
I needed to make some extra money. I decided to try “scrapping.” I just started going for walks around my neighborhood on trash day. The amount of valuable scrap metal that people throw away is astonishing. I would find old, broken appliances, discarded copper pipes from a renovation, and bags of aluminum cans. I would just collect it all in the back of my truck. At the end of the month, I took it to my local scrap yard. I was shocked when they handed me a crisp, $200 bill for what was literally other people’s garbage.
The One “Secret” Place to Find Valuable Copper and Brass
The Plumber’s Friend
I learned that the most valuable common scrap metals are the non-ferrous ones, like copper and brass. I was trying to figure out where to find them. The secret source I discovered was local plumbers and construction sites. I would just politely stop by a site at the end of the day and ask them if they had any scrap copper pipe or old, brass plumbing fixtures that they were just going to throw away. More often than not, they were happy to let me take it off their hands for free.
How to Tell the Difference Between Aluminum, Steel, and Stainless Steel With a Magnet
The Magnet is Your Guide
When I first started scrapping, all the silver-colored metals looked the same to me. I learned the one, simple tool that is a scrapper’s best friend: a magnet. If the magnet sticks, the metal is “ferrous,” which means it is steel. If the magnet does not stick, it is “non-ferrous,” which is usually much more valuable. This helps you to distinguish valuable aluminum from cheap steel. And how do you tell aluminum from the more valuable stainless steel? Stainless steel is not magnetic either, but it is much, much heavier.
I Took Apart an Old Microwave and Harvested Its Most Valuable Parts
A Treasure Box of Copper
My microwave broke. I was about to throw it away, but I decided to take it apart for scrap. I was amazed at what was inside. The biggest treasure was the transformer, which had a thick, heavy winding of beautiful, bright copper wire. There was also a small electric motor, which also contained copper. It took me about 30 minutes to disassemble, but I was able to harvest a few pounds of valuable copper from an appliance that was destined for the landfill.
The Most Valuable Type of Scrap Metal You’re Probably Throwing Away
The Christmas Light Catastrophe
I used to just throw away my old, broken strings of Christmas lights. I learned that this is a huge mistake. Inside those plastic-coated wires is a core of valuable copper wire. I started collecting all my old Christmas lights, extension cords, and appliance cords. At the end of the year, I had a huge box full. I took it to the scrap yard, and I was paid a surprisingly handsome sum for what I had always considered to be worthless, tangled trash.
How to “Strip” Copper Wire for the Highest Payout
The Drill and the Screw Method
The scrap yard pays a much higher price for clean, “bare bright” copper wire than they do for insulated wire. I had a lot of wire to strip. I learned a brilliant, simple trick. I took a scrap piece of a 2×4, drilled a hole in it, and then put a screw into the wood so the tip of the screw was just barely in the hole. I could then stick the copper wire in the hole, chuck the other end in my drill, and when I pulled the trigger, the drill would pull the wire past the screw, which would perfectly slice the insulation off.
The Day I Found a “Motherlode” of Scrap Metal
The Curb Alert
I was driving home when I saw a massive pile of metal on the curb in front of a house. There was an old water heater, a broken lawnmower, and a pile of old metal shelving. I had found a scrapper’s “motherlode.” I knocked on the door and asked the owner if I could take it. They were thrilled to have me haul away their “junk” for free. It was a huge amount of heavy steel, and it made for one of my most profitable and satisfying scrap runs ever.
How to Negotiate for a Better Price at the Scrap Yard
The Art of the Clean Pile
I learned that you can often get a slightly better price at the scrap yard if you are a good customer. The secret is to bring in your metal already sorted and cleaned. If you bring in a pile of clean, bare copper, with no brass fittings or insulation, you are saving the scrap yard a lot of labor. They will often reward you with a slightly higher price per pound. It pays to be professional and organized.
The Tools Every “Scrapper” Needs in Their Vehicle
The Magnet, The Snips, and The Screwdriver
I learned that to be an effective scrapper, you need a small, portable toolkit in your car at all times. The three most essential tools are a strong magnet (for identifying ferrous vs. non-ferrous metals), a pair of wire cutters or snips (for cutting wires and cables), and a multi-bit screwdriver or a cordless drill (for quickly disassembling appliances to get to the good stuff inside). With just these three simple tools, you are ready for almost any scrapping opportunity.
The Safety Rules of Scrapping That You Can’t Ignore
The Sharp Edges and the Heavy Lifts
Scrap metal collecting can be a dangerous hobby if you are not careful. The most important rule is to always wear a pair of thick, heavy-duty work gloves. Scrap metal is full of sharp, rusty edges that can give you a nasty cut and a tetanus infection. You also have to be very careful with heavy lifting. An old appliance can be deceptively heavy. It’s always better to use a dolly or to ask for help than it is to risk a serious back injury.