Scrap metal prices are up! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Pooka · #1 09-21-2010, 09:41 PM

I don't really keep up with the metals market. I did back when I was working since that was a small part of my job, but since I retired... Well, not so much.

However, I have a parts car that has reached the end of its' useful life and it is time to send it off to the boneyard; something else I have not done in many years.

So I called a salvage yard and they said they would give me $50 if I delivered the car to them. So I called a few more and got the same answer. I am able to deliver the car and this is a good thing since if they have to come get it they will pay nothing but they will haul it away.

So I then called a scrap metal dealer. Auto scrap is now at .055 cents a US pound which is where it was about 15 years ago and then it sort of crashed. Anyway, after tossing in a few old engine blocks and other allowable scrap, I towed 4400 US pounds of scrap metal to the yard. They took off 200 pounds for the tires so I was paid for 4200 pounds which was $231.

I did have to remove the gas tank which I think would be easy enough for anyone that is active on this site. I could have pulled out metal that was of greater value, such as a radiator, if there had been one and sold it for a better price.

Hopefully this will let someone else make a few bucks to plow back into their other cars, and if anyone has any other comments on this sort of thing I would love to hear them.

aklim · #2 09-22-2010, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooka

So I called a salvage yard and they said they would give me $50 if I delivered the car to them.

I was paid for 4200 pounds which was $231.

I did have to remove the gas tank which I think would be easy enough for anyone that is active on this site..

You tow it either way so that is a push. The difference is only $181. Not a huge fortune. How much time did you take to remove the gas tank? How did you dispose of it? I don't think you can simply throw it into the city's "Recycle Bin" and have them take it away like some empty beer cans. I guess the question is what your time is worth. Obviously, if the city picks it up and charges you, that eats into your $181.

layback40 · #3 09-22-2010, 08:32 AM

I dont know that scrap prices are up so much as the US $ is down. Today it was $1AUS = 95cUS . I hasnt been that bad for a long time. Any of you guys planning on OS travel soon are going to feel it!!!

davidmash · #4 09-22-2010, 12:46 PM

The PO of the house we just bought apparently had a lead fetish of some sort. I discovered two pales full of lead. Fishing weights and other items. They weigh quite a bit. I am guessing close to 150 to 200 pounds total. I need to find someone to haul it away.

aklim · #5 09-22-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

The PO of the house we just bought apparently had a lead fetish of some sort. I discovered two pales full of lead. Fishing weights and other items. They weigh quite a bit. I am guessing close to 150 to 200 pounds total. I need to find someone to haul it away.

Have you tried a gun club? Some people make their own bullets from lead.

Billybob · #6 09-22-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

The PO of the house we just bought apparently had a lead fetish of some sort. I discovered two pales full of lead. Fishing weights and other items. They weigh quite a bit. I am guessing close to 150 to 200 pounds total. I need to find someone to haul it away.

Last week lead scrap was around $.22 a pound locally!

davidmash · #7 09-22-2010, 01:00 PM

Have not done anything yet. Discovered it yesterday as I was semi-organizing the garage to get the cars in. Went to lift one of the pales and nearly pulled my shoulder out of the socket.

I'll give them a call when I get the time.

aklim · #8 09-22-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

Have not done anything yet. Discovered it yesterday as I was semi-organizing the garage to get the cars in. Went to lift one of the pales and nearly pulled my shoulder out of the socket.

I'll give them a call when I get the time.

Too bad you are there and I am here. When I lived in Madison and went to the gun club there, I knew of a bunch of people who would be at your door fighting for the lead.

TheDon · #9 09-22-2010, 01:38 PM

I hear lead is tasty.

or maybe you have a body... err rug you need to dispose of into the river

Hatterasguy · #10 09-22-2010, 03:26 PM

Find a scrap metal dealer lead is up.

One of these days I'll have to start collecting the copper from the job sites. Usually the plumber gets to it.

Pooka · #11 09-22-2010, 05:58 PM

The gas tank took about ten minutes to pull. The scrap company took it since it was empty and dry.

I did have to tow it there. That took about ten minutes as well.

I made about $693 an hour, which is not bad for someone who is retired!

Pooka · #12 09-22-2010, 06:11 PM

David,

If you still live in Grand Prairie then call Valley Metals at 972-264-0205. They buy all kinds of scrap metal and pay in cash.

They are located on East Jefferson, on the north side of the street, across (sort of) from Atomic Auto Salvage.

I don't know what they are paying, but BillyBob noted that a buyer in his area was paying .22 cents a pound. That would be about $40 for a trip across town.

But you might do better to put it on Craigslist. A reloader might pay more than $40 and the buyer would come to your place and haul it away!