Everyone has things lying around the house that are no longer needed. While old clothes can be donated and unwanted electronics and furniture may be sold, scrap metal often ends up in the trash. And whether it’s a broken appliance or old pipes, many people don’t realize the value of the unused metal around their homes. Fortunately, Sgt. Scrap has two local scrap yards to help people in New Jersey, Delaware, and parts of New York and Pennsylvania get the most for these items. Here, we discuss how you can get more money for your scrap metal.
Know Your Metals
The first thing you’ll need to do to maximize your scrap metal payout is to know what metals you’re dealing with and which ones have the most value. Many scrap yards will take a wide selection of materials, but certain metals are worth far more than others. For example, ferrous and non-ferrous metals can be accepted at these locations, but non-ferrous varieties like these will fetch a higher price:
- Copper is reddish and considered a highly valuable non-ferrous metal. This corrosion-resistant material is found in plumbing, wiring, and other industrial applications.
- Brass features a yellowish color and is a lucrative metal that is commonly found in plumbing, faucets, and bullet casings.
- Aluminum, found in siding, gutters, washers, and dryers, isn’t quite as highly valued, but is recyclable and still worth a good amount.
Ferrous metals, such as steel and stainless steel, are also accepted in most facilities. While they’re less valuable because they’re so commonly used, scrapping them can be worth the effort if you have enough.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Scrap Metal
Once you’ve discovered what scrap metals you have on hand, it’s time to prepare them for your local scrap yard. Here are some helpful tips that will make sure you get the best bang for your buck:
Take the Time to Sort Scrap Items
Because different metals have different values, it’s important to take the time to separate them diligently. This will make it easier for the scrap yard to calculate how much your metal is worth. As non-ferrous metals are generally worth noticeably more, a great tool to keep on hand is a magnet. Placing a magnet near your metals allows you to tell which items are ferrous (those that stick to a magnet) and non-ferrous (those that don’t) in a hurry.
Once, you’ve determined which metals you’re dealing with, sort them in different bins, boxes, or even truckloads (if you have that much). That way the scrap yard can give you the best prices for each item.
Clean Your Scrap Metal
Make sure to remove excess paint, insulation, and other contaminants because different metal grades sell for different prices. For instance, consider the following:
- Bare bright copper contains 99% pure copper
- Copper #1 contains at least 98% copper
- Copper #2 contains at least 94% copper
Removing excess materials means a higher percentage and a better price. Wire strippers and cutting tools are designed to remove the coating from wires, leaving only valuable copper behind. While this process can be time-consuming, pure metals will bring in more money.
Keep Scrap Metal Safely Stored
For those who work at a job site or facility that has collected large amounts of these metals, it’s important to keep an eye on them. Because selling scrap is a viable business, any seemingly unwanted materials can be taken if not properly looked after. Scrap that is not organized might look like junk you’re willing to part with – and plenty of people in your area may be likely to claim it as their own profit.
Sell Scrap Metal to Sgt. Scrap Today
If you have leftover scrap metal or old or broken appliances, turn them into cash with help from the experts at Sgt. Scrap. With two conveniently located scrap yards, we help people in New Jersey, Delaware, and parts of Pennsylvania and New York get rid of unwanted scrap materials, buying them for competitive prices. Unlike basic junkyards, we help give scrap metal new life by recycling what we can. Sgt. Scrap accepts copper, aluminum, stainless steel, steel, brass, lead, and alloys, as well as insulated wire, wheels, e-scrap, and more.
You can visit one of our facilities or schedule a mobile pickup and we’ll come to you (you must have at least 500 pounds of non-ferrous recyclable metal). If you have at least 5,000 pounds of scrap, we’ll even deliver a roll-off dumpster to your site, allowing you to manage large amounts at once. Contact us today if you would like to know more about scrap metal pricing.