Are You Making These Costly Scrapping Mistakes?
Scrapping metal can be a great way to make extra money, but if you’re not careful, small mistakes can cost you big. Whether you’re just starting or looking to improve your scrapping game, avoiding these common errors will help you get the best prices at your local scrap yard.
Here are five common mistakes beginner scrappers make—and how you can avoid them.
1. Not Preparing Your Scrap Metal Properly
Did you know that bringing in unprepared metal can cost you money? Many scrap yards pay less for materials that aren’t stripped, sorted, or cleaned.
For example, copper wire is much more valuable when stripped of insulation. Instead of selling it as Insulated Copper Wire, take the time to strip it and sell it as #1 Bare Bright Wire, which is worth much more. You can always invest in a wire stripper to simplify the process and maximize your earnings!
Suggested Reading: Strip Your Copper
Cuts 10-22 AWG, Plier Style Nose, ProTouch Grip for Maximum Comfort
2. Choosing the Wrong Scrap Yard
Not all scrap yards are the same! Some offer better prices, fairer grading, and better customer service than others.
A bad scrap yard might:
- Pay lower-than-average prices
- Mix high-value metals with lower-value ones
- Refuse to provide a price list
- Refuse to show you their scale weights
- Have a dirty or disorganized yard
How to Avoid This: Before heading out, check scrap yard reviews and use the iScrap App to compare prices at different yards near you.
Suggested Reading: [How to Find the Best Scrap Yard]
3. Not Knowing Your Scrap Metal Grades
One of the biggest mistakes beginner scrappers make is not knowing metal grades. Scrap yards pay different prices for different grades, and if you don’t know the difference, you might get paid less! For example:
- ❌ #1 Bare Bright Copper = Highest Price
- ❌ #1 Bare Bright Copper = Highest Price
How to Avoid This: Learn the different types of metals you’re scrapping and ask your scrap yard how they grade materials before selling.
➡️ Suggested Reading: [Types of Scrap Copper]
4. Not Separating Metals Before Your Trip
Many scrap yards will not let people separate at the door because the yard will make less money. You’ll also tie up their labor and could hold up other customers. Having materials separated before going to a scrap yard is essential. If you don’t sort your scrap, the yard owner will classify all of your scrap as the least valuable in the load. Think about it – if you have a ton of #1 Bare Bright Wire with a few strips of #2 Copper Tubing/Wire mixed in, you can quickly be paid the price for #2 Copper Tubing for the whole load. That price difference can add up – think about it!
If you don’t separate your scrap metal, the yard will classify everything as the least valuable material in the pile. That means you could lose money if your #1 Copper gets mixed with #2 Copper or aluminum.
- Latching Lid, Plastic Container with Heavy Duty Latches,
- Black Base and Lid
- 4-Pack
5. Not Checking Scrap Prices Before Selling
Before you take your materials to your chosen scrap yard, call ahead to get their prices or check the iScrap App National Prices on the app or the web. You can find the best possible price for your materials by calling some local scrap yards. As mentioned, don’t let pricing be your only criterion for selecting a scrap yard. (You never know. They might be making up for a higher price with a slightly lower scale. It’s hard to put a value on the customer service you get at a well-run yard!
Suggested Reading: How To Find The Best Scrap Yard
Some scrap yards may be transparent about how they buy materials and how they want them separated for the best money. At the same time, other scrap yards may not give you a clear-cut answer when you ask them questions. Knowing how to pick a good scrap yard is essential to making the most money when you bring your scrap in.
Maximize Your Scrapping Profits with the iScrap App!
When you’re new to scrapping, you may think you have a load of the good stuff until you get to the yard and discover what you thought was #1 Bare Bright Wire is only Insulated Copper Cable (many variations) because you didn’t strip it. That’s a big difference in price per pound!
Even if you’re a veteran around the scrap yard who usually recycles copper wire, say you land a nice load of Insulated Cable only to find out you got your hands on Data Wire. You’re going to feel the difference when you get paid! Make sure you find out what material you have and how your yard likes it prepared before you get to the yard.
Suggested Reading: Types of Stainless Steel
Another material that is important to have an idea about is stainless steel. A typical metal you will come across is stainless steel, but it’s important to know there are different kinds and grades of stainless steel. Stainless steel has Nickel inside; the nickel content determines the different grades. Ask your scrap yard about how they identify their stainless steel grades.
As mentioned above, you may not know the difference between copper grades when starting. Copper comes in many grades; here are the most common:
- #1 Bare Bright Wire
- #1 Copper Tubing/Flashing
- #2 Copper Tubing/Wire
- #3 Roofing Copper
- Insulated Copper Wire
Know The Price You Are Going To Get Paid
When asking for prices, the scrap yard will honor the price if you come that day. If you are not going to the scrap yard that day, you can’t expect a yard to keep a fee every time. Because scrap prices can change quickly and often, prices can be different since you got your quote. So be prepared to call on your way in for a current price.
Suggested Reading: Finding the Best Scrap Prices
When you are getting ready to bring your scrap metal into your local scrap yards, you must know what prices and services you will get at your local scrap yard. When scrappers are loading their materials before going to a scrap yard, it’s good to have metals separated and prepared. If you don’t feel comfortable with a scrap yard’s services, you can always pack back up and go to a different location you can find on the iScrap App.
