6 Places To Find Stainless Steel Scrap

places to find stainless steel scrap

If you are in the scrapping business, you know that stainless steel is a very good metal to collect, not only for its stable prices between $0.30 and $0.75/lb. but also because when you do come across it for scrap, it is usually in large quantities. That is usually because of where stainless steel is found and what places it is used. Below, we have put together some common places you can expect to find stainless steel scrap.

Where to Find Stainless Steel

Finding stainless steel scrap in restaurant equipment
  1. Restaurants – Most of the time, the equipment and setups of restaurants are stainless steel. Whether it is a countertop, oven, refrigerator, or other appliances and equipment, stainless steel is standard in restaurants. Stainless steel is used in environments with food because of its cleanliness and ease of use. Stainless steel allows restaurants an easy way to keep surfaces clean and prevent bacteria from growing. Usually, the stainless steel pulled from restaurants will be bulky, but the amount from one kitchen can equal a few hundred, if not thousands, pounds.
  2. Bakeries – Similar to kitchens, bakeries rely a lot on equipment that can remain clean and bacteria-free. While bakeries will have similar kitchen appliances, you can also find that they have stainless steel shelving and racks. After baking the bread and rolls, bakeries usually have several racks to cool the food before packaging it. These racks could sometimes also be aluminum, so check out the difference between stainless steel and aluminum.
  3. Aerospace—While it’s not very easy to get scrap from the aerospace industry, stainless steel is often used for equipment and parts in airplanes, engines, and other things. Stainless steel is used in this industry because it is heat resistant. It is very strong and can withstand high temperatures, so it is helpful for testing engines or when a lot of friction is created.
  4. Kitchens – Other than restaurant kitchens, your kitchen may have some stainless steel. People often own stainless steel pots and pans, which can be collected for scrap. Stainless steel is so easy to clean and affordable. So take a look around. Your cabinets may have some older pots you no longer need and can cash in on. This also includes the sink. If you are renovating, scrap your stainless steel sink, remove the steel ring on the bottom, and any brass fixtures. Also, take a look at any cooking trays you have. Often, people bake with stainless steel because it can clean nicely and doesn’t allow food to stick to it very easily. Check your knives; oftentimes, they are stainless steel, too.
  5. Stainless steel railingsBuildings – Before you even step inside a building, take a look around. There may be some stainless steel staring you in the face. Some structures and items outside buildings use stainless steel for benches, railings, door handles, and more. Because stainless steel does rust (because of the Nickel) and it is a strong metal, it can be used for structural items outside buildings.
  6. Machine Shops – If any machine shops are in your area, you can ask them what they do with their stainless steel scrap. Machine shops often cut stainless steel bits and pieces for equipment or machines. Some machines need specific parts made from stainless steel, so the machine shops usually have shavings from the cutting parts taken for scrap. Be aware, though, because these stainless steel pieces from machine shops often have oil and other residue. The oils lubricate the material, making cutting easier with less friction. If the metal has oil or grease, you can expect a lower than clean stainless steel price at your scrap yard.

Remember that stainless steel is NOT magnetic. This is due to the nickel mixed with the steel. If you have magnetic stainless steel, you can usually expect a much lower price for the material—it can sometimes be the same price as regular steel. You can make much more money when you clean your stainless steel from magnetic steel, brass, aluminum, plastic, or other materials.

Be sure to check the stainless steel prices your scrap yard offers before you bring it in. There are several types of stainless steel, and their prices vary depending on the percentage of nickel inside. The more nickel, the more money. It is not easy to tell the difference between types of stainless steel, but ask your yard if they have an analyzer. That will allow them to determine the type of stainless steel you have.

Once you find a scrap yard in your area on the iScrap App, be sure to report your scrap price for the yard you visited. Also, check back to see what other metals are priced at, as well as what other yards are paying.