Which Scrap Metals Made The List?
We love scrap metal. Who doesn’t is the real question but we always hear questions about different types of scrap metals and what is the best one to scrap? Well, in our mind any scrap metal is the best one to scrap, but then it gets to the question of the availability of the metals, where to find them, what the prices are, and the list goes on and on.
We have talked to scrappers, visited scrap yards, read social media comments, and this list is a result of all those things. Could you debate on the order or maybe we are missing something, yes of course, but overall this seems to hold true.
So we decided to go over and make a list of the 25 most common metals that get scrapped at all of the different scrap yards. You will come across these common metals when recycling and most scrap yards accept them for recycling.
Top 25 Most Common Scrap Metals:
Insulated Copper Wire
One of the most common items you can find. Typically found in most appliances, internet and computer cords, and even construction sites. Because of its uses, it’s mostly found in tech and commercial applications.
#2 Copper Tubing
Very commonly used in home renovation as its the standard for the plumbing industry, you can very often find this metal used on construction sites for new homes and developments. Check your bathroom out to see how much you really have!
Sheet Aluminum
Keep a magnet handy so you can catch if you have this metal or something else. Used in everything from appliances to siding in your home, this metal can indeed be found anywhere. Famous for its lightweight and resilience to the elements it’s used in every industry from automotive to household to medical.
Light Iron
This metal can encompass multiple types of steel and as a result, most of the scrap you will find will be a light iron mix. Examples include old bicycle frames, pieces from an old A/C unit, and even appliances. You will often see it as a thin-gauged material.
Aluminum Cans
We see these nearly every day in our lives, most commonly in the food and drink industry. Whether we’re looking at beer and soda cans, or even canned foods, these materials can quickly add up if you make a large enough haul. Always be sure to check with your yard if they scrap these and what their requirements are for cleaning.
Cast Iron
Cast Iron can come from a lot of different places and you have to make sure that you check with your scrap yard before you mix anything with it. Commonly found in piping as well as old cookware, fireplaces, and sinks, this material will typically appear very rusty as it can oxidize quite fast.
Bare Bright Wire
Every scrapper’s dream! Mostly found in construction and tear-out jobs when dismantling buildings and be found in items like THHN and Romex. Make sure to take a careful look at your material and see what the easiest way to strip your wire will be.
Electric Motors
Usually, these aren’t too hard to find considering almost everything electric has one. Taking out the copper electric motor in home appliances that are no longer in use can benefit you and your wallet. If you know a company that is dismantling any A/C units or generators, you can probably snag a bunch of these units pretty easily.
Scrap Cars
If you know or work adjacent to the auto industry, you know how much metal and other precious metals are inside our vehicles. The best part is there is always someone looking to scrap an old vehicle that is no longer working. So make sure to keep your ear to the ground to try and find people who are junking old cars. Contact your scrap yard to know what paperwork they may require.
Plumbing Brass
The most prominent examples are probably pipe and tap fittings in our homes, but this metal can also be found in other decorative and functional applications, especially when chrome plated as it’s highly resistant to corrosion.
Car Batteries
As the world shifts to electric vehicles we may see these dwindling, but these batteries still have their place in the scrap industry and are commonly recycled. Be sure to check and make sure that the batteries you have are lead-acid as many yards only take certain types.
Sealed Units
Also known as compressors these are found in a variety of items you can find around your house such as A/C units, refrigerators, and most other types of appliances that keep things cold. Do make sure that all of the oil is drained out of these units prior to scrapping. Some yards will even pay you for the oil that is drained as well.
Appliances
As the name suggests, these are found in nearly every household and as such have a large variety of scrap metals inside them, depending on the unit. Always check your neighborhood for items either left on the curb or listed for cheap/free on your local marketplace. Popular appliances are washers/dryers, fridges/freezers, etc.
Stainless Steel (Non-Magnetic)
Found in lots of residential and larger-scale construction, this material is nearly always in use. Whether in sinks, medical utensils, grills, and other kitchen appliances this metal pops up quite frequently. Prices for non-magnetic steel will vary so be sure to follow up with your local yard.
Computer Wire
If you are taking apart computers frequently and/or are diligent about sorting your materials when removing them, this type of wire will be one you see quite often. There are a variety of types and sizes inside a computer that will be graded differently, be sure to separate them to get the best prices. Examples include Cat 5 wire, HDMI cables, Power cords, and Power Supply Wires.
Aluminum Siding
Many times, roofing companies will come across aluminum siding and gutters for scrap after an installation or damage to a home. Make sure to test your siding with a magnet as occasionally siding that is made of steel. If you have any aluminum scrap lying around your house be sure to collect it and bring it to the closest scrap yard in your area.
Lead
This is used in many different items from piping to wheel weights. You can find this scrap in older household items such as old subflooring and pipes. Also found in construction yards and even at gun ranges across the nation.
Aluminum Car/Truck Rims
Aluminum rims are all over the place and not just on cars or trucks. A lot of off-road vehicles, scooters, motorcycles, and even some lawnmowers will have aluminum rims on them that you can scrap. Always make sure to take the tires off!
Unprepared HMS
Found on construction sites but will typically fetch a lower price than #1 HMS, typically due to contaminants that the Unprepared may have. This grade of iron will be items that will be much heavier, thicker, and their purpose was probably to hold more substantial things up.
Aluminum/Copper Radiators (From AC’s)
Can be found in many different types of machinery and can often end up being some of the larger units you will scrap. Normally found in air conditioners or in chilling units in all types of industries, ACR’s are the units that will help to circulate the freon or other oil material inside and to help push out the colder air.
Scrap Electronics
Another incredibly common item around the house, our world has become ever-reliant on electronic technology. When it breaks our first thought is to throw it out, but most of the material can be scrapped and you can recoup some of the money you spent on these items. DVD Players, cameras, old cell phones and so much more house trace amounts of copper, transformers, low-grade boards etc.
Cast Aluminum
Generally formed in molds in factories and some examples of cast are engine blocks, cast grills, and other parts from vehicles. Another common place to find cast aluminum is old patio furniture. Just make sure to remove any plastic material from it.
THHN Wire
Also known as 10-14 gauge wire or spaghetti wire, this type of wire is solid copper inside. You should always try and strip this wire as you will make more money scrapping it this way. Most electricians will find this wire while on the job, so if you’re looking for scrap wire, checking out the waste and leftovers from residential and commercial construction would be a good place to start.
Transformers
Heavily variable in terms of size and price, these units are used to power devices like computers, communication centers, and more. depending on the current capacity of the specific unit, the amount of copper or other metals you find inside may vary.
Copper Scrap
Lastly, there are so many different types of copper that might not necessarily be listed in the units above, and your particular yard may have a different naming and grading convention than another yard. Generally, you can find copper scrap in tubing, roofing, and home renovation materials. But copper scrap can also consist of wire, bus bar, and other smaller cables as well.
To Recap The Scrap…
While there are many other metals that are scrapped daily, we went through lists that we have had as well as talking with scrappers and looking at so many comments received through social media outlets.
While most people look at the price of metals as being the most popular, that doesn’t hold true for the amount of weight that is actually scrapped (thus the popularity) at different scrap yards.
We said that the most common metal scrapped is insulated copper wire because there are many varieties. A lot of people will argue that the number one metal that is scrapped has to be steel or some type of iron, but we think that the weight of an item doesn’t make it the most common to all scrappers. Some scrappers don’t have pickup trucks or trailers, but they do come across so many different types of copper wires.
Think about it, where can you find copper wire? Everywhere! From power cords to phone cords, different copper wires run inside computers, walls of houses, under roads, above roads, and even under rivers and oceans! This is one of the most commonly used and popular items (not to mention necessary items) to make all communications and electricity run worldwide!
Tell us what you think and tell us your favorite or most popular scrap metal you rely on selling.
Scrap ya later!
