sort scrap metal
20
Sep

Tips for sorting your scrap metal

Sorting scrap metal is extremely advantageous. Not only can you sell scrap metal, sorting and recycling it is also great for the environment. The more items that are recycled and reused, the less things there are at landfills sitting for years.

Whether you’re new to recycling scrap metal or if you want to be more efficient, you’ve come to the right place! Here are some top tips and tricks for sorting your scrap metal.

Use marked bins for different types

There are many different types of recyclable metal. Some of the most commonly scrapped metal includes:

  • Aluminum
  • Stainless steel
  • Iron
  • Traditional steel
  • Copper
  • Brass

To get started, gather and label separate bins that you can use to place each type of metal. This makes it much easier to sort your items so that you know what’s what.

Separating your metals as you go instead of sorting through a big pile makes the process much less hectic.

Prioritize your copper

Copper is like gold to a scrapper. It’s a hot commodity that you’ll want to keep separate from other scrap metal. Make sure that any #1 and #2 copper tubing along with copper wires are kept separate.

Strip your wire

If you plan to scrap various types of wire, make sure to separate them as well. Separate the bare wire from those pieces that still have insulation attached. You can strip the insulated wire to make more money.

When dealing with wire, always use the pinky rule. If you have wire that’s thicker than your pinky finger, consider stripping it for the copper inside.

Separate ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Once you’ve put each piece of scrap metal into its appropriate bin, the next step is to separate them into ferrous (magnetic) and non-ferrous (non-magnetic). Iron and steel are both ferrous metals. Aluminum, copper, and brass are all non-ferrous.

If you’re unsure whether a piece of metal is ferrous or not, be sure that you have a magnet handy. If it sticks, it’s ferrous.

Sort non-ferrous metals

With everything divided into smaller groups, you’ll want to focus on your non-ferrous metals first. Copper can be found within wire, piping, and cables. Be aware that red brass is not the same as regular copper and won’t net you the same amount of money.

Yellow metals are usually made of brass. You may come across a few gold pieces, but you’ll find that brass has a more yellow hue.

Aluminum is one of the lightest metals (by weight) and is silver in color.

Sort ferrous metals

The final step is to sort the ferrous metals. As you become more experienced in the art of scrapping, you’ll find that you can do many of these steps at the same time. Splitting them initially makes it much easier for beginners to get the hang of things.

When sorting ferrous metals:

  • Stainless steel is usually heavy and rust proof
  • Steel is solid but can be rusty if weathered
  • Thin is thin and bendable
  • Lead is extremely heavy and is easily recognizable

With these tips you can become more efficient at sorting your scrap metal. Once all of your items are sorted, you can bring them to our scrap metal company.