Real answers to real questions — sourced from r/ScrapMetal, r/metalworking, and industry professionals.
500 lbs of Bare Bright copper is worth approximately $1,900–$2,100 at current prices ($3.80–$4.20/lb). Copper #1 would b...
The fastest field test: use a magnet. Inconel 625 and 718 are non-magnetic. Most 304/316 stainless is also non-magnetic,...
Yes — a central AC unit is worth tearing down. The ACR (aluminum/copper radiator) coil alone pays $1.50–$2.20/lb. The co...
The rule: calculate your hourly rate. If breaking it down takes 1 hour and adds $15 in value, you're working for $15/hr....
Whole electric motors sell for $0.15–$0.35/lb. A 50-lb industrial motor is worth $7.50–$17.50 whole. BUT — if you crack ...
Bare Bright (BB): completely clean, shiny, uncoated, 16-gauge or thicker, no solder, no paint. Copper #1: clean but may ...
Do not sell Grade 5 titanium to a local scrap yard — they don't have XRF analyzers to verify the grade and will pay alum...
304 stainless (most kitchen equipment) pays $0.45–$0.70/lb. 316 stainless (marine/chemical grade) pays $0.55–$0.85/lb. 4...
$50 flat for unknown cats is a lowball offer. Catalytic converter prices vary enormously by part number — domestic cats ...
Clean solid tungsten carbide (end mills, inserts, drill bits) pays $8.00–$16.00/lb. Carbide sludge/grinding swarf pays $...
Yes, you can remove brass valves from empty aluminum cylinders — but CONFIRM they are completely empty first. Use an adj...
Taking your ID is legal and required by most state laws. But accusing you without cause and offering below-market prices...
Gold-plated jewelry is almost worthless for gold recovery — the plating is microscopically thin (less than 0.05% of tota...
A plant shutdown is one of the highest-value scrap opportunities — but only if handled correctly. The key steps: invento...
The ACR coil is always worth pulling ($1.50–$2.20/lb). Copper refrigerant lines are worth pulling ($3.50–$4.00/lb for cl...
Yes — server motherboards and PCI cards contain gold-plated edge connectors and IC pins worth $1–$5/lb to e-scrap refine...
Oil-filled transformers require PCB testing before any scrap yard will accept them. Transformers manufactured before 197...
$3/lb for Inconel 625 is a significant lowball. Current market for Inconel 625 solid drops is $10–$14/lb. Turnings are $...
Start with copper and aluminum — they're easy to identify, widely available, and pay well. You need: a vehicle with carg...
235 lbs of Yellow Brass at current prices ($1.80–$2.50/lb) is worth $423–$587 as scrap. Before you scrap it, check eBay ...
Separate the brass fittings from the copper pipe. Brass pays $1.80–$2.50/lb vs copper at $3.50–$4.00/lb. If you sell the...
$2/lb for Hastelloy C-276 is a significant lowball. Current market for C-276 solid material is $8–$13/lb. On 400 lbs, th...
Don't pay for junk removal — scrap them. A refrigerator yields $15–$40 sold whole or $40–$80 torn down (compressor motor...
Monel 400 solid material is currently worth $5–$9/lb. On 150 lbs, that's $750–$1,350. Local yards will offer $1–$3/lb — ...
Tantalum is extremely valuable — solid sheet and bar pays $25–$45/lb. Tantalum capacitors (the small cylindrical ones in...
Lead pays $0.35–$0.55/lb for clean lead. Lead-acid batteries pay $0.20–$0.30/lb or $5–$15 each. Wheel weights (mixed lea...
Aluminum extrusions (6061, 6063) pay $0.55–$0.75/lb — the best common grade. Cast aluminum pays $0.40–$0.60/lb. Sheet al...
Waspaloy solid drops are currently worth $10–$16/lb. Turnings are $6–$10/lb. This is a premium nickel superalloy used in...
Molybdenum solid material (electrodes, sheet, bar) pays $8–$15/lb. Moly turnings pay $4–$8/lb. This is a specialty refra...
The magnet test is step one: steel and iron stick, non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminum, brass, stainless) don't. Color ...
Commercial scrap pickup means the buyer comes to your location, weighs the material on certified scales, and pays on the...
Yes — for specialty metals, online buyers consistently pay more than local yards because they have direct refinery relat...
The biggest wins: separate metals by type (never mix), strip insulated copper wire, remove brass fittings from copper pi...
Current prices (August 2026): Bare Bright Copper $3.80–$4.20/lb, Copper #1 $3.50–$3.90/lb, Yellow Brass $1.80–$2.50/lb, ...
Nickel alloys (Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel, Waspaloy) are worth $5–$16/lb depending on grade. Never mix them with stainles...
For 12-gauge or larger wire (Romex, THHN, building wire), stripping adds $0.80–$1.20/lb. A good wire stripper pays for i...
Set up a commercial account with a scrap buyer. For regular loads, a commercial buyer will provide containers, schedule ...
Data center scrap is high-value: copper bus bar pays $3.50–$4.00/lb, server boards pay $1–$5/lb for gold recovery, UPS b...
Aerospace scrap is premium material: Grade 5 titanium pays $4–$8/lb, Inconel 718 pays $8–$12/lb, 7075 aluminum pays $0.6...
Oil & gas facility scrap is high-value: Inconel 625 piping pays $10–$14/lb, 316 stainless pays $0.55–$0.85/lb, specialty...