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B-Power-B
Penny Pincher Member
USA
111 Posts |
 Posted - 08/08/2008 : 14:42:55
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Hey guys,
I am new to the boards here but have been scrapping everything from cars to aluminum windows for about 2 years now.
I recently started scrapping a large warehouse that is full of nearly every kind of metal. The warehouse was hit by theives and nearly every damn piece of copper wire is gone.
Besides that I have:
steel
aluminum sheets and tubing
Stainless sinks and sheets
copper tube .....ect...ect..
A job this size with only 1-3 guys working, takes time. The warehouse is also about 1.5 hrs away from me.
I am trying to sort and disassemble the things that are worth my time. So far so good but my problem stems back to the damn good for nothing theives.
We all know that the key is volume when selling our scrap, but my problem is I do not want to leave my sorted piles (well more like HUGE PILES) in the warehouse for people to steal.
I have a dump trailer, and an 18 ft inclosed trailer.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to stock pile my metal and keep it safe at the same time?
Good luck guys,
BB
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Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
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Gr33nday43
New Member
Uzbekistan
10 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2008 : 14:49:14
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| Do you have a gun? I recommend that. Bring it to your house, if you can. |
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horgad
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1641 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2008 : 14:52:17
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| I would consider living onsight in a trailer until the job is done... |
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B-Power-B
Penny Pincher Member
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2008 : 14:59:29
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Yes, I have my license and I carry a .40 cal on my hip almost religiously. Their is actually a couple who lives in the warehouse, but due to the size of the place they rarely ever caught the people.
The local school district owns a building just parallel to the warehouse, and 2 weeks ago 15 of their rigs got their cat. converters stolen.
The city is really hurting from all the crime right now. The city is home to one of the largest prisons in the state. This equals many people released from prison. |
Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
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n/a
deleted
91 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2008 : 14:43:06
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| as you get a load return it that day. I would only use the enclosed trailer for the more valuable metals. |
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B-Power-B
Penny Pincher Member
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2008 : 15:47:39
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I ended up taking my enclosed trailer down for the week. Filled it up with a lot of stainless steel sheets, stainless steel pipes, some cooper, and both aluminum sheets and pipe.
Whats the best thing to do with that electric A/C unit there in the front? Its in ruff shape, so no more life is left :(
Whats the best way to scrap it? Disassemble it or take it to the yard as is?
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Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
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TenBears
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1021 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2008 : 16:25:46
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Around Dallas people have taken to installing numerous video systems and lighting to not only see the theft in action but to get license plate numbers of all vehicles in and around the job site. Some are even fencing in their work projects to keep thieves out.
Another thought is to buy Cujo, BallBiter and ChewAss (good guard dog names) and post warning signs saying something like "Guard Dogs on Duty." |
"Rich," the Old Man said dreamily, "is not baying after what you can't have. Rich is having the time to do what you want to do. Rich is a little whiskey to drink and some food to eat and a roof over your head and a fish pole and a boat and a gun and a dollar for a box of shells. Rich is not owing any money to anybody, and not spending what you haven't got." Robert Ruark
there are too wild Indians...
there are too wild Indians...
there are too wild Indians...-----still taunted
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NotABigDeal
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2008 : 17:21:46
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quote:
Originally posted by B-Power- B
I ended up taking my enclosed trailer down for the week. Filled it up with a lot of stainless steel sheets, stainless steel pipes, some cooper, and both aluminum sheets and pipe.
Whats the best thing to do with that electric A/C unit there in the front? Its in ruff shape, so no more life is left :(
Whats the best way to scrap it? Disassemble it or take it to the yard as is?
A/C unit needs to be disassembled. Remove the coil and cut off the ends. It doesn't look like the unit is big enough to have a fan motor so no go there. You can cut out all the wires and what not. With the rest of your copper you are going to need to cut off all the brazed joints and/or brass fittings. Throw all the brass fittings together. Now the "clean" copper without welds is #1 and will fetch the highest prices. The brazed pile is #2. Hope that helped.
Deal |
Live free or die.
Plain and simple.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your council or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
- Samuel Adams |
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NotABigDeal
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2008 : 17:25:37
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Separate the aluminum as well. Oh yeah, glad to meet another person that carries everyday. (See avatar, my carry weapon, HK P2000SK).
Deal |
Live free or die.
Plain and simple.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your council or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
- Samuel Adams |
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B-Power-B
Penny Pincher Member
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2008 : 18:52:37
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TenBears: I bought one of those motion cameras that hunters use to track game. Its pretty damn cool, it takes both color and night vision pictures as well as up to 90 sec. videos. I havent caught anything on it yet. I did find a bum walking off the property, no doubt he was "squatting" in the warehouse.
Notabigdeal:
Yes I carry and nearly everyday. This warehouse is creepy as hell. Im glad I have my XD-40, but it still does not replace the "freaky-ness".
Ill go start to tear down that A/C unit and let you know how it goes, no doubt Ill have questions :) |
Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
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NotABigDeal
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2008 : 20:18:56
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Probably only need 1/4" nut driver, 5/16" nut driver, reciprocating saw, and wire cutters. Looks like it should be empty of gas as the lines appear to be cut.
Deal |
Live free or die.
Plain and simple.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your council or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
- Samuel Adams |
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B-Power-B
Penny Pincher Member
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2008 : 20:29:32
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I tore it all apart. It has a fan motor, what do I do with that?
Also, radiator (I think thats what it is), should I just cut the tops of the copper off or is there a way to get the whole copper tube out of the aluminum?
Yes, you were right, no gas was in there.
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Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
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NotABigDeal
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2008 : 20:47:20
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Cut the ends off the condensing coil*. It will scrap as a clean Au/Cu radiator. Much better than if you didn't cut off the ends. The motor has a scrap category of its own I believe. Personally I don't scrap the motors as we give them to an old guy.
Deal
*Actual name. If you are wondering I am in the HVAC/R industry, so I come across a lot of A/C's. |
Live free or die.
Plain and simple.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your council or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
- Samuel Adams |
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redneck
1000+ Penny Miser Member
1273 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2008 : 20:58:41
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I hope your not leaving that trailer unattended when your not there.
That would surely make the thieves very happy to have a trailer loaded for them with a way to haul the goodies away and a nice enclosed trailer to sell or use again...
If you could get a street light or any light to brighten up the area it would do wonders.Like roosterroaches their afraid of the light.
Ask the police dept. to do drive buys.
Bribe them with a box of donuts.(lol)
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B-Power-B
Penny Pincher Member
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2008 : 21:46:05
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No, I would never leave my trailer (or my truck or tools) there for the taking. The cops are aware and do what they can but they are already understaffed.
Hey Deal, what do you mean by cut the condensing coil off? where does it start and end? |
Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
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NotABigDeal
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2008 : 06:13:01
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Cut off the metal strip and the copper "U" looking things, that way you have no welded joints or foreign,(not copper or aluminum) metal. It will scrap for a greater price without the ends. Total of two cuts, one down each side. On a side note , a light is a good idea, just make sure it is damn near unbreakable. Thieves will break them out if possible.
Deal |
Live free or die.
Plain and simple.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your council or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
- Samuel Adams |
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B-Power-B
Penny Pincher Member
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2008 : 21:58:05
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Thanks Deal, I did what you suggested and Ill see if it pays off for me.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to dissemble the copper out of this? It was inside one of the fan motors.
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Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
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NotABigDeal
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 06:11:16
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Cutting the ends will get you more. Melt it out? Seems labor intensive. I say leave it as is and try for #2? Good luck getting it all apart. Keep us posted.
Deal |
Live free or die.
Plain and simple.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your council or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
- Samuel Adams |
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horgad
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1641 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 06:22:42
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quote:
Originally posted by B-Power- B
Thanks Deal, I did what you suggested and Ill see if it pays off for me.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to dissemble the copper out of this? It was inside one of the fan motors.
Those are a real pain to take a part. I have not found an easy way to do it. You either have to slowly unwind the copper by hand or cut through the copper in many places to get it to fall off in small pieces. Probably the best thing to do is to take in whole electric motors to the scrap yard and not mess with the windings... |
Edited by - horgad on 08/20/2008 06:23:21 |
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deleted
91 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 15:49:35
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easy way to do this in less than 20 minutes.
on one side cut through the middle of every loop
flip it over and with a longer handled screwdriver pry the other side out.
the longer the screwdriver the more leversge and the easier.
let me know how it turns out for you |
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B-Power-B
Penny Pincher Member
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 16:31:05
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After trial and error I found the way clwp described to work the best. I had to cut the string and peal the tape/glue off the copper before cutting each loop. This was not a big deal. It did make a mess though (thats why I have a shop vac though).
There is still some resin type stuff on the copper, I hope they count it as clean!!
Bottom line: It was not cost effective as far as time is concerned. However scrapping is what I love doing so its hard to always look at it as $$$$ issue!
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Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
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n/a
deleted
91 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 19:12:39
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i should of mentioned i use a grinder to do the cutting. lots faster and not very messy.
the grade with resin will vary by yard but you should get #2 for it. |
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Scrapping 56k sq ft warehouse
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