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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
 Posted - 12/11/2008 : 18:57:54
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I'm thinking about taking out an ad in the paper to buy scrap metal, but can't decide if I should offer to buy silver or aluminum. I'm betting like most of the rest of you on here that all metals will eventually rise, but wondering if people would be more willing to part with aluminum than with silver. At least there'd be less paranoia among sellers if I'm buying aluminum and not worrying they're gonna get jacked for their precious metals. What do you guys think?
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Edited by - Nickelless on 12/11/2008 18:59:51 |
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WheatieFan
Penny Pincher Member
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 20:44:05
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I think the more -precious- your metal is, the more scammers will appear to try and cheat you.
If you advertise buying copper and aluminum, you might blend in with the crowd.
If you advertise buying silver, gold, or PtPd, you become a target for the vultures in the crowd.
Good luck,
-wheatiefan
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moboman
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
2555 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 20:46:21
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Nickelless I have about a couple of boxes full of Al signs.
If you start making ingots is there anyway I could buy a few? I'm a sucker for Al. I'm giving Al bars from the copper cave out at Xmas this year.  |
"99% of all lawyers give the rest of them a bad name"
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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Ardent Listener
Administrator
USA
4841 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 10:55:36
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| As you know, the big problem with buying scrap base metals is that a lot of it coming in is hot. That invites the police you keep an eye on you and your activites. It can happen with buying PMs too of course but much more copper pipe or aluminum flag poles out there than coin collections.. You would also have to watch that those selling to you wouldn't come back to rob you so they can resell it again. |
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Think positive. |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 11:19:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Ardent Listener
As you know, the big problem with buying scrap base metals is that a lot of it coming in is hot. That invites the police you keep an eye on you and your activites. It can happen with buying PMs too of course but much more copper pipe or aluminum flag poles out there than coin collections.. You would also have to watch that those selling to you wouldn't come back to rob you so they can resell it again.
I was thinking about this last night and thought it'd be least-complicated to advertise that I'm just buying aluminum cans at this point, and I figure there are enough soda-can scrappers around town who'd be happy to get cash for what they have at a slightly higher price than the local recycling center. |
Visit my new preparedness site: Preparedness.cc/SurvivalPrep.net
--Latest article: Stocking up on spices to keep food preps lively
---------------
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Ardent Listener
Administrator
USA
4841 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 12:06:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Nickelless
quote:
Originally posted by Ardent Listener
As you know, the big problem with buying scrap base metals is that a lot of it coming in is hot. That invites the police you keep an eye on you and your activites. It can happen with buying PMs too of course but much more copper pipe or aluminum flag poles out there than coin collections.. You would also have to watch that those selling to you wouldn't come back to rob you so they can resell it again.
I was thinking about this last night and thought it'd be least-complicated to advertise that I'm just buying aluminum cans at this point, and I figure there are enough soda-can scrappers around town who'd be happy to get cash for what they have at a slightly higher price than the local recycling center.
That should be safe enough and when smashed, makes a handy way to store a lot in a a small space.  
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All posts either by the members, moderators, and the administration of http://realcent.forumco.com are for your edification and amusement only. It is not the intent of realcent.forumco.com or its host to provide investment, medical, matrimonial, legal, security or tax advice and nothing posted here should be considered to be so. All rights reserved.
Think positive. |
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Bluegill
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1964 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2008 : 15:37:25
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Just a idea. It may or may not work for your situation. If you want to acquire Al to hoard for future profit, try trash picking.
You would be surprised how much scrap Al you can acquire in a hurry. Gas barbecue’s, lawn mowers with Al decks, the small engines off of the mowers and snow blowers, pots and pans, old screen doors, etc...
With prices down, a lot of people won't be bothered to scrap it themselves and will put it to the curb. Plus your would be competition will be reduced to only the like minded hard core. Plus fuel prices are down. This could be a golden window of opportunity.
You will also find a fair amount of brass, stainless, and even Cu in the way of power cords. Plus all the old computers being tossed that can be harvested for their boards.
Take a large pipe wrench with you so you can take the brass pressure relief valve off of any hot water heater you can come across. Have some good quality sharp wire cutters to snip the power cords off of anything that has one.
It has been several years since I have done this, so things have probably changed somewhat. But it is worth considering and looking into.
If you embarrass easily, this might not be for you. You will have to put your pride in your back pocket temporarily while you're out.  Winter time is best. It gets dark early and stays dark late in the morning, so you can use the cover of darkness...  Your best yields will come if you do both late evening and early morning runs. You will obviously need a truck too, one the neighbors won't see in the daylight...
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Edited by - Bluegill on 12/13/2008 15:39:46 |
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Computer Jones
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1112 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2008 : 11:57:50
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Ag has the potential for the highest percentage gain.
Have you heard of Ted Butler?
Google and read some of his articles!
Al takes up a lot more space and can be a bet messy, I've seen fruit flies all over piles of Al cans. |
There's profit if you melt things!!
8{> |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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Ardent Listener
Administrator
USA
4841 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2008 : 14:39:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Nickelless
Ted Butler is one of my heroes, Computer Jones. I've been forwarding his articles to a lot of people.
I'm just trying to think from all angles on buying metals right now. I'll be a silverbug until the day I die, but I was thinking more along the lines of what would be easiest to obtain at the moment, namely aluminum. But you've got good points, plus silver is just so much more irresistible than aluminum, IMO.
If you can buy scrap silver for a lot less than the spot price of silver then I would go with that. No storage problems, a huge market in which for you to resell at. You can bug out within a minute notice with silver.
If you can collect free aluminum cans then it can be a worthwhile activity. |
Realcent.forumco.com disclosure. Please read.
All posts either by the members, moderators, and the administration of http://realcent.forumco.com are for your edification and amusement only. It is not the intent of realcent.forumco.com or its host to provide investment, medical, matrimonial, legal, security or tax advice and nothing posted here should be considered to be so. All rights reserved.
Think positive. |
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Computer Jones
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1112 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2008 : 22:10:00
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Ardent has a good point, if you can get the Al for free and have the space...
Good to know you're up on Ag! |
There's profit if you melt things!!
8{> |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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simplicitycounts
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
535 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2008 : 05:49:07
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| I think hoardling Aluminum cans right now might not be a bad idea. I think they will go back up 30 to 40 cents a pound come June. But one never knows with a metals market. |
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n/a
deleted
10 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2009 : 06:31:36
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How can you tell when something's made of real brass, say at a garage sale or thrift store?
Thanks- |
The exact opposite of gluttony is not starvation, its simply eating wisely. |
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davycoppit
Penny Pincher Member
USA
126 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2009 : 14:29:42
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| First you could test it with a magnet. If it sticks it most likely has steel in it. I sometimes take a hacksaw to things to see if it is solid brass, but you probably wouldn't want to do that in a thrift store. After handeling brass for a little while you should be able to tell by the look and feel of it. |
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Lemon Thrower
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1588 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2009 : 18:56:36
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aluminum has a lot fewer folks chasing it now than Ag, that is for sure.
if you have the room on your property to store scrap, that is what i would do. not many people have room for a bunch of scrap metal around their house.
people in the biz are hurting because they have a half dumpsters full of metal they paid for at 2x to 3x current prices.
non-precious metals might go up 10-20 percent but not much more for the foreseable future.
when we get on the other side of the crisis and capacity has been killed then it will spike again. that could be a few years from now.
the other advantage of going after scrap metals is that you can acquire for free or at a discount often. and your risk of getting robbed is far lower. |
Buying:
Peace/Morgan G+ at $15.00
copper cents at 1.3X
wheat pennies at 3X
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hobo finds
Penny Hoarding Member
838 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2009 : 20:15:41
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| either going for aluminum or brass be sure you do not have die cast which will pay less |
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n/a
deleted
11 Posts |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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knibloe
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1066 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2009 : 06:56:34
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| My brother put an add in the paper for buying silver. He has been getting a number of calls. I would do it, but due to my work schedule (or lack thereof) I cannot. Make sure to never go alone. I believe that he is over paying. I know my local coin shop pays 80% of spot at best. That is all I would pay if I were doing it. |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2009 : 04:27:06
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Yeah, going alone would not be good. Actually, most of the silver I've been buying has been random pieces I've picked up at auctions, but if I were to go to a private residence, I'd definitely make sure I had someone with me and that my cash (and my 9mm) well-hidden just in case of trouble, until they're ready to make the trade and I have silver in hand. Of course, I have so little cash these days that this isn't much of an issue!
Knibloe, is your brother taking a jewelry scale or something comparable to weigh the pieces he's buying? |
Visit my new preparedness site: Preparedness.cc/SurvivalPrep.net
--Latest article: Stocking up on spices to keep food preps lively
---------------
Be prepared...and prepared to help: http://www.survivalblog.com/charity.html
Are you ready spiritually for hard times? http://www.jesusfreak.com/rapture.asp |
Edited by - Nickelless on 03/11/2009 04:43:15 |
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Should I buy aluminum or silver?
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