The art is in finding the scrap metal, not what you do with it after it is found. Although I guess you could turn the scrap into art (more on this later) and if it is good or pretends to be good (again more on this later) then it might well get you more money. But most of the scrap that you collect is probably just going to be sold for scrap. That is probably what you will end up doing.
And who wouldn’t want to be a scrapper? The name is cool. Think about that on a business card, “William Cooke, Scrapper”. Has a nice ring to it. My neighbor has a business card. He calls himself a “metal extraction expert”. That’s a great title too. Use your imagination and come up with something better if you can.
Scrapping is easy and can be fun. Who wouldn’t want to be just like Fred Sanford? To do this job, all you need is a pickup truck and some muscle. Recycling is big business these days. Scrap metal yards all around the world are paying good money for your non-precious metals. The trick is to find legal and good sources of scrap metal.
Find out where your local scrap yard or recycling center is located. Store your scrap metal in your back yard until you are ready to make your run to the recycling plant.
The clean-out business was big a few years ago. You would pay those guys a lot of money, then they would go into your basement and take out everything that you wanted out. They didn’t just head right over to the dump like you thought. What they were really interested in was your metal products: broken lamps, old shelving, broken tools, etc, and then they would head straight to the metal recycling yard. You can compete with those guys by offering to clean out basements for free or at least a greatly reduced rate. Even if you don’t always recover scrap metal there might be other items in the basement that might have some use to someone. Put things on Ebay or Craigslist.
There are other ways to make money from scrapping. Collect any aluminum soda cans that you find. Many communities are doing away with bulk trash pickup to save money. Walk around your neighborhood and ask people if they have anything that they want to get rid of. Also, put ads on Craigslist to see who needs old products removed. And check out the free listings on Craigslist as well. Many of the things people are giving away have metal in them.
A word of caution. There is nothing wrong with being a scrapper. In fact, it performs a useful function for society. But be careful where you scrap and make sure that you get permission, preferably in writing. It is easy for someone to assume the worst if you are caught scrapping in an area where you didn’t have permission, even if you thought that you did. Many scrappers will push the limit or even engage in outright theft. Remember that it isn’t worth risking criminal charges over the few extra dollars you will get at the scrap yard. Most scrappers are honest and law abiding. Make sure that like them you stay on the right side of the law.
