scrap metal revisited

I've found are local scrap metal dealer easy to deal with (even if the premises are a bit intimidating at first)with no minimum amounts.

Segregate the scrap into its different types for best prices - well worth removing brass fittings from copper pipe first. They will weigh and pay for each category separately.

Copper gets the best prices - even domestic mains flexs get >£1 kg. But even the iron etc is going to be recycled properly so a good place to get rid of everything possible with the money an extra.

Up here (Central Scotland) one company will come and pick up any car and give you £100! changed days!!

Des

Des

Separate aluminium too. You might think there's no weight in your bucket of bits but it's worth collecting and taking.

I'm currently collecting all my bits of platinum wire.

Mary

Platinum's a pain though. JM are unpleasant to deal with unless you're trade, jewellers are generally thieving short-changers when it comes to dealing bullion and even a crucible to turn your dust & wire into a reasonable ingot is likely to cost a fair price in its own right.

I just love recycling silver (it's so easy!), and cuppelating mucky gold is an excuse to make shakudo. Platinum though is a white-metal elephant. It's too expensive to throw away, too awkward to actually get on and do it.

Blimey. Not often I learn three new words in a day.

cuppelation, shakudo and litharge (in the Wikipedia definition of cuppelation). I already knew what a tsuba (I can see 2 from where I'm sitting) is. And a yatate.

You're not in Yo Sushi again are you? ;-)

Someone we've known for fifty years will take it. He already deals with our silver - both directions - and gold. That's his business, being friends we trust him.

Mary

The message from "Dieseldes" contains these words:

Henry Grey (Kirkcaldy) has always done that. The price has gone up slightly, from £80 some 20 or so years ago.

Got it (them ) in one.....

Des

Des

Of course I did - I used to know all the scrap dealers/auto breakers in Scotland, when I owned a scrapyard...! ;-)

and if you were anywhere between Perth and Glasgow in the last 30 years I have probably visited you......

Perth. We had a variety of addresses, the last two being 'near the railway station', and 'Inveralmond Estate'...

Yes It would have been Inveralmond, this interwebby thing makes it a small world

Des

Did you really own a scrapyard? I can't think of many more satisfying occupations - honestly!

Mary

There were three together - we were the farthest away yard.

Indeed!

Yes, I did. It _was_ very satisfying, you're right!

I used to visit a scrappy of the traditional variety (bloke built like a brick sh*thouse and a dog. Savage beast. So was the dog) in Tyseley when I first started working for Girlings in the mid '70s. But the nicest one I ever visited (which I hope is still going) was a few years ago in South Brent, just inside the Dartmoor national park. Needed* a new starter for our Cavalier. Early middle-aged bloke running it who hunted around his vehicles for something with the right motor, got it out for me and helped me fit it (well practically fitted it for me). We got talking and he said he used to be a bank manager but took early retirement when the bank was looking to shed staff and bought the scrappy of an old bloke who'd had it since way back when, before the National Park was established and hence they couldn't get him out although they hated him being there sullying their natural beauty.

• or thought I did: turned out it wasn't the motor but a stupid poxing fault on the ignition switch

Oh, yessss! Nobody wants a scrapyard sullying their landscape, but they're quick enough to get on the phone when old cars get dumped in inaccessible places! BTDTGTBTS!