Metal Recycling

I had a couple days off so I collected all the odd bits of metal I've been accumulating and took them to the metal recycler.  Items:

Some aluminum server shelves, and a big 6' section of ~2.5" copper pipe...

Some aluminum from motor casings and espresso machine mechanisms... 

Brass: espresso machine fittings, boiler shells, and a can of house keys...

Insulated wire from miscellaneous appliances...

Bare copper: some pipe fittings, and wire from motor armatures...

This is a funky place in a funky part of town.  They have huge (beat up ) bins like this for your stuff.  They mostly serve larger recyclers -- the guy ahead of me had a cart full of brass plumbing fittings.

I wish I'd thought to get more pictures of the facility -- it's a real warren old radiators, piles of conduit, wheels of cable, etc.   I have to say they were nice and accommodating and helpful for my little load of scrap. 

Provide ID, license plate number and fingerprints at the cigarette-smelling window...

Net result: $58, not bad for a 10 minute drive.  Obviously, copper is where the money is.  Stainless only got me 20 cents a pound -- surprising, considering how expensive stainless is. Any commercial kitchen contains thousands of dollars worth of stainless equipment.

Interestingly, beverage can recyclers pay about $1.30 for aluminum cans. Scrap aluminium gets you $0.25.

When I retire, I'll set up a workstation in my garage, and make a hobby out of collecting motors and stripping the wire out of the armatures.