Scrap yard find of the week.

Taylortractornut · Feb 19, 2012

I frequent a large scrap yard here that take only industrial accounts. I do a little work for them. I had a load of tin from the landfill I manage that was to go to scrap. The yard I used to buy from that takes from the public wont resell to the public anymore so I decided to do business in town. I stopped in and negotiated a price on the load. I went out and dumped and noticed a big pile hat wa dumped out from another account. I while they inspected my load I walked over and poked around.

I found 2 items I couldnt live without. One was a Grove 30to1 1inch out put gear reducer that was new, and had the shaft running out both sides. I thought I hit the jackpot with that. I looked around beside it and saw a set of rollers that looked like they might go on my sawmill build. I rolled over a section of plate and low and behold it was a Coffing trolley. To be exact a 2 ton CTA40. It had never been put on a beam. THe paint is still on the rollers and the eye never had a hook in it.

I got the gear box for 6 bucks and the manager traded the trolley to me for 3 rotted small bales for a wash. Might as well say 9 bucks. The trolley wont be used on a saw mill though. I ll have to find some more wheels. I just ordered a trolley like this for a friends auto shop and they were drom 45 to 507 bucks plus shipping.

gengine · Feb 19, 2012

You made out like a bandit! I thought I did good finding a barely used hay grapple for $200.

creekbend · Feb 19, 2012

Seems like you were at the right place at the right time. :thumbsup:

tcreeley · Feb 19, 2012

Years ago I was at a scrap yard that Starrett Tool sent stuff too. I found a handled 2 " screw with buttress thread. I had just swapped for a large blacksmiths post vice and this screw fit perfectly. I cut a few inches off the screw and sent it to Starrett Tool asking if they had a nut that would fit. They sent me back a nut for free. That was in 1983. I still use the vice.
Can't say enough good about Starretts of Athol, MA.

GrizzyDan · Feb 20, 2012

Now that is a find! I do some scrap hauling on the side, mostly cars, but I always eyeball the yard every time I'm there, I've come out with a few items but I'm never that lucky! The yard sells iron/tin for .35c a lb. I would have had to pay much much more than you did for that trolley =) I'm glad to hear it.

Gary Fowler · Feb 20, 2012

Man, I wish I lived closer to you. I would love to just sort thru there for finds like that or just find some scrap steel. I dont know of a place anywhere near me that even deals in scrap steel.

Iplayfarmer · Feb 20, 2012

Gary Fowler said:
Man, I wish I lived closer to you. I would love to just sort thru there for finds like that or just find some scrap steel. I dont know of a place anywhere near me that even deals in scrap steel.

I don't know if anyone really "deals" in scrap steel anymore. You kind of have to know someone like Taylortractornut does.

SPIKER · Feb 20, 2012

that is one thing i miss about working in a Maintenance dept. used to be able to get all kinds of stuff that was tossed out for reasons. I have a nice big mobile 3 stepped pipe rack on swivel casters w spring suspension. several hundred feet of 5" HD factory style galv gutters and down spouts. (going on the barn someday.) half dozen small HYD cylinders pulleys pumps and mesh screens ect. Steel stock was common and tearing out old equipment left a lot of parts on the shelf NEW that would be tossed.... cant say how many gearboxes shafts and ect that I passed on went straight to scrap yard (stupid stupid stupid)

Some unique items were BIG bearings that could have made a heck of a lazy susan out of! stuff that a semi commercial wind turbine probably could have used hahaha.

Mark

Taylortractornut · Feb 20, 2012

Its open to the public. I get end drops of 1/4 to 1 1/4 plate all for 26 cents a pound. I buy plate a peice at a time. It helps to bring a few Mountain Dews or Gatorades to the burners and crane ops. Im thinking of opening a small scrap yard buying and selling a bit. I hate seeing all the old farm tools going to scrap. The big yards dont resell any more. I may not use the gear box for a while but its nice to have it when I need it. When ever I see one wether it s a duplicate or not I pick it up.

GrizzyDan · Feb 20, 2012

Never pass on ANY scrap metal thats free =) The local scrap yard here which is about an hour from me pays $225 a ton for iron.. 210 for tin, 200 for any appliances.. Prices fluctuate and are usually high in the summer. I have no issues at all with storing tons of junk out of sight and waiting for prices to jump.

a 10k trailer and the back of your truck full of junk that can't be used/rebuilt could be a quick $1200 in your pocket. My biggest scrap check was from copper radiators and brass, 1700 bux out the door..

If I could only find this stuff every day!