Scrapping 101: Where to Find Scrap Copper in Massachusetts

If you know that you are doing, learning how to find and sell scrap metal in Massachusetts can be a great way to start your own independent business. While there are some folks who recycle scrap metal as a way to make extra money or just to clear out a garage or shop on the weekend, there are others who proudly call themselves “scrappers” who do this on a full time basis and make a pretty decent living at it as well.

Anyone can take a bag of aluminum cans to the grocery store or local recycling center and learn how to sell scrap metal in Westport, but it takes time and hands-on experience working with various types of scrap metal in order to create a successful business out of it. Beyond that, the more you learn about the most valuable metals, such as how and where to find scrap copper and other non-ferrous items, the more profit you will be able to make with the least amount of effort.

Getting the Most for Your Metals

The first tip is a simple one. Knowing where to sell scrap metal in Massachusetts that will give you the best price for your haul is key. Mid City Scrap Iron & Salvage, located in Westport, Massachusetts, provides scrappers with the best price for scrap metal in the South Coast area. To find out the going rate for scrap copper and other types of metals before bringing your haul to the local scrap metal recycling center, just give Mid City a call. We provide up front pricing so our customers will be able to get the best possible payout for their hard work.

Another reason to choose Mid City Scrap over other scrap metal recycling facilities is our central location and ability to recycle scrap metal from all over the South Coast area. Customers bring in and sell scrap metal in Westport from all over Southeastern Massachusetts, including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fall River and Cape Cod, as well as from Rhode Island and Connecticut. Call us today at 1-800-334-4789 to get current market pricing for your scrap metal, as well as directions to our facility, operating hours and more.

How to Maximize Your Earning Potential

Another way to increase the amount of money you can make from selling scrap metal in Massachusetts is to learn how to properly sort your load before you go to the scrap yard. The most basic separation that you will need to do is to separate ferrous from non-ferrous metals. Ferrous metals contain iron and are easily identified with a magnet. If it sticks, it’s ferrous and should be sorted as such. Beyond this basic sorting, you will want to learn the different types of copper so you can get paid the full value of your haul.

If you have scrap copper that has been contaminated with aluminum, steel or other metals that are less valuable, the value of the copper will be diminished significantly. For example, copper pipes that have soldered joints are referred to in the industry as copper #2 and are not worth as much as just plain copper pipes. However, you can take the time to cut all of the soldered joints out and you will get paid more for each piece of pipe. There are five basic types of copper. If you can learn these different types when collecting and sorting, you will increase the amount of money you can make from each haul.

• SCRAP COPPER SOLIDS – This is the best quality of scrap copper. If you know how this type of metal is used, you will learn where to find scrap copper that pays out top value. Scrap copper #1 is defined simply as copper punchings, clippings, segments, wire and tubing that is not less than a sixteenth of an inch in thickness. Scrap copper #2 is defined as unalloyed copper solids that are at least 96 percent copper, free of soldered, leaded, tinned scrap or an excessive oil content. Scrap copper #3 includes light copper solids that consist of sheeting that is less than a sixteenth of an inch thick. The value of each of these goes in order, with scrap copper #1 being worth more than scrap copper #3.
• SCRAP COPPER NON-SOLIDS – This category covers things like chips, turnings and even scrap copper dust from manufacturing. Because the pieces are so small, some scrappers will melt them down into copper nuggets rather than having to deal with taking them to recycle scrap metal as-is. Contact Mid City Scrap to find out the policy on scrap copper non-solids and for any suggestions on how it should be handled.
• SCRAP COPPER WIRE – Before you take copper wire to sell scrap metal in Westport, give Mid City a call. Each scrap yard has different policies on how they will accept insulated scrap copper wire – some prefer that you strip it, while others will prefer that you don’t. There are five distinct grades of scrap copper wire: 10 percent wire, such as Christmas lights; 35 percent wire, a thinly gauged wire such as telephone wire; 50 percent wire, including appliance and extension cords; 70 percent wire, found usually inside of appliances and electronics; and 85 percent wire, which has a very thin casing and a diameter about the size of a number two pencil. Some yards will simplify things and separate copper wire by high grade, which has a single layer of insulation; and low grade, which has a double layer of insulation.
• SCRAP COPPER BREAKAGE – The easiest way to identify this group is anything that has copper winding, such as electric motors, starters, transformers, inductors, alternators, ballasts or power supplies that have been scrapped. If you get a lot of scrap copper in this form, take time to learn how to properly pull out the scrap copper winding to maximize your earning potential.
• SCRAP COPPER ALLOY – The two most common types of copper alloy are bronze and brass. While these metals are worth more per pound than iron or other types of meals, they still aren’t worth as much as pure copper. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, while brass is an alloy made of copper and zinc. However, there are other copper alloys that you may come across, including cupronickel or German silver, which can be worth more than the more commonly found bronze and brass.

Where to Find Scrap Copper

By identifying the different types of copper that can be take to sell when you recycle scrap metal at Mid City Scrap Iron & Salvage in Westport, you gain a better understanding of where to find scrap copper all around you. Because copper is so valuable, it is important to keep track of where you find scrap copper and get a receipt when you pick it up from homeowners, business owners and other people that you work with, just to prove your legitimacy. Whenever a metal becomes as valuable as copper has in recent years, instances of theft rise. Copper theft is a big problem here in the New England area and across the country, so having proof of where and when you collected the scrap metal in Massachusetts, Rhode Island or Connecticut, can be very helpful if you were ever questioned.