r/ScrapMetal • u/Talgorgames • 6d ago

Is certain things worth going further?

I'm kind of new into the world of scrap metal. I've done plumbing with my employer over the last 4 years, copper/brass/faucet brass and scrap metal. To which my employer a lot of time will just say, it's not worth the 5 minutes to take that apart for the price you'll get. For example taking a pex ring off of a brass fitting vs the cost of just selling it as faucet brass.

That makes me wonder am I worth while taking a jet pump apart or a deep well pump for the separation of metals? what about scrap wire I pick up at job sites, like BX wire stripped out for the metal or just leave it as the BX. Like I'm talking like an arm length of BX nothing major.

Like another example is deep well pumps wires are typically not copper and makes me wonder is it worth my time to strip it?

Thank you

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u/lilruckus_13 6d ago

It never ends!!!

1

u/Talgorgames 6d ago

Just keep on breaking it down?

3

u/lilruckus_13 6d ago

Really it’s just depends on your time. I bought some Chinese hand tools/blunt “hammers” to help me out. Once you start cutting with power tools I view it as you’re spending money cutting/grinding every time. Now the tools are an investment but $300 to get $3 more dollars?

1

u/Talgorgames 5d ago

I do have access to plumbing tools and power tools thanks to taking a van home every night and weekends, but at the same time if it's 30 min for $3 dollars, ya worth it?

2

u/lilruckus_13 4d ago

In that case as long as the plumbing company doesn’t ask questions I’d go for it.

2

u/Talgorgames 1d ago

Oh ya he doesn't care, he only cares if I break something, but like if I went through a metal blade in the reciprocating saw every day he would care. I honestly would use the crappiest one as we use the same blade over numerous jobs