IMPORTANT INFORMATION PLEASE READ

Scrap Specifications and Definitions

Scrappers's #1 rule: ALWAYS check everything with a magnet!!

          BRASS         

General Information

*Check each piece with a magnet

*Grind the surface of questionable pieces.  Steel is often chromed to prevent corrosion and will resemble brass; Die cast is often coated with a yellow coating which also resembles brass. 

Yellow  Brass

              Yellow brass is the most common brass you will come across.  It is used in belt buckles, plumbing, plaques, jewelry, marine hardware, musical instruments, and other things that call for an anticorrosive material.  It can be painted, tarnished, or chromed so always grind the material to see its true color.  It is completely non-magnetic (a magnet should not stick).   

Red Brass

              Red brass is the second most commonly used brass found in most markets.  It is generally used for non-corrosive, heavier applications.  Red brass ground against an abrasive wheel will show a reddish color.  Red brass cannot be chromed—all die cast must be removed.  Red brass is also nonmagnetic. 

General Information 

*All radiators must be cleaned of steel

 Auto Radiators  

            Most auto radiators are made of copper, tin, and lead.  They are identified by the dark copper center and yellow tanks on either end.  The radiator that cools the water in the engine is the auto radiator.  Auto radiators are found in cars and trucks. 

Aluminum and Copper Radiators  

            Found in air conditioning units.  Before removing make sure that the CFC’s have been removed.  To identify look for the aluminum fins with copper pipe running through the middle – all steel dividers should be cut off.

 Aluminum Radiators  

            Found in cars and air conditioning units.  They are all aluminum.

 Heater Cores  

            Found in cars.  Small in size, usually weighing three to four pounds. Yellow brass is the primary metal.  

          ALUMINUM   

General Information

*Aluminum is a lightweight, non-corrosive metal. 

*The color of aluminum does not change – a grayish color. 

*To identify check for the following:  no rust, non-magnetic, no spark, lightweight, and the unique grayish color. 

Aluminum Siding

            Aluminum Siding is removed from houses.  Aluminum gutters and spouting can also be sold with siding.  Paint is fine, but all steel screws and rivets must be removed to be considered clean.  **Steel siding is also made so always check with a magnet.

Cast Aluminum  

            Cast aluminum can be identified by the rough texture found when broken from the mold in which it was created.  Watch for magnesium and die cast – they have a darker grey color than aluminum; magnesium is lighter than aluminum and die cast is heavier.   

E.C. Aluminum  

             It is used in electrical applications.  Busbar and wire are two products classified as E.C. aluminum.  It is very soft and pliable – easily bent by hand.   

New Aluminum  

            Is either square of round stock.  There is not anything protruding from the main body of the material.  Look for factory markings.   

Aluminum Cans  

            Aluminum cans DO NOT have to be crushed.  It takes approximately 18 cans to make one pound of cans.  

          LEAD         

              Very distinctive dark grey color, non-magnetic, no spark, very soft, and very heavy.  If not sure take a knife and cut a piece – it will carve off easily in a curl shape.  If it chips it is too hard to be lead.  Lead will also leave a mark on white paper