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I was wondering if anybody leaves the yard with steel stuff rather than just a deposit.

I see tractor plows, useful stainless steel kitchen stuffs from resturants and steel toolboxs filled with stuff. It seems like if you worked there you could run ebay auctions every
week.

Any finds/money saved?

-Yeah some yards are strict until you start buying from them.

Oh yes. I routinely buy more from scrap yards than I sell to them.

Some yards are real strict and will not let the general public go shopping. Usually this is for liability, safety, theft and other concerns.

However, many are happy to sell materials and items by the pound. It definitely helps to be a regular customer and to know the owners. Also, it's usually better to do this at slower times during weekdays.

Examples of what you can buy:

Stock and sheet metal for projects
Power equipment that's working or easily repaired
Appliances that work or are easily repaired
Tools (ladders especially)
Light iron that hasn't been properly separated
Misidentified or unknown metals
Antiques and collectibles

Any yard that's been in business for several years probably has one or more buyers for each of these categories, but if you've been frequenting a yard it doesn't hurt to ask or make an offer if you see something you want.

I buy from my local yard. got a nice AL wheel the other day for a buddy to use as a hose reel.

But they are just starting out and so far are real nice. They sale car parts, wheels and tires also.

My yard has a large sign that says they will not sell to the public. I guess that it has something to do with not wanting to collect sales tax.

A friend of mine wanted something that was there, they subtracted it's poundage from the poundage that he was dropping off.

In his case it paid to be a regular.

I have a 5 huge scrap piles behind my barn. the largest is about 30 feet long 15 feet wide and 6 feet tall. People are always stopping to ask "If they can clean up that junk for you"? I keep saying I am going to get it to the yard, but haven't found time to load up the trailer. I drive by there all the time for work. I suppose I could take it small chunks at a time (couple hundred pounds in the mini van). That would make me more of a regular than if I took in a few big loads.

if you had enough for a full container then the big yard might send out a roll off for it.

That is an awesome idea. I could throw all of the low value scrap in it and set aside the Al, Cu, and stailness.

It would save me a lot of trips to the yard and sore make it look nicer out back.

if a yard would sell you items. They already made a mark up for what they bought / what they sold you. And then you break it down more and sell it back so they can make more $. It could work! Around here they are too busy to break down anything so It all goes into the steel mound!