A Pound of Metal Per Mile 2013

[CrazyTom]

Greetings to those of you who come here because you are smart enough to know that paper money systems always fail.
Here's to another year of free metal and bullion coin!

This first week started great with a copper pipe someone used to repair a push broom handle.
Must have fell off the landscape truck and was smashed flat. Broom head remains out there in the bushes.

1 lb 10 oz copper/brass
8 lb 3 oz steel
1 lb 9 oz pop cans
1 lb lead wheel weights

1 clad quarter
2 zinc pennies
1 copper penny

1 golf ball

[CrazyTom]

Man, between the bug going around and work I have a pathetic start
to the new year. But any free metal is good metal!

5 oz pop cans
7 oz lead wheel weights
1 lb 5 oz steel
2 oz brass/copper

2 nickels
2 clad dimes
2 zinc pennies


2013 running total

9 lb 8 oz steel
1 lb 14 oz pop cans
1 lb 7 oz lead wheel weights
1 lb 12 oz copper/brass
.69 cash
1 golf ball

[CrazyTom]

Only one ride due to a rare downpour this weekend.

1 lb 12 oz steel
In the steel was a nice Craftsman 15MM box wrench. Also got needle nose pliers (missing handle insulation).
6 oz pop cans
9 oz lead

1 cell phone, nicely smashed.

1 clad quarter
2 pennies


2013 running total

11 lb 4 oz steel
2 lb 4 oz pop cans
2 lb lead wheel weights
1 lb 12 oz copper/brass
.96 cash
1 golf ball

[CrazyTom]

Rather than watch the halftime show of the Superbowl I'll post
my free road metal finds of the weekend!

1 lb pop cans
7 lb 10 oz steel
1 lb 6 oz lead
7 oz brass/copper

1 dime
1 nickel
2 pennies

2013 running total

18 lb 14 oz steel
3 lb 4 oz pop cans
3 lb 6 oz lead wheel weights
2 lb 3 oz copper/brass
$1.13 cash
1 golf ball

[CrazyTom]

Not a lot of miles this weekend......

12 oz pop cans
9 oz lead wheel weights
1 lb 2 oz steel
2 oz brass

1 penny


2013 running total

20 lb steel
4 lb pop cans
3 lb 15 oz lead wheel weights
2 lb 5 oz copper/brass
$1.14 cash
1 golf ball

[coppertone]

I love this thread. Keep it up!

[CrazyTom]

Thanks for the encouragement!

Lots more miles this week in sunny Arizona!

1 lb 2 oz pop cans
6 lb 6 oz steel
1 lb 3 oz lead wheel weights
1 lb 4 oz copper/brass

5 pennies
2 clad dimes
1 clad quarter

1 golf ball


2013 running total

26 lb 6 oz steel
5 lb 2 oz pop cans
5 lb 2 oz lead wheel weights
3 lb 9 oz copper/brass
$1.64 cash
2 golf balls

[OtusLotus]

can you also post how far you've biked per week/day?

[CrazyTom]

can you also post how far you've biked per week/day?

Good question. It depends on my work schedule.

I usually get 20+ miles on a weekend (when I'm not on call).
Weekdays have not been good so far this winter. I won't go out after
dark because I don't want to be the target of some sicko's jollies.
Weekdays would only be about 5 miles after work, primarily in the summer.

I estimated about a pound per mile when I first started collecting the metal.
One mile of metal means two miles for me because I usually go out on one side
of the road and come back the other, thus gleaning the whole mile.

So, for instance last weekend I gathered 9 lbs 15 oz of material and it
fits right in the average, 20 mile round trip and almost 10 pounds.

[hobo finds]

How many times on average do you have to stop and get off the bike to get the metal?

[CrazyTom]

How many times on average do you have to stop and get off the bike to get the metal?

Another good question!

I just did 2 miles to a bank 1 mile away (where I only got $10 in CWR dimes )

I picked up 1 can, 2 wheel weights, 4 steel bolts, and one large steel washer. And 1 penny!
That's 9 items in 2 miles of biking. The bag feels like almost a pound (it will go into one big weigh on Sunday).

Sometimes a nice heavy piece like a brake part will make up for a lot of little stops. Or if I get a bunch of lead
in a tire store parking lot.

[hobo finds]

You need a magnet on a stick for the steel items!

[tulaneoutlaw]

I always wondered if there was some secret to how you picked up the metal. I guess I never thought just stopping and getting off would be very efficient. Now I know. Great thread CT keep it up!

[CrazyTom]

I always wondered if there was some secret to how you picked up the metal. I guess I never thought just stopping and getting off would be very efficient. Now I know. Great thread CT keep it up!

Efficiency is sacrificed for fresh air, exercise, and a drink of water on some of the dismounts.
Besides, I just can't resist free metal!

[CrazyTom]

You need a magnet on a stick for the steel items!

I prefer to keep both hands on the bars! Often, getting off the bike allows me
to spy other goodies nearby.

[CrazyTom]

No ride Saturday but Sunday really brought up the rear.
I had doubled the bags but it started tearing a half mile from the house.
I cradled it in my arm the rest of the way like my little bambino............

8 lb 12 oz steel
10 oz wheel weights
4 oz pop cans
13 oz copper/brass

3 pennies

2013 running total

35 lb 2 oz steel
5 lb 6 oz pop cans
5 lb 12 oz lead wheel weights
4 lb 6 oz copper/brass
$1.67 cash
2 golf balls

[CrazyTom]

Today I found a spoon, the bottom blackened by what looks like candle soot.......

Two good rides;

1 lb pop cans
5 lb 13 oz steel
1 lb 1 oz wheel weights
1 oz copper/brass

1 penny


2013 running total

40 lb 15 oz steel
6 lb 6 oz pop cans
6 lb 13 oz lead wheel weights
4 lb 7 oz copper/brass
$1.68 cash
2 golf balls

[MUTiger]

Today I found a spoon, the bottom blackened by what looks like candle soot.......

That was to heat (smoke) some crack or meth. Make sure you wash your hands etc.

mutiger

[CrazyTom]

Today I found a spoon, the bottom blackened by what looks like candle soot.......

That was to heat (smoke) some crack or meth. Make sure you wash your hands etc.

mutiger

Unfortunately, given this messed up country, I suspected as much and even debated picking it up.

But, I'm addicted to free metal!

[CrazyTom]

Big find this weekend was a tire lug wrench weighing 1.5 pounds.

6 lb 1 oz steel
1 lb 1 oz pop cans
11 oz wheel weights
2 oz brass/copper


2013 running total

47 lb steel
7 lb 7 oz pop cans
7 lb 8 oz lead wheel weights
4 lb 9 oz copper/brass
$1.68 cash
2 golf balls

[AGgressive Metal]

How do you find so much brass?

[CrazyTom]

How do you find so much brass?

My "copper/brass" is a mixture of copper and brass items.

Mostly it is fittings that probably fell off repair trucks.
I have found copper pipe elbows and tube bits (smashed).
The brass is in compression plumbing fittings. Keys too.

Any wire, insulated or uninsulated, goes in the count too.

[CrazyTom]

A luck o' the Irish weekend. I found a real horse shoe (minus the real horse) and 7 pennies!

9 lb 14 oz steel
1 lb 10 oz pop cans
2 lb 2 oz wheel weights
3 oz aluminum
6 oz copper/brass

7 pennies


2013 running total

56 lb 14 steel
9 lb 1 oz pop cans
9 lb 10 oz lead wheel weights
4 lb 15 oz copper/brass
3 oz aluminum
$1.75 cash
2 golf balls

[Numis Pam]

I always enjoy reading your posts. Thanks for continueing to share with us!

[CrazyTom]

This one is for you Numis Pam!

The sun is rising sooner and so am I, especially to go hit some
freeway off ramps where the lead collects.

1 lb 11 oz pop cans
2 lb 6 oz wheel weights
5 oz aluminum
6 oz brass/copper
6 lb 10 oz steel

1 quarter
7 pennies
1 Canadian penny (not in the cash count)


2013 running total

63 lb 8 steel
10 lb 12 oz pop cans
12 lb wheel weights
5 lb 5 oz copper/brass
8 oz aluminum
$2.08 cash
2 golf balls