Author: AWD Digital

Fun Facts You Never Knew About Steel

Posted on by AWD Digital

Steel is an incredibly versatile metal and its unique properties enable it to be recycled over and over again without any degradation. In this week’s blog, we take a closer look at this incredible metal with some amazing facts about its physical properties, uses and the steel industry.

All about steel

All steel comes from iron (or iron ore), the 4th most common element on planet and the 6th most common element throughout the universe. Steel is an incredibly strong material; some kinds of steel can be up to 1000 times stronger than iron. Although steel is susceptible to rust, there are ways to minimise its effects. These include coating steel with materials such as zinc (galvanisation) and protecting steel from rust through continually passing an electric current through it, a process called Cathodic Protection.

Uses of steel

Steel has a huge number of uses; it is used in extremely large volumes in the transport industry to build things like ships, trains, cars and planes, in the construction industry for structures like reinforcing bars, suspension cables, cladding and roofing, in the manufacture of appliances like refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, sinks, radiators, kitchen utensils, razors and stereo equipment, and in disposable items such as food and beverage cans, aerosol cans and bottle tops. Because steel is such a commonly used material, it’s important to make a conscious effort to recycle it. In Australia 97% of end of life structural steel and 82% of all scrap steel is recycled into new products.

The steel industry then and now

Although steel has been manufacture for many hundreds of years, the steel industry really took off when Henry Bessemer, an English inventor, developed the Bessemer process between 1850 and 1855 ­– the first real method that enabled the mass production of steel. Today, steel production is booming, with 67 countries reporting the combined manufacture of 136.5 million tonnes in January 2017 alone. China produces over 50% of the world’s steel, and Japan is the second largest producer of the metal.

Steel is a truly versatile metal, and because of its incredible durability and ability to be endlessly recycled, the steel industry will likely flourish for many years to come. Metal Men Recycling will gladly accept all your old steel appliances and give you cash for scrap. We even have a 24 hour pick up service. Call us now on 03 5941 6677 and get cash for scrap!

4 Great Reasons Why Copper Is The King Of Scrap Metal

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Copper is one of the most coveted metals down at the scrap yard. It is a non-ferrous metal and is actually the best conductor of electricity – not including precious metals of course. Even though copper is a fairly common metal, it is still highly sought after for recycling purposes. Let’s explore four reasons why copper is one of the best metals to recycle and discover how you can maximise your return when you turn your scrap copper into cash.

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6 Tools & Tricks of the Scrap Metal Trade

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Selling scrap metal can be a great way to earn some extra cash but if you have never done it before you may be a bit unsure about how to get started. Here are a few popular tools and tips which can help you make money from scrap metal.

  1. A magnet will come in handy

While some scrap metal yards accept both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, the latter (which includes metals such as copper, aluminium and stainless steel) are more valuable to recycle and will fetch you more cash at the scrap metal yard. You can work out which type of metal you have by using any kind of magnet (even a fridge magnet will work).

If the magnet sticks to your metal then you are in possession of a ferrous metal such as steel or iron. Ferrous metal is not worth a lot but Metal Men Recycling will still accept it and make sure it is recycled properly.

If the magnet does not stick to your metal then you have a non-ferrous metal on your hands and may be able to make some serious money by selling it to scrap metal buyers.

  1. Safety gear is essential

It’s important to take certain precautions when collecting metal, especially if it’s old or rusty. You should protect yourself when collecting scrap metal by wearing clothing that covers your skin adequately, work boots, goggles and thick gloves.

  1. A metal file will reveal the true colour

As some metals are worth more than others, it can be handy to determine exactly which type of metal you have come across. By using a metal file to file down coated items or wires you can identify the type of metal. Some copper and brass pipes may be tarnished but when you use a metal file you can reveal the original colour of the metal. Copper is a reddish colour and brass pipes will appear yellowish in colour.

  1. All that glitters is not gold

Scrap metal prices vary based on material and location. Scrap metal is also graded according to what type of material it is and what condition it is in. It can be challenging at times to estimate the value of your metal unless you constantly have your finger on the pulse of the metal market (or scrap regularly). However, you can utilise sites like Kitco to determine current market prices. The most profitable scrap metals generally include copper, aluminium, silver, gold, brass, stainless steel, iron and lead.

  1. Basic information is just a click away

Basic knowledge of different types of metals is extremely useful when getting started at scrapping metal. There a lots of online guides to metal types such as eBay’s Guide to Different Types of Metals and Alloys which give you a great overview of the features and characteristics of a range of metals.

  1. You could be sitting on a gold mine!

If you own your own home/business or rent a large property, chances are you have something lying around that you could sell to a scrap metal company. From cans and wires to cars and old machinery, Metal Men Recycling will give you cash for any kind of scrap metal. To find out what items can represent great sources of scrap metal consult our informative blog or contact our friendly team.

Looking for Scrap? Here are 4 Places to Find Scrap Iron around the Home

Posted on by AWD Digital

When we think of household scrap metal, our minds often turn to things like old car shells, huge collections of aluminium cans, steel fencing, and copper wiring, however iron is also a great source of scrap metal and can be found in many furnishings and appliances around the home. Whether you’re having a big cleanout, are renovating, or simply want to make some extra cash, it’s a great idea to scour your home for scrap iron to be recycled in exchange for cash. Read on to find out where you can find scrap iron throughout your home.

Awnings and old window frames

Many older style houses (of which there are plenty throughout Melbourne) have wrought iron finishings like window frames and awnings. Because iron is so durable it makes a fantastic building material, so if you’re renovating your old home you’re bound to find iron somewhere. Not too long ago, iron was commonly used as a sturdy material for window frames, as it was able to keep the window in place and withstand high winds, and iron awnings above windows and doors were a popular form of decoration.

Ovens and stovetops

Beneath the layers of enamel, many older style ovens are actually made from valuable iron, so if you’ve got an old oven that you want to get rid of – either because it no longer works or because you’re upgrading – hold onto it and trade it in as scrap. If your oven isn’t made of iron, your stovetop undoubtedly will be, so salvage any old cooking elements and take them to your local metal recycler.

Bed frames and clothes racks

The bedroom seems an unlikely place to find scrap iron, however items like bed frames, dresser chairs, and clothing racks can all be made from iron and should be recycled rather than thrown out. Sometimes these items are coated with decorative paint, so if you’re unsure whether your furniture is made from iron make sure you scratch away at part of the surface.

If you come across any of these items around your home, don’t throw them away. Instead, take them to your local scrap metal dealer where you can earn cash for scrap. Metal Men Recycling accept a huge range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and will gladly take any unwanted scrap metal off your hands.

Fun Garage Conversion Ideas

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In our last blog we told you how to salvage scrap metal from your cluttered garage, so now that you have a freshly cleaned garage, it’s time to explore how you can turn it into an extension of your existing living space. Read on for four fun garage conversion ideas.

Games or entertainment room

If you’re big on entertaining or simply don’t have enough space inside your home for a dedicated play area, your now scrap metal free garage is the perfect location for an added games room. If you’re going for a kid friendly space, fit out your garage with comfy bean bags, board games, fun toys and brightly coloured fixtures and décor. For a more grown-up entertaining area, a bar, good sound system, comfy seating and maybe even a pool table are great inclusions.

Home office

If you regularly work from home and want to minimise your distractions, a dedicated home office is a fantastic solution. By converting your empty garage into a home office (complete with a bookshelf, a spacious desk, ergonomic furnishings and bright lighting), you will be able to better concentrate on your work out without interference.

Guest house

Whether you frequently have guests come to stay, or are interested in making some extra money from boarders or holiday makers, your unused garage is a great space to convert into a guest house. Assuming you want your guest house to be self-contained, you’ll have to invest a bit more money in things like plumbing, insulation and other heating and cooling, soundproofing, proper ventilation and more. If you end up installing kitchen or bathroom facilities, be sure to keep any scrap metal leftover from the installation and trade it in for cash with your local scrap metal buyer.

We hope these ideas have inspired you to transform your unused garage into an exciting new living space. If at any time throughout the garage conversion process you come across unwanted scrap metal, or are left with excess steel, corrugated iron, or other metal from renovations, be sure to get cash for scrap from your local scrap metal dealer. Metal Men Recycling accept a huge range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, so contact us today on 03 5941 6677 and get cash for scrap metal.

How to harvest scrap metal from your garage

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It’s very easy for the home garage to become a place of clutter, especially if it’s not where you usually park your car. While the garage seems like the perfect place to store electronics and appliances in need of repairs, handy items like wiring, an onslaught of tools, and old batteries, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever get round to fixing/using all these things, which is why it’s a great idea to clear out your garage and trade in any scrap metal for cash. Read on to find out how to sell scrap metal harvested from your garage.

Old tools

While having a tool kit is always handy, there’s not much point in keeping tools with very specific purposes if you haven’t had to use them in years, or worse still, don’t know what they’re for. Consolidate your tool kit, keeping only things that you have a use for and set aside any doubles, unknowns or tools that are looking a bit worse for wear. These unwanted tools are often a great source of scrap metal, so add them to the pile to be taken to your local scrap metal dealer.

Chicken wire

When cleaning out your garage you’ll have to make some serious decisions about what to throw out and what to keep. Although having things like chicken wire and copper wiring on hand may seem like a good idea, these unnecessary items are probably just taking up space and would be better off being recycled. Plus, by selling them as scrap metal you’ll be able to use the money for something you actually need.

Broken electronics and appliances

Old electronics are often another great source of scrap metal, so scour your garage for things like old AC units, computer monitors, televisions and kitchen appliances like fridges and freezers. Instead of repairing these items (which you’re probably never going to get around to) you can de-clutter your garage, trade them in for cash, and replace them with more energy efficient appliances.

Once you’ve cleared out your garage, it’s time to take your scrap metal harvest to your local scrap metal dealer, or if it’s a particularly large pile, have them come to you. Metal Men Recycling offer a 24-hour scrap metal pick up service in Melbourne and will give you cash for scrap. To arrange pick up, call us today on 03 5941 6677.

8 Impressive Metal Detector Finds

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If you’re a regular scrap metal collecting enthusiast, you’ll know the thrill of finding something of value which someone else has cast away as trash. Whilst scrap metal collecting is a quick and easy way to make a little extra cash, there are plenty of other ways to treasure hunt and one of the most thrilling and potentially lucrative is metal detection. Whilst the likelihood of turning up bottle caps and paperclips is high with metal detecting, occasionally, hunters come across something really extraordinary. Here are eight instances of metal detectors turning up incredible finds.

  1. A Roman coin hoard in a field

In 2014, a metal detector enthusiast who had been hunting for seven years and found no more than metal drinking pulls and shotgun cartridges stumbled across a hoard of 22,000 Roman coins dating from between AD260 and AD348. Searching in a field near a previously excavated Roman villa site in East Devon, a builder called Laurence Egerton’s detector indicated there was iron in the ground, he found two small coins no bigger than and thumbnail sitting on top of the ground but was soon digging up shovelfuls of coins. Although the coins would not have represented more than a few months’ of soldier’s wages in Roman times, their antiquity means that today they are worth tends of thousands of pounds.

  1. Pirate treasure

In In 1952, an American treasure hunter named Edward Rowe Snow somehow obtained a map supposedly made by 18th century New England pirate Captain Ned Low which pointed to treasure being buried on a small island off the coast of Nova Scotia. Armed with the map and a metal detector, Snow scoured the island and quickly found a skeleton as well as a cash of gold and silver coins dating from 1710 which are thought to be from a Spanish galleon captured by Low’s crew of pirates in 1725. Snow was allowed to keep the coins but the real wealth came from the subsequent books he wrote on his discovery.

  1. The Mojave Nugget

In 1977, prospector Ty Paulsen was using his metal detector In California’s Stringer district when he uncovered a 4.9 kilogram nugget. Named the Mojave Nugget, it is the largest piece of gold ever found in California.

  1. Aquatic gold

In 2008, Mike DeMar was diving off Key West in Florida when his metal detector picked up what he thought was a beer can. As the sediment cleared away, the vessel he had uncovered turned out to be a gold chalice from the Santa Margarita, a ship which had sunk in 1622. The find has been valued at $1million US dollars.

  1. Postal thief

In 1946, postal inspectors decided to act on their long held suspicions about a deceased post office employee’s sticky fingers. Borrowing a U.S. Army metal detector, they searched the man’s backyard and came across a length of stovepipe buried 9 feet underground with jars and cans filled with cash totalling an impressive $153, 150.

  1. Dark past

In 1984, an archaeology volunteer working a metal detector at Little Bighorn uncovered a finger bone wearing a wedding ring. Little Bighorn is of course the site where Lt. Col. George Custer and his troops were defeated by the Sioux in 1876.

  1. Viking hoard

In 2007, a father and son team who had been treasure hunting with metal detectors for about five years were searching in North Yorkshire when they came across a stunning hoard of over 600 precious metal objects believed to have been buried by a wealthy Viking some time after AD928. The hoard included 617 silver coins from as far away as Afghanistan, a rare gold arm band and a gilt silver cup made in France or Germany in about AD900 and probably used for Christian ceremonies. Archaeologists believe the hoard was probably buried as the pagan Vikings were being pushed out of the Northern UK by the Christian English.

  1.  Australian history

Mark Williams is an Adelaide based metal detector enthusiast who claimed to have found coins and artefacts worth over $18,000in 2013 alone. Favourite finds include $1800 in coins after a major music festival was held in a park, 19th century traders’ tokens used as legal tender and to promote a business, a cross belt plate from a Napoleonic-era uniform and numerous pennies dating from the early 19th century.

Metal Men Recycling specialise in metal recycling within the Melbourne area. Whilst we’re not equipped to manage Roman coin hoards or Viking swords, we do accept all types of metals as well as car batteries and vehicles which we can easily manage with our 90 tonne capacity public weigh bridge. To learn more about our capabilities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 03 5941 6677.

A Guide to Harvesting Scrap Metal From Your Car

Posted on by AWD Digital

If you’re looking to make some extra cash over the summer, why not scour your house for some unwanted scrap metal. Trading in your scrap for cash is a quick and easy way to earn some extra money and is also a great way to start decluttering your house. If you have an old rusty car that’s been sitting in your yard or driveway, here’s how to go about harvesting its parts to trade in as scrap metal.

Strip and clean your car

If you’re going to scrap an unused old car, the first thing you will need to do is strip the interior and give it a thorough clean.  Depending on which scrapper you take your car to, you may be required to completely strip the car of all materials that aren’t metal, including seats and upholstery, accessories like the stereo and speakers, and even the steering column. It’s also a good idea to drain the car’s fluids, however your scrap dealer may offer to do this for you. Once your car’s interior has been stripped you will need to give it a thorough clean and vacuum.

Sort out which parts to sell and which parts to scrap

Now that you’ve stripped your car, you can sort out which parts you want to scrap and which parts can be onsold for reuse. You can onsell accessories like the stereo and speakers for a considerable amount of money, and if parts like the engine, wheels, transmission, and brakes are all in working condition they can also be sold for reuse. If, however, these metal parts are not working, they can be traded in as part of the scrap.

Get a quote from a reputable scrap dealer

Now that you’ve got your car ready to scrap, it’s time to decide which scrap metal buyer in Melbourne to take your scrap metal to. Scrap metal buyers can vary greatly in the rates they offer, so it’s important to shop around for a good deal. Transporting the scrap salvaged from your car can also be an issue, so if you’re unable to do this yourself you should choose a scrap metal dealer with an included pick-up service.

Metal Men Recycling will gladly accept your old car and car parts in exchange for cash. We also offer a 24-hour pickup service, which makes it incredibly easy to sell your scrap metal. Contact us for free a quote today on 03 5941 6677.

7 Interesting Facts About Lead

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This week, we take a look at one of the lesser known and recycled metals that we work with. Once used widely in everything from cosmetics to plumbing, lead has fallen out of fashion due to it’s high toxicity, but it’s still a valuable limited resource which can be used for a wide variety of industrial applications and most importantly in the manufacturing of lead-acid batteries. Here are seven interesting things you didn’t know about lead.

  1. 98% of the lead in car batteries is recyclable

This is relatively high considering only 58% of the aluminium in a soft drink can can be recycled.

  1. Lead acid batteries are one of the most highly recycled consumer products

In 2013, recycled lead production made up 54% of total lead production. The recycling rate of lead is also higher than more commonly recycled materials like glass and newspaper.

  1. Lead was once one of the most widely used metals in the world

Due to it’s industry friendly properties including excellent malleability, corrosion resistance and ductility, lead was widely used throughout history up until the 20th century when it’s toxicity became known.

  1. The chemical symbol of lead is Pb

This comes from the Latin word plumbum which means ‘waterworks’ referring to the Roman practice of making water pipes out of lead. Some historians believe that lead poisoning from the water pipes was partially responsible for the fall of the Roman Empire.

  1. Lead is highly toxic

Today, we know lead is highly toxic and can cause enormous damage to the nervous system, internal organs and brain. Lead accumulates in soft tissue and bone and poisoning presents itself in the form of headaches, seizures and disorientation. Before the toxicity of lead was known, it was used in the ancient world as everything from a skin whitening cosmetic to a wine sweetener.

  1. Australia is the world’s largest producer of lead

Australia, China and the USA collectively produce 8 million tons of lead each year which is used in a variety of industrial applications. Over half of all lead produced today is used as electrodes in car batteries.

  1. Lead is sometimes called the first metal

This is because it was widely known and used in the ancient world. Lead played an important role in alchemy, as it was associated with the planet Saturn and alchemists believed there was a way to transform lead into gold.

 

Metal Men Recycling offer cash for scrap metal of all kinds including lead acid batteries. To learn more about our capabilities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 03 5941 6677.

Where to Find Aluminium Scrap Around the Home

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Aluminium is a non-ferrous metal with a huge number of applications. It is used in everything from construction to transportation to everyday household items. One of the great things about aluminium is how easily it can be recycled: it is able to be recycled endlessly without deteriorating in quality. Here are a few places that you can find aluminium around the home, so that you can earn some cash for scrap metal.

Cans and packaging

A great way to start selling scrap metal is to collect all your soft drink, food and beer cans. If you collect enough, you can get a surprisingly good return on these aluminium cans. Aluminium is also found in aerosol cans, so be sure to hold on to empty deodorant cans and cleaning sprays. Cans and tins aren’t the only source of aluminium packaging; the valuable metal can also be found in foil, takeaway food containers and pie trays.

Car Parts

Aluminium is being increasingly used in car manufacturing, and can be found in car parts such as wheels and cylinders. Once recycled, this mixed alloy aluminium scrap is used to make casting alloys for engines and gearboxes.

Electronics

Electronics such as computers, gaming consoles and even iPods all contain aluminium. If your electronics no longer work, don’t throw them out, salvage their parts for aluminium and make some cash for scrap.

Utensils

The kitchen is a great place to look for scrap aluminium as it can be found in a variety of kitchen utensils such as cutlery, baking trays and cookware.

Bike frames

Instead of throwing out your tired old bike, salvage the frame and add it to your pile of scrap metal.

Aluminium can be sourced from a variety of household items and is a great metal to trade in to your local metal recycler. Not only will you be able to get cash for scrap, your recycling will also benefit the environment. Metal Men Recycling accept all kinds of aluminium scrap and can even arrange a 24-hour scrap metal pick up service.

A Beginners Guide to Cash for Scrap Metal

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It’s that time of year where the summer holidays are just around the corner and everyone is scrambling for extra cash to use forChristmas presents. Trading in your scrap metal is not only a great way to earn some extra money, it’s also beneficial to the environment. Here are some awesome ideas of how you can make some well-deserved cash from your unwanted scrap metal around the house.

metal scrap

Which metals can I trade in?

The best types of metals to recycle include brass, iron, steel, copper, and aluminium.

Step 1: Grab a magnet! If the magnet sticks to the metal, you may be looking at something like steel or iron. Steel and iron are ferrous metals and although they are not worth as much as non-ferrous metals, they are still worth trading in for cash. Metal that does not stick will most likely be an aluminium, bronze, stainless steel or even brass. These are extremely valuable to recycle thus; more money!

Step 2: Call your local scrap yard and check what metals they accept. This may save you an unwanted trip.

Step 3: Visit your local scrap yard or, if your scrap metal provider offers it, arrange a time for pick up.

Handy Tips: Where to find scrap metal in the home

Steel- Steel, being one of the most popular metals used in the world can be found in things such as old shelves, cars and even old rolls of wire

Aluminium- One of the most common products that uses aluminium are in fact soft drink cans! Grab a box and start collecting!

Copper- Copper is commonly used in such things such as gutters, within air conditioners, electrical wires as well as plumbing pipes. Copper, being one of the more expensive materials should be kept separately so you don’t loose it.

Brass – You can find brass on things such as door handles, bathroom fixtures as well as light fixtures. Being made of both copper and zinc, you can often find brass in plumbing materials

To make the most of your scrap for cash, call Metal Men Recycling today! We offer 24-hour pick up and will give you cash for scrap metal in no time at all.

4 Ways Scrap Metal Recycling Benefits the Environment

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Whilst it’s great to earn a little bit of extra cash by exchanging your scrap metal for cash, recycling metal plays an important role in preserving environmental resources and minimising the carbon footprint of the manufacturing industry. This week, we take a look at four key ways metal recycling benefits the environment.

Metal cans recycled

Energy conservation

Metal recycling conserves energy that would be otherwise be wasted on mining, refining and manufacturing oil. The exact amount of energy conserved by recycling metal varies depending on the type but for example, recycling just a single aluminium can saves enough energy to continuously run a 100-watt light bulb for around 20 hours, or a computer for three hours.

Ore conservation

Our reliance on oil is problematic because it is a limited resource and recycling metal helps preserve this already heavily mined resource. For example, sending your old car to a scrap metal recycler instead of to landfill saves an impressive 1134kg of iron ore.

Greenhouse gas reduction

The production of new metal releases an enormous amount of greenhouse gases which contribute to both climate change and air pollution. If the world could switch over wholly to recycling metal instead of extracting it from ore, it would cut greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 300 million and 500 million tons. Metal recycling also generates 97% less mining waste and uses 40% less water than virgin metal production.

Prevents littering

Scrap metal dumping is a serious environmental hazard. When large whitegoods such as fridges, appliances such as air conditioners, and vehicles are dumped on the side of the road, they not only create an eyesore but are likely to release pollutants into the soil and water table as they degrade. Oil, diesel, paint, petrol, coolants, transmission and brake fluids, mercury and hydroflurocarbons are just some of the pollutants that pose a threat to the local environment and human health.

Bonus round: creates more jobs

The metal recycling industry both creates job opportunities and generates income, ultimately strengthening the Australian economy. It is estimated that metal recycling creates 36 times more jobs than incinerating scrap metal, and six times more than sending metal to landfill.

Metal Men Recycling are scrap metal buyers based in Melbourne. We offer fair prices for a wide range of metal and industrial scrap. To learn more about our capabilities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 03 5941 6677.