When you go out scrap metal picking, there’s no knowing what treasures you might uncover. Whilst a stash of forgotten copper wire or an abandoned stainless steel kitchen sink might seem like the best you can hope for, there are some stories of junk pickers coming across valuable finds beyond their wildest dreams. This week, we take a look at three of the best.

A lost hammer and a Roman hoard

In 1992, a Suffolk farmer lost a hammer in one of his fields and asked Eric Lawes to recover it using his metal detector. Whilst the hammer was never recovered, Lawes did stumble across a Roman treasure trove consisting of 24 bronze, 565 gold, and 14, 191 silver coins as well as hundreds of gold and silver spoons, statues, and jewellery. By law, the Hoxne Hoard had to be turned over to the British Government, but they were legally required to pay a fair market price for the treasure, which turned out to be a tidy sum of around $2.8 Australian dollars.

 

A hole in the wall cover-up worth millions

Sometime during the 1980s and 1990s, and Indiana man bought a picture of some flowers from a junk shop to cover up a hole in his wall. Several years later he was playing a fine art auction board game called Masterpiece and was surprised to find a game card with a painting of flowers by 19^th century still life painter Martin Johnson Heade, which looked very similar to the artwork he had on his wall. The Kennedy Galleries in Manhattan subsequently verified the work as a previously undiscovered Heade, and in 1999 it was bought by the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston for US$1.2 million dollars.

15^th century gold found on a Sunday walk

Hertfordshire housewife Mary Hannaby spent 7 years’ worth of Sundays combing fields and beaches with a metal detector and never found anything more exciting than an old dental plate until 2009 when she uncovered a 15^th century gold religious pendant worth around $400,000 Australian dollars. Found just four feet below the ground in a field, the pendant is one of only three in the world.

Metal Men Recycling are established scrap metal buyers in Melbourne. To learn more about our capabilities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 03 5941 6677.

The conversation about global warming is becoming more and more prominent with the latest scientific research suggesting that it will be next to impossible to prevent a 1.5C temperature rise. Although much of the pollution in the world comes from heavy industry, efforts on the micro (individual) level are important to promote environmental consciousness and send a message to big polluters that we want change. This aside, for many people, the question of where to begin going greener can be a daunting one so this week, we put together three effortless ways you can make your lifestyle greener.

Set up recycling systems

One of the easiest things to do is to set up recycling systems in your home. Almost all Australians receive a regular recycling collection service, but bottles and newspapers aside, there is still a lot of recyclable things that end up in landfill. Begin by setting up a compost system at home. This is cheap, simple, takes up very little space, and will radically reduce the amount of waste you throw in the garbage bins.

Scrapping is of course another way to reduce the amount of household refuse that ends up in landfill. Every year, thousands of fridges, air conditioning units, washing machines, and other household whitegoods are thrown into landfill and this is ridiculous, as all of these things can be recycled for a profit. Start a can collection and cash it in at a scrap yard at the end of each month and if you do have a large metal item to throw away, call Metal Men, we offer scrap metal collection throughout Melbourne.

Get serious about flicking switches

This is really a no brainer but one we often forget about in our electronic filled lives. While most people are pretty good at turning off light switches before they leave a room, power points and ‘vampire’ electronics that draw energy whilst in standby mode can make up as much as 10% of your energy bill. So next time you finish using an appliance or electronic, turn it off at the power point to reduce the amount of fossil fuels you consume.

Read the label in the supermarket

Next time you’re in the supermarket, scan the labels of the products you put in your shopping trolley for palm oil. Hundreds of common supermarket items contain this ingredient, which is farmed in an unsustainable way and is responsible for widespread deforestation in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. If possible, vote with your wallet and make the switch to a product that is palm oil free.

 

Abundant, varied, and almost always free, there are a lot of characteristics of scrap metal which lend it credence as an artistic medium. Although artists have long used ‘found objects’ in their work, scrap metal sculpting is a relatively new and niche concept. This week, we take a look at four artists who are doing some incredible things with discarded metal scrap.

Source: http://www.johnlopezstudio.com/

John Lopez

South Dakota based John Lopez is a former bronze sculptor who uses discarded farm equipment to create sculptures which recall the romance of the wild west. His subjects include bison, Texan longhorn cattle, cowboys and of course horses.  Lopez says his favourite thing about working with scrap metal is the different textures the medium offers up, and the uniqueness of the final product.

Source: http://www.scrap-metal-art-thailand.com/

Scrap Metal Art Thailand

This Thailand based company has made a name for itself producing life sized movie characters such as Ironman, The Incredible Hulk, Predator and Alien as well as large scale animal sculptures including T-Rex, crocodiles, dragons, gorillas, fish, and giraffes. Scale is what this company specialises in, with some of their sculptures measuring up to 15 metres high.

Source: www. behance.net

John V. Wilhelm

By using a combination of traditional blacksmithing techniques and welding, Arizona based Wilhelm produces elegant outdoor sculptures which combine found objects such as discarded automotive and industrial parts railroad spikes with stone to create a raw, organic aesthetic. Wilhelm has been working with scrap metal since the 1970s and works in a range of other mediums including acrylic, ink, scratchboard etchings, and pencil.

Source: www.allnaturalarts.squarespace.com

Sue Beatrice

At the other end of the scale is artist Sue Beatrice, who creates miniature sculptures entirely out of broken watch parts. Often no more than a few centimetres in length, Beatrice creates dragons which can curl around your little finger and scenes which fit inside the face of an old pocket watch. Many of her designs are so intricate and delicate that they are worn as jewellery.

If you found this inspiring and think you might like to give scrap metal sculpting a try, Metal Men specialise in metal recycling in Melbourne and can set you up with all of the materials you’ll beed. To learn more about our capabilities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 03 5941 6677.

If you are new to the world of scrap metal collecting, it can take a while to learn about the various factors which affect the value of your haul. This week, we address the most common cause of metal deterioration, rust.

What is Rust?

Also known as iron oxide, rust is formed as a result of what is known as the redox reaction between oxygen and iron when exposed to moisture and air. Over time, any iron containing metal will corrode and disintegrate.

When oxygen combines with metal at the atomic level, oxide is formed and this weakens the bonds of the metal. Although to the human eye, exposed metal appears solid, it is actually covered in tiny pits and cracks, which water molecules can penetrate.

What kinds of materials are affected by rust?

The red oxide that we typically think of as rust affects iron and iron alloys such as steel. Many other metals can be affected by corrosion, but the oxides they produce are not recognised as rust.

Does it devalue metal?

Because rust compromises the chemical structure of metal, it affects its recyclability and therefore its value. Whilst superficial rust stains are unlikely to take much value away from the metal and can be buffed off before processing, friable (crumbling) rust tends to indicate that the rust has penetrated beyond the surface, and seriously compromised the metal structure. When friable rust is present, most metal becomes worthless.

Are there any hazards associated with rust?

Corrosion degrades metal on a molecular level, and compromises the structural integrity of buildings, bridges, and other civil structures. Rust not only weakens metal, as it has a much higher volume than iron, it tends to build up and shift adjacent parts via a process known as rust packing.

The rough surface which rust creates is also prime habitat for a bacterium known as Clostridium tetani which causes tetanus. For this reason, it’s crucial that scrap metal collectors wear protective clothing when collecting rusted scrap.

Can it be removed?

If the rust is superficial, there are dozens of different methods you can use to  remove it. However, once the rust penetrates deeper into the metal, it can only be removed by physically cutting or beating away the damaged area.

Metal Men specialise in metal recycling in Melbourne. To learn more about our prices, or to order a pickup, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 03 5941 6677.

If you’re thinking of dabbling in a little bit of garage spring cleaning this weekend, then you should definitely read this article before you decide to throw anything away. Whilst it can be incredibly satisfying to purge your home of old things and embrace the new, this mentality is wasteful and ultimately unsustainable. Although most metal tools are inexpensive and easy to replace, that doesn’t mean you should buy a new spanner every time the DIY season rolls around. This week, we take a look at how you can save your old metal tools from landfill and give them a new lease on life.

Sharpen

One of the most common reasons that tools fall into disuse is because they grow dull and are put aside. Whilst tool sharpening is not really something you can do at home, it’s substantially less expensive than buying new tools and most hardware stores offer the service. Aim to have your cutting tools sharpened on a yearly basis to prevent them growing dull.

Remove Rust

Rust removal on the other hand, is incredibly easy to do and can be managed with a harmless mixture of lemon juice and salt. The salt is an abrasive and the acidic lemon juice cuts through the corrosion, so all you need to do is leave the mixture on for a few minutes and then gently buff it off.

Grease

Lubrication keeps the moving parts of tools smooth and functional, even if you haven’t used them for a while, and it also helps to prevent moisture damage. Whilst there are plenty of commercial tool lubrication options on the market, wiping down your tools with a little bit of coconut oil after each time you use them will work just as well.

Store

Most of the damage done to tools occurs when they are improperly stored, so it pays to take the time to devise a proper storage system. Hand tools should be stored in a dry place and off the floor, to prevent moisture and rust. Something like a pegboard is an ideal place to store your tools, they are also cheap and easy to make.

Metal Men Recycling offer metal recycling in Melbourne and take in all sorts of scrap, so if it so happens that you are unable to revive your old metal tools, we are more than happy to take them off your hands. To learn more about our capabilities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 03 5941 6677.

Although scrap metal collecting can be a very lucrative pastime, it does have its drawbacks. Working with older metal parts can be a hazardous occupation and if you’re serious about turning a profit from your scrapping habit, it’s imperative that you are thoroughly versed in the various hazards and safety precautions. This week, we take a look at four key hazards associated with metal collection.

Spiders and snakes

Australia is renown for it’s unique array of poisonous creatures, and even in urban areas, you need to be careful when lifting and sorting through piles of metal refuse, as they are the perfect place for snakes and spiders to hide. Victoria is home to plenty of poisonous snakes and spiders including tiger and brown snakes, as well as red back and funnel web spiders. Avoid a trip to the hospital by always wearing gloves, full length clothing, and proper protective footwear when sorting through metal.

Rust

If you’re on the lookout for disused metal items, chances are you’re going to be working with a lot of rust. The textured surface of rust is a prime breeding ground for the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which causes tetanus, so it’s crucial to make sure your tetanus shots are up to date before you go out scrapping.

Chemical substances

Old industrial machinery and materials can be a fantastic source of metal, but scrap salvaged from these areas is often contaminated with poisonous or corrosive chemicals, which could cause you serious damage if they come in contact with bare skin. Chemical burns and injuries are incredibly common when dealing with scrap, but they can be easily avoided by wearing proper protective clothing and thoroughly cleaning any areas of skin that do come in contact with contaminated surfaces.

Strains

To make a profit from collecting scrap, you really need to be bringing it in by the ton, and if you’re working with large pieces of metal, there is a significant risk of physical injury. Avoid straining yourself by bringing along a friend to help you with the heavy lifting as well as bending your knees and keeping a straight back when lifting something from the ground.

Metal Men Recycling offer scrap metal collection in Melbourne. To learn more about our capabilities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 03 5941 6677.

Now that spring is less than a week away, you’ve probably turned your thoughts to getting your home or business ready for the busy summer months, and that means spring cleaning. Make spring 2016 the year you finally get rid of that bulky junk cluttering up your garage or backyard by getting proactive and investigating how to dispose of them in a responsible, environmentally sustainable manner. To help you on your quest to consciously restore order to your property, we run through 5 non-metal related things you can recycle at our Melbourne location.

Caravans

Whilst a caravan might have seemed like a good idea 20 years ago when the kids were little and plane flights were expensive it’s now a bulky and deteriorating eyesore in your backyard. Getting rid of a caravan can be difficult, particularly if you have an older model with outdated fittings, but instead of spending money on disposal services or resigning to illegally dumping it, you can give the materials in your old caravan a second life by recycling it with us. We accept both fibreglass and aluminium caravans and offer scrap metal collection all over Melbourne.

PVC

Every Melbourne homeowner has some PVC piping, tubing, or guttering offcuts wasting away in their garage, but it doesn’t have to go to landfill. We accept all kinds of PVC products in whatever quantity as you happen to have.

Compressors

If you happen to have some unused or broken compressors lying around your home or workplace, then you can save them from landfill by recycling them with us. We accept compressors and compressor parts in all states of wear.

Car batteries

The lead acid in car batteries is extremely hazardous and has an enormous environmental impact if it is disposed of in landfill. However, it is possible to recycle many of the components in a car battery and retrieve most of the lead used.

Machinery

Broken machinery is one of the most common types of flotsam you come across in the humble suburban garage, but it’s easy to give things like these a second life through recycling. Whether you have a busted band saw or a rusted tractor, we accept all types of metal machinery.

To learn more about our capabilities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 03 5941 6677.

It’s always a bonus to make a few extra dollars by trading in your old metal scrap, but if you want to get serious about turning a profit on a semi regular basis in this way, you need to develop a strategy that extends beyond collecting up your household’s metal waste. This week, we offer a few tips on how you can take your scrap metal selling to the next level and make some serious cash.

Prioritise valuable metals

Whilst that big pile of old iron sheeting you’ve collected together might look like it’s worth a pretty penny, size really doesn’t mean much in the world of scrap metal and you’re probably not going to end up with much more than a ten dollar note for your efforts. Any scrap collector worth their salt knows that the real money lies in hunting down more valuable and less abundant metals like copper and brass. Although these tend to take more work to obtain, they can be worth literally 50 times more than more common metals like aluminium, iron, and stainless steel.

Stay abreast of the latest scrap prices

Just like everything on the market, scrap prices fluctuate and are subject to supply and demand. It’s worth keeping an eye on the current prices in your local area keeping them in mind when you go to trade in so that you can negotiate a fair deal.

Befriend your local tradies

If you want to develop a consistent income stream from selling scrap, then you really need to branch out beyond chance finds and your own household scrap. The best way to do this is by joining forces with local tradesmen such as plumbers, electricians and HVAC technicians who frequently remove scrap metal as part of their job. Construction companies and medical care service centres like retirement homes, assisted living centres, medical clinics and doctor’s offices also have an abundance of scrap metal that you could offer to take remove for free.

Understand metal grading systems

Most types of metal you come across fall into different grades depending on their purity, and whether or not the buyer is going to have to treat them in any way in order to return the metal to a useable state. Reading up on the different grades of metal and their relative values can help you be more discerning about the places you go to look for metal and what you choose to collect.

If you’re committed to the idea of earning cash for scrap metal, then it’s well worth choosing metal men as your go-to scrap buyers. We accept all kinds of scrap metal and promise fair and competitive prices.

One of the most common elements in the universe and used in every industry on earth, it’s little wonder that steel is one of the most abundant metals in our Pakenham scrap yard. This week, to celebrate the importance of steel in our modern world, we’ve come up with 10 interesting things we guarantee you didn’t know about steel.

1. 5 million steel cans are recycled in Australia every week

That’s enough to build 900 new cars but despite this, steel can recycling rates in Australia are very low at just 30.3.%. This is less than half the aluminium can recycling rate.

2. Recycling steel as as opposed to manufacturing it from raw materials is about 75% more energy efficient

Recycling a tonne of steel saves 633kg of coal, 54kg of limestone, and 1131 kg of iron ore.

3. Steel was being manufactured as far back as 4,000 years ago

During the antique period, steel produced in a clay smelting furnace or crucible. T­­he earliest ironware ever discovered dates back to 1800 BC. However, before the age of smelting, iron from meteorites was used to build weapons, tools, and cultural objects.

4. There is a species of deep sea snail that has iron sulphide ‘chainmail’ on its shell

The only known animal to use iron sulphide as a skeletal material, the purpose of the ‘samurai’ snail’s armour is to repel predators.

5. Steel is 1,000 times stronger than iron

It can be recycled over and over again without deteriorating. In fact, steel aged up to 150 years without losing any of it’s original strength.

6. Steel is the second largest industry in the world

It has a US$900 billion annual turnover, which puts it only second to oil and gas. Japan, China and the United States are the leading producers of steel.

7. Ned Kelly’s armour was made entirely out of iron

The Kelly Gang pilfered mould boards for plough shares and used a bush forge to bend them into the four iron suits they wore during their shootout. The armour was a quarter of an inch thick and weighed around 44 kilograms.

8. Brass is stronger than iron

However, the Bronze Age gave way to the Iron Age because iron is much easier to work with.

9. Steel is a finite resource

Some estimates suggest that there is less than a century worth of iron to produce steel with. Once steel runs out on earth, we may have to look at extra-terrestrial sources

10. Steel was the material used to fabricate the first prosthetic arm in 1504

The prosthesis was for a knight, and could supposedly grip both a feather and a sword with it.

Metal Men Recycling are established scrap metal buyers in Melbourne. We accept all types of scrap metal as well as car batteries. To learn more about our services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 03 5941 6677.

Metal inventions have played a fundamental role in shaping the modern world that we live in today. This week, we look at the history of one of the simplest, yet most influential metal inventions of the 19^th century, barbed wire.

1. The modern barbed wire design was first patented by Joseph Glidden in 1873. Legend has it that Glidden was coaxed into the idea by his wife Lucinda, who wanted a way to enclose their garden. The patented design was nicknamed ‘The Winner’, for a year after it’s creation.

 

2. Barbed wire quickly became a popular way of defining land rights in the American West, as prior to it’s invention it was hard to contain cattle and enforce land ownership. Historians often single out barbed wire as the ‘invention that tamed the West’.

 

3. However, barbed wire got rid of ‘the law of the open range’ in the West where cattle could roam free and access food and water, and cowboys could drive them to larger cities for sale and export. This caused tension between cattlemen and farmers and resulted in cattlemen forming fence cutting gangs.

 

4. The invention of barbed wire also played a key role in the extinction of the buffalo population, as it reduced their access to grazing land. This in turn disrupted the Native American way of life that involved following the seasonal migration of the buffalo.

 

5. Some nicknames for barbed wire include ‘the devil’s rope’, ‘bob wire’ or ‘bobbed wire’.

6. In the early days of telephone technology, barbed wire fences were used as telephone wires in rural areas. In 1907, 18,000 independent telephone cooperatives were serving a million and a half people in rural areas around America through barbed wire telephone connections.

7. Barbed wire was first used in a military context during the Spanish-American War by both the Spanish and President Roosevelt’s volunteer cavalry as a defensive tactic. It wasn’t until World War I that barbed wire was used as a weapon in trench warfare.

Metal Men Recycling offer cash for scrap metal in Melbourne and accept all different types and grades of scrap, including barbed wire. To learn more about our services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 03 5941 6677.

Once you take an interest in the value of scrap metal, you’ll find yourself assessing all sorts of things for their scrap value. This week, we take a hypothetical approach to the business of scrap metal collecting, by assessing four iconic steel and iron structures for their scrap value.

Eiffel Tower

Known to locals as ‘La Dame de Fer’ (the Iron Lady), the Eiffel Tower has watched over the vibrant streets of Paris since 1889 when it was constructed as France’s entrance to the world fair. Architect Gustave Eiffel elected to build the tower out of wrought iron to prove that metal is just as strong as stone, just lighter. The tower is made of 7,300 tons of wrought iron and in Australia, iron fetches between $0.08 and $0.16 per kilo, so if you had the opportunity to scrap this iconic Parisian landmark, it would net you somewhere in the vicinity of $8.7 million dollars.

Golden Gate Bridge

This suspension bridge contains about 88,000 tons of steel which makes up about 10% of it’s total weight. Most of the steel was used in constructing the two main cables, which are the largest ever spun and contain enough wire to encircle the earth and the equator over three times. In Australia, the price for steel is relatively high and ranges between $0.75 and $2.00 per kilo, so the scrap value of San Francisco’s beloved Golden Gate Bridge would be about $114 million Australian dollars.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

An elegant steel landmark in our own backyard, Sydney Harbour Bridge is made up of 53,000 tons of steel, most of which was used to construct its iconic arc shape. Constructed in 1932, most of the steel (79%) had to be imported from England, with the rest being sourced locally. If we ever wanted to do away with this classic piece of Australian architecture, it would bet around $69 million Australian dollars in scrap value.

The Titanic

Indisputably the most famous maritime tragedy of the 20^th century, the Titanic was the largest ship ever built at the time and was ironically proclaimed to be unsinkable. 24,000 tonnes of steel were used to build the hull of the ship, with another 1500 tonnes used to make rivets. However, the steel used in the construction of the ship was inferior by modern standards and up to 10 times more brittle than the steel used to construct modern ships. From a scrapper’s perspective, this would put the scrap value of the steel substantially lower than the standard price. Add to this the significant corrosion from spending the last 104 years at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean, and the bacteria eating away at the metal, chances are you’d get next to nothing if you bothered to dredge up the Titanic and take it to your local scrap yard. In fact, scientists predict that the Titanic will be no more that a rusty stain on the ocean floor in 15-20 years’ time.

Metal Men Recycling are established scrap metal buyers in Melbourne. We accept all grades of steel scrap and guarantee a fair price. To learn more please call 03 5941 6677.

This week, we take a closer look at one of the most common scrap metals to be found around our yard; aluminium. Used in everything from soft drink cans to aeroplane engines, aluminium has a versatility that few other metals can compete with and in this article, we uncover eight interesting facts hidden in the history of aluminium.

1. The word ‘aluminium’ comes from the word ‘alum’

Alum is a Latin word that means ‘bitter salt’ referring to the crystalized double sulphates where alum is found in it’s natural state.

2. Aluminium was not discovered until the 19^th century

Although ‘alum’, an aluminium based salt was used throughout ancient times, aluminium itself does not occur in it’s pure form naturally, and requires both electricity and an advanced understanding of chemistry to produce. Because of this, aluminium was produced in it’s purest form for the first time in 1845.

3. It was originally treated as a precious metal

Due to it’s silvery appearance and relative newness, aluminium was initially expensive and used for luxury items. In fact, the first aluminium products were war medals made during the reign of Napoleon III.

4. Aluminium played a crucial role in the development of aviation

In the early 20^th century, it was aluminium’s lightweight properties what allowed Wilbur and Orville Wright to build an engine both powerful enough to propel an aeroplane, and light enough to enable it to become airborne.

5. Aluminium foil was invented in 1907

Chocolatiers were one of the first groups to use this technology on an industrial scale. In 1911, Theodor Tobler started to use the foil to package his new chocolate bar, the Toblerone.

6. The first aluminium can was produced in 1958

This technology was developed in the UAW as a collaboration between an aluminium company and a beverage company who used the cans to sell beer. Coca-Cola and Pepsi did not begin to sell drinks in a can until 1967.

7. China is the world’s largest producer of aluminium

Although Russia had been the largest primary aluminium producer in the world since the 1960s, the changing political landscape in the country meant that production slowed heading into the 21^st century. In 2002, China exceeded Russia’s aluminium production, with all aluminium produced being used internally.

8. About two thirds of aluminium ever produced is still used today

This is due to aluminium’s highly recyclable nature which enables it to be repurposed over and over again without degrading. Impressively, most aluminium cans are part of a ‘closed loop recycling’ process (where the object is recycled and remade as the same thing again) and takes just 90 days from the point of recycling to return to the supermarket shelves.

Metal Men are established scrap metal buyers based in Melbourne. To learn more about our capabilities, please get in touch with us by calling 03 5941 6