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What Is Prepared Scrap Metal?

When scrap metal is referred to as being ‘prepared’, it means that it has been cut to a certain length, as determined by the particular dealer and the type of metal that it is. Many dealers prefer to buy scrap that has been ‘prepared’ because it makes their job of recycling much easier; many sellers prefer to ‘prepare’ their supplies before selling because they can get a better price for it.

• Make sure that you thoroughly clean the scrap. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to remove dirt and grease; it means that you have to remove any other materials from the surface of the object that you wish to sell (like nuts, bolts and nails).
• Sort your metal according to its type and grade. Copper, for example, is sorted into two categories - #1 is solid copper with little corrosion and #2 is at least 95% copper and no corrosion. Aluminium is sorted into five categories – cans, sheet (clean and dirty), and extrusion (clean and dirty).
• Contact scrap metal dealers in your area to ask them what their current rates are for the materials that you wish to sell. Keep in mind that prices are constantly changing, so you should take the metal into the dealer as soon as possible to ensure that price.

By selling ‘prepared’ scrap metal you are ensuring that you will get the best price possible for your troubles. At the end of the day, it doesn’t take too long to clean the metal supplies that you’re hoping to profit from, nor does it take too long to sort it according to its type and grade. Remember that this will help you to get a great price for your scrap.