Different Grades of Aluminum Scrap - Sheet, 6061, Dirty, & More

[@sharkscrapper]

Tom - it's great that you're posting these informative vids. A lot of us had to learn this the hard way. Fortunately, my yards are great with helping people learn. That's not always the case around the country, making your vids very valuable.

[@iScrapApp]

Stick with that yard then! Always nice to find a yard that will talk and work with you... thank you for watching!

[@DieterSoegemeier]

For a growing metal recycler this is valuable information. Thank you

[@iScrapApp]

You are welcome!

[@MiguelPushagua]

Is painted cast aluminum a different grade than clean cast Aluminum?

[@wolfmanjackal1427]

Thanks for the reminder

[@iScrapApp]

You are so welcome

[@shaneyork300]

VERY GOOD VIDEO!! Excellent information here and thank you for putting this video out!! Have a Great Day My Friend!!!

[@iScrapApp]

Thanks for watching!!

[@diymaster101]

This video is very valuable thank you 👍🏾

[@iScrapApp]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kentneumann5209]

How do i tell the difference between the 7075 and 6061 if it isn't marked as such? Also, what is the price difference between the two different types?

[@iScrapApp]

Likely won't be able to tell without an analyzer.

[@cuscrapping]

And don't clean your product once you are in line to weigh. Be considerate and have your stuff cleaned and sorted so you're not holding up others!

[@iScrapApp]

Absolutely 🙌 we always suggest cleaning prior to coming to the yard

[@lenscap8925]

Informative video, you didn't hit on the one thing I am finding in transformers...Aluminum wire. What is it classified as? I was under the impression this is very hi-grade material, but seems to be discarded as cheap material. Is it easier to just throw it in as irony aluminum/mixed metal?

[@iScrapApp]

Well, for instance, at Rockaway Recycling, we buy clean aluminum wire for $0.72/lb. So yes, not exactly the most valuable material, but you can still make some extra money on it.

[@silverking4281]

Aliminum wire is good wire but most transformer wires do have lacquer on them unless it's copper it is worth cleaning

[@Stoney47]

can paint be on clean alunminum?

[@iScrapApp]

Yes, but you will get a different grading/price for it

[@GRSG]

This is great info. Can anyone point me towards the type of scrap aluminum that is cast with impurities such as steel, nickel, etc. You know the type of aluminum from cast engine blocks, rads etc? The stuff that might end up in landfills.

[@iScrapApp]

Tons of places, auto yards, patio sets etc!

[@Luck3257]

What about if you melted it down into bars for casting. What would it be then?

[@bigchills7194]

@@Luck3257 not accepted at most yards. No telling by the yard what is inside the ingot or how it is cast. Save time and money by not doing it

[@silverking4281]

I just got in 5000 lb of coper wire I am cleaning copper has gone down should I sell as i clean it or will it go back up also peru and chille will raise copper mining tax does that mean that copper will go up even more especially for us urban miners

[@nescrapper4023]

All the yards i deal with allow 2 percent steel in cast

[@usupercarsa]

what is the last scrap called？

[@TheMrEric12]

The last one was a rain gutter

[@jopaul32]

Thanks... I still have NO clue how to identify different grades?!

[@iScrapApp]

Thanks for watching. Check out this blog post and video for more info. Hope it helps: iscrapapp.com/blog/5-types-grades-of-different-aluminum-scrap/

[@scotthoward4836]

So painted is also dirty?

[@iScrapApp]

Yes it can be

[@4CarbideGaming]

is that a Jeeps 4.0 water pump

[@sojourner1511]

Thanks Tom, great info. What about various aluminum cans. Not soda/beer cans. But such as Tuna, cat food, sardine cans etc. etc.? Thanks again.

[@iScrapApp]

Generally, they would also be aluminum and the only real test you could do at home is the magnet test. However, scrap yards may have analyzers and you could probably bring it to your local one (if they have it- call first) and have them verify it for you

[@cricketman7335]

I think what sojourner was asking was, for non-soda/beer food cans that ARE aluminum, like Friskies cat food cans, Hormel Ham cans/containers, Vienna Sausage cans, etc., what grade or classification would those fall under? Of course the paper labeling needs to be removed to be considered clean, I assume anyways.

[@copperraccoon]

Soda/beer cans are UBC (Used Beverage Cans), but cat food / seafood cans / take out food containers will generally go as mixed / domestic aluminum (or other words, whatever your local yard calls its lowest grade of clean aluminum).

[@DieterSoegemeier]

This info was great and helps me clasify my scrap better for profit, Dieter from CPT Trust in Brisbane Australia.

[@iScrapApp]

Happy to help!

[@paulcoenen7918]

The Alter metals yard near me pays less for aluminum breakage or ironyaluminum than they do for scrap steel. Not sure how that works but they are not very helpful when giving advice and very quick to down grade for the tiniest about of contamination. They do seem to pay better than most yards for everything but scrap steel.

[@iScrapApp]

Contaminated products have less of demand because not as many aluminum or steel mills want to deal with them. Many of these go overseas.

[@arielkozak]

Fun tip, I get a sledge hammer and crack the aluminum off any iron still attached to make it clean

[@iScrapApp]

Great tip! Easy and simple way to make some more money

[@CuSTACKS]

How do you know if I gave you dirty metal such as aluminum with steel screws if I have a few hundred pounds unless you go through it one by one which would take all day and I would be just 1 customer.

[@iScrapApp]

At our yard, Rockaway Recycling, we would classify it as dirty. We like to believe that our customers would be honest and not require them to sort through each piece, but I'm sure there are plenty of yards who feel differently and would make you sort.

[@kentneumann5209]

A few hundred pounds of aluminum vs a few steel screws... If it's a successful scrap yard, (and I think they probably all are) they are going to be too busy to notice or care. The amount of weight of the steel screws is negligible in comparison to the aluminum. You have to balance the value of your time involved in cleaning your scrap vs the clean/dirty value of the metal. Along with that is, how fussy is your buyer and what kind of long term relationship do you want to have with them? They will generally look for any reason to downgrade your metal because that increases their profits. Learn your metal grades, separate and clean accordingly, and don't try to cheat your buyer, unless they are cheating you first.

[@mysterybuyer3738]

They just weigh all my aluminum together even if I separate it.

[@iScrapApp]

Have you asked them why?

[@mysterybuyer3738]

@@iScrapApp It's what they do around here. Scrap yards come and go. They all have always had one price for anything clean aluminum. They have said it was because of the market ( I think they mean the local weak market ) They have to truck this stuff to the bay area of California to do anything with it. Couple hundred mile trip.