Many of the metal products manufactured in this country have a considerable percentage of recycled materials in them. Moreover, when these products reach the end of their life spans, nearly all of the constituent metal can be recycled again. Therefore, scrap metal yards play an important role in sustainable business. Below is a look at some of the essential tools needed to make this happen.

A Guide to the Tools Needed to Scrap Metal

1. Magnet

One of the first steps in metal scrapping is to identify ferrous (iron-containing) metals and non-ferrous metals. The quickest way to do that is to use a magnet. Magnets attract metals like iron, nickel, and cobalt. However, most metals, including copper, silver, gold, magnesium, platinum, and aluminum, do not react to magnetic fields. The more effectively you sort ferrous from non-ferrous materials, the less sorting the scrap yard will need to do, so they will often pay you more for your scrap metal.

2. Reciprocating Saw

A cordless reciprocating saw is essential for sorting scrap metal. Many products contain combinations of different metals, and a reciprocating saw lets you separate them and place them in different piles. For instance, you might need to remove aluminum fins from a steel housing or disassemble an old refrigerator or stove. The reciprocating saw is portable, effective, and indispensable. If you use one, have extra blades and batteries available.

3. Hand Truck

A hand truck gives leverage for moving large loads of scrap metal. It saves time and effort and reduces the possibility of back injuries. Professionals will bring ratchet straps to tie town appliances and other oversized objects. They will use buckets for smaller items and protective gloves and footwear to guard against injuries. 

If you need to recycle or scrap metal, contact Metalico Rochester, the premier scrap yard in Upstate New York. They serve clients in and around Monroe County and specialize in metal recycling, used car parts, and computer recycling. Visit their website to connect with them online, or call (585) 436-0713 to arrange a metal scrapping appointment.