Scrap Iron vs Recycle

The King and our grandson have
been on a hunt for a truck bed for the
grandson's truck. The one he has ...has
so much rust, there is no repair to it.

So like every American guy or guys, they
called around to Spokane junkyards. And
was told of one at You Pull it... but when
they got there the next day... it turn out
it was in the "do not touch area" (where
police still have an interest in it and haven't
release it) So they checked every junkyard
from Spokane, Cda, Hayden, Garwood and
here in town. Nothing.

The King headed out yesterday and at each
place he found the truck box, he was a day
or two late. They had been smashed for scrap
iron. Time after time. Place after place. Why?
Because scrap iron is selling so high, the
yards can get more for the scrap iron prices,
than parting them out. The King came home
deflated. Couldn't believe the cars that were
marked for scrap..as new as 2003.

The good news was, that just a mere 4 blocks
from here at Auto Alley, way in the back.. there
was the magic box and at a reasonable price.

The King had heard that scarp iron was selling for
$400 a ton. I could not believe this, as I use to be
in the scrap iron business ( we smashed and hauled
cars for 8 years) in 1970's. My deceased husband and I.
In fact we got out of it because the price had dropped
to $8 a ton. Standing on top of the cab of the hauler,
while my husband brought over a car to the truck, and
I lining it up with the others, motioning to him to drop
it...with only headlights of my pickup for light...was just
not worth it any more. So we sold out. 2 years later it
was selling for $38 a ton. We were amazed.

If Marvin was still alive, he would be blown over by
now. As I went on line today to just see what I could
see. And here is the list...
GRADES .

Whole Prepared Car Bodies
62.25
103.75
ton
USD
Flattened Car Bodies
74.70
124.50
ton
USD
Green Car Bodies
149.40
249.00
ton
USD
Unclean Motor Blocks
166.00
207.50
ton
USD
Clean Motor Blocks
332.00
415.00
ton
USD
Automotive Cast Iron Scrap
332.00
415.00
ton
USD
Scrap Steel Wheel Rims
249.00
332.00
ton
USD
Scrap Aluminum Wheels
0.70
0.90
lbs
USD
Unclean Auto Radiators
0.55
1.09
lbs
USD
Clean Auto Radiators
0.77
1.28
lbs
USD
Heater Core Scrap
0.46
0.91
lbs
USD
Aluminum Auto Rads
0.25
0.41
lbs
USD
Whole Scrap Auto Transmissions
0.14
0.28
lbs
USD
Irony Aluminum Scrap
0.16
0.32
lbs
USD
Irony Zinc Diecast Scrap
0.18
0.37
lbs
USD
Irony Magnesium Scrap
0.68
1.36
lbs
USD
Scrap Lead Wheel Weights
0.27
0.45
lbs
USD
Scrap Lead/Acid Batteries
0.11
0.18
lbs
USD
Scrap Catalytic Converters (assorted sizes)
37.33
62.12
each
USD
LTL= prices refers to the over the scale value of misc.
quantities of materials.. Less than Truck Load quantity
refers to weights of less than 40,000 lbs
TL = prices refer to sorted and prepared materials
packaged and ready for shipment
And those of you how took off your Catalytic Convertor
after you came to Idaho (required in some states) well
those prices go from $26 to $130 each...

So when you crumble up that fender or bumper? Don't
necessarily think you can just go to the junkyard and
replace it... because it might have been already smashed.

And if you have a couple of junkers or more in the back
yard or field, and your wife has been bugging you to get
rid of them? Well, now is the time to get rid of them...
There is a unit in Spokane that will come to your house
and smash it right there and haul it away...

Happy 40th birthday, Mr. B and Wounded Moose...