Do you always have to strip everything apart before selling it as scrap?
Short answer: Not always, because stripping can raise the price for some items, such as separating copper from heavy steel, but it also costs time, and for many items the extra money is small or the buyer will process it more cheaply than you can, so the answer is to strip only where the price difference is clear and the job is safe, and never to burn insulation or take apart items containing gas, batteries or other hazards.
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List Free →When stripping pays
Removing large pieces of a more valuable metal from a heavy item can lift the price, particularly if the pieces are easy to take off.
When it does not
Small gains from labour-intensive jobs rarely justify the time, and some items are processed far more efficiently by a buyer with the right equipment.
What never to do
Do not burn cable insulation or open sealed or pressurised items, since this is unsafe and in many places illegal.
How ScrapTrade Fits In
ScrapTrade buyers can price items whole, so you can compare selling as is against stripping first.
Facts beat folklore when you sell. ScrapTrade shows current prices and connects you with verified buyers, transparent weighing and escrow-protected payments.
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