So many people these days are looking for ways to earn a little extra cash. The gig economy in America is booming, but it’s not all roses. Folks driving for ride sharing companies, delivering food, or charging electric scooters put in a lot of work for small returns. They end up feeling like they’ve wasted a lot of time and effort making large companies richer. It’s led a lot of people to reassess what they want out of a side job. More and more they’re searching for how to turn a hobby or something fun into a small money-making venture. Metal scrapping is a great way people who love working with their hands can learn a skill and make some cash.
You Can Make it Work if You’ve Got the Space
Scrapping metal frequently involves taking apart large appliances to separate out valuable copper wires or brass pipes. You’re going to need a place other than the front lawn to store all those appliances and break them apart. A garage is a great place to start a DIY scrapping operation. Park the cars in the driveway so you can put your metal haul inside where it won’t upset the neighbors. Separating ferrous and non-ferrous materials can take time, especially for beginners. Take your time, though, it can be a lot of fun as you learn the ins and outs of different machines.
The Setup
A great garage scrapping setup will make work easy. The basics of any garage operation include a nice work bench, tool storage and bins for metal sorting and storing. If you’re targeting specific, more valuable metals like copper and brass, then you’ll need fewer bins. As you break down appliances you can separate out metals you want to sell for scrap and then toss everything else into garbage bins. However, once you get a sorting process down, it’s easy to add more tubs and bins to hold cheaper metals like crushed aluminum cans and steel parts. Keeping a garage scrapping workshop orderly should be your top priority.
A few basic tools will get you started scrapping. Appliances are built to last, so breaking them down isn’t easy. Your garage is going to need a bench vice, a sledgehammer, wire cutters and a cordless drill. Tougher items may require a Sawzall and an angle grinder. If you’re going all in, buy a nice powerful air compressor with an air chisel and other accessories. Don’t forget about magnets. Magnets help you know if the metal you’re handling is ferrous or non-ferrous. If the metal doesn’t stick to the magnet, then it’s a good bet it’s non-ferrous metal like copper or brass.
Good Hunting
Once you start, you’ll discover there’s a community of scrappers who love sharing tips and tricks of the trade. You’ll begin to find your spots as you go out hunting for scrap, and that occasional big score will give you a nice rush. Metal scrapping is a fun way to earn a little side money as you release some stress banging around in your garage.
