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What is Scrap Metal?

 

Ferrous

These metals are magnetic, and are generally heavier than most non ferrous metals.
Some of the most common grades of ferrous metals that are handled by Commercial Metals Ltd are described as follows:

Grade	Description	Examples
Cast Iron	Items that have been cast from a furnace	Brake drums, manifold, storm cover gratings, roller rings
Heavy Steel	Steel greater than 5mm in thickness	Railway iron, plate steel, old machinery, construction steel
Lightgrade Steel	Steel less than 5mm in thickness	Roofing iron, ducting, drums, spouting
Ferrous Inorganic	Products consisting mostly of light grade metals	Whiteware, car bodies

Non ferrous

These metals are non magnetic and generally lighter than ferrous metals. They are typically more valuable than ferrous metals. There are numerous grades of nonferrous metals, including aluminium, copper, brass, stainless steel and lead. The most common products handled by Commercial Metals are described as follows:
 

Grade	Description	Examples
ALUMINIUM
Cast	Heavy, dense aluminium which has been cast into moulds	Mag wheels, drain covers, gear box housings
Clip	Flat sheet aluminium
Domestic	Mixed aluminium products	Pots and pans, registration plates, corrugated roofing
Extrusion	Aluminium which has been extruded through a die	Window frames, channel, box section
Irony	Aluminium containing steel with a minimum aluminium content of 50%	Brake boosters, cylinder heads, vehicle water pumps
Swarf	Aluminium turnings
Cans	New and used aluminium cans
Ali (mag) wheels	Clean, uncoated aluminium auto wheels	Steel, valve stems and wheel weights should be removed.

 

COPPER
Domestic	Copper based products containing various other nonferrous metals in nominal amounts	Water cylinders, spouting, toilet cisterns, sheet copper, downpipes, kettles, boilers, foil
Grade 2	Uncoated oxidized copper products free of welds and fittings. These products are typically thinned walled	Piping, sheet off cuts
Grade 1	Copper which is both clean and bright and uncoated	Consists of clean unalloyed copper solids may inclde clean, oxidized or coated (plated) copper clippings, punchings, bus bars, commutator segments, clean oxidized copper pipe or tubing free of excessive solder and light gauge clean, oxidized or coated (plated) copper wire but free of fine gauge hair wire.
Sealed Motors	Sealed electric compressor motors	Refrigerators and freezers
Large Electric Motors	Electric motors and large copper coil windings from motors	Larger than 1 horsepower in size
Fractional Electric Motors	Electric motors and small copper coil windings from motors	Less than 1 horsepower in size

 

BRASS
Mixed	Brass of varied appearance in weight and colour (though typically yellow)	Fittings, taps, piping
Swarf	Brass turnings
C&F Metals	Cocks & faucets - consists of mixed clean red & yellow brass plumbing cocks and faucets	Includes nickel/chrome plated parts, must be free of zinc die cast & aluminium parts.

 

STAINLESS STEEL
Solids	The hardest of all nonferrous metals, usually shiny in appearance and difficult to scratch or make an impression on.	Bench tops, sinks, shower trays.
Swarf	Stainless Steel turnings

 

LEAD
Solids	Lead products which are both soft and hard in nature, although generally pliable or easily dented	Flashing, sinkers, piping
Batteries	Batteries containing lead acid (does not include dry cell batteries)	Sources from automotive vehicles and other machinery
Wheel Weights	Lead wheel balancing weights	May contain steel clips

 

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