Scrap metal query

gollum007

Just been dismantling the remains of my ex boiler
Out of this I've got about 2kg or so of copper pipes, about 5kg of random brass bits and a couple of aluminium heat exchangers.
Obviously, this isn't going to amount to a great deal, but a few queries-
1. Any point finding a hacksaw and removing a few brass nuts and push fit thingys from the copper?
2. How much of the plastic and associated other bits do I want to remove from the brass? I've removed everything that unscrews/ unbolts, but there are other bits that will come out with varying degrees of difficulty.
3. Are the heat exchangers worth anything much? I know copper is, but what about alu (At least I *think* they're alu).

I've also got a rather rusty steel radiator- Again is this worth anything? Not listed above as this will be an utter pain to get on the back of a pushbike, but I'll do it if it's worth something

-Gollum

booty40uk

Hi

I always strip our old boilers down and seperate the brass from the copper. It makes a fair bit of difference over time, but i am talking about 30 or so boilers. One might not make that much difference.

Are you sure the heat exchangers are aluminium?? I, make sure first as that will make a good difference.

Radiator wont be worth much at all but it all adds up.

HTH

Andy

mcjordi

i would take the plastic off.. my local scrap merchant has a separate price for "mixed" copper ie brass and copper..

gollum007

Nowhere near certain, but they're not copper or anything magnetic.
Pretty light considering the size too.
Edit: A bit of Googling on the part numbers says alu. Not certain mind-
Any better way to tell than trying with a magnet?

Boiler was an Ariston Eurocombi A23MFFI for what that's worth.
Drawing the line at the boiler casing, that seems like far too much effort.

My current major problem is that I don't have a spanner big enough to separate the pump body from the pipework it's attached to. Going to end up hacksawing it off I think
The nutter pushing a bike with a rad on the back tommorow looks like it'll be me

-Gollum

phill99

If I get an old boiler I always dismantle it.

The heat exchangers are either stainless steel (£1.50 / kilo) or braize (£3.00/kilo). Braize is technically copper with other metals attached. Many heat exchangers are copper with a tin coating. Scratch the surface of the heat exchanger and if you see copper through the tin, then its braize. The last heat exchanger I weighed in I got £15.00 on its own as it was braize. if it doesn't show copper through, then it will be stainles steel.

If you have copper, its worth cutting all the other metal off ie brass nuts, fittings as well as solder on joints etc. If you can get as much 'pure' copper as you can (its actually known as 'bright' copper by the scrap man), its worthe your time as its about £4.50 / kilo at the moment.

So in terms of value, this is the precedent:

Bright copper (ie pure copper free of all other metals inc. solder) £4.50 / kilo
Braize (copper with other metals including solder, tin plate - the heat exchanger etc) £3.00 /kilo
Brass £2.70 /kilo
VIR (All the electric cable and wiring) £1.50/kilo
Stainless steel £1.30 / kilo
Aluminium 80p / kilo
Light iron (the bioiler casing, radiators etc) 13p / kilo.

Its well worth stripping back to component parts - even weigh in the rad and the casing - its worth something and better in your pocket than any body elses.

gollum007

Have to get it on the back of a pushbike (About 3/4 of a mile), that's the problem
I'll consider getting the casing down there.

-Gollum

phill99

If you are on a push bike, just take the valuable stuff. Leave the casing and rad out for the !!!!!!.

blossom72_2

We are getting quotes to replace our central heating system. We have many meters of copper piping which I'm sure has a value. Each plumber ignores my questions on its scrap value. Has anyone struck a deal with the plumber to let them have the piping/tank for a price? Does the plumber expect to keep the scrap metal as part of the job?

phill99

A pliumber will give you a price based on the job in hand. If he can take the scrap to the scrap man and weigh it in, then he will do and that is his weekend beer money.

No plumber will give you a price on scrap as the price fluctuates daily.

If you want the money from it, then tell him to leave all the scrap and you take it to the scrap man and get the money for it.

Most people are just pleased to have all the rubbish / waste removed and are not interested in any residual value.