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Scrap/Junk metal - What do you do with it?
ShoreScot  
Posted : Saturday, 9 March 2013 6:20:10 PM(UTC)
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I've recently started MDing - I'm into week two, but never realised how many crap bits of (quite heavy) metal I'd be finding - old fence posts, shovel heads, unknown metal 'things' etc. Do scrap dealers buy this stuff (or even take it for free and somehow use it)? Or is it a case of chucking it in the bin?

What do you experienced folks do with this kind of stuff? Any help is appreciated.
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Shilo  
Posted : Saturday, 9 March 2013 6:34:10 PM(UTC)
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Large iron items (warratahs, etc) I just don't dig. Your detector should tell you it is iron in most cases, but if it does ring up as a good target then the size of the item (found by moving the coil and following it) will highlight what it is.

I used to keep lead but ended up giving away a 60kg bucket of sinkers when I moved. Always cursed I never kept bronze and brass as I figured that I would not find enough to make it worthwhile but now realise that I was wrong and I could have got some good $ from a scrap metal merchant.

All "junk" now just goes into the closest bin before leaving the park or beach.
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ShoreScot  
Posted : Saturday, 9 March 2013 6:48:42 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Shilo Go to Quoted Post
Large iron items (warratahs, etc) I just don't dig. Your detector should tell you it is iron in most cases, but if it does ring up as a good target then the size of the item (found by moving the coil and following it) will highlight what it is.

I used to keep lead but ended up giving away a 60kg bucket of sinkers when I moved. Always cursed I never kept bronze and brass as I figured that I would not find enough to make it worthwhile but now realise that I was wrong and I could have got some good $ from a scrap metal merchant.

All "junk" now just goes into the closest bin before leaving the park or beach.


I've just gotten a gold bug DP and am digging anything that reads above 45. Perhaps it is time for me to be more discerning...
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Shilo  
Posted : Saturday, 9 March 2013 7:01:45 PM(UTC)
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Yup, 2 ways to tell if something is a big target (most valuable stuff will be coin or jewellery sized etc):

1. If you get a good tone then lift the coil 10" to a foot or so above the ground - if you are still getting a good tone then the item will be a can or something large
2. Move the coil around & if the tone continues in a direction then it is something big and long, or if it covers a large area then round.

Sound, Size and Shape can be easily worked out and used to id an item before digging by the above.
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oroplata  
Posted : Saturday, 9 March 2013 7:21:14 PM(UTC)
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Of course, there's always a chance there's a nice coin a couple of inches under the can. :)
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number8wire  
Posted : Saturday, 9 March 2013 7:30:58 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: oroplata Go to Quoted Post

Of course, there's always a chance there's a nice coin a couple of inches under the can. :)



...or the long tone that continues in a direction, could infact be a silver/gold chain! :):)
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Shilo  
Posted : Saturday, 9 March 2013 7:38:35 PM(UTC)
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And I suppose the large round shape could always be a pot full of gold sovereigns.... :)
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andy  
Posted : Saturday, 9 March 2013 8:10:46 PM(UTC)
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more than likely a nice big peice of crap lol
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oroplata  
Posted : Saturday, 9 March 2013 9:07:01 PM(UTC)
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Last time I dug down 12 inches to what I thought (and the detector thought) was a coke can, it turned out to be $700 worth of 1910's gold bangle.

Since then, I dig EVERYTHING.
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nzpoohbear40  
Posted : Saturday, 9 March 2013 10:32:57 PM(UTC)
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To answer Your question that alot of these other guys went off topic on is...yes scrap dealers pay you for it...i normally seperat into 3 buckets....

Copper, Lead, and all other junk
Chris - Fisher Dealer http://www.puiakisupply.co.nz/
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creamer  
Posted : Sunday, 10 March 2013 9:25:02 AM(UTC)
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Hi there Shorescot. Take a bucket with you when detecting and collect all the space junk and take it home. All scrap metal is worth money.
I have a pile of said junk on my garage floor and you would be surprised what gets picked out of it. It often gets picked thru just for shear entertainment value.
.
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ShoreScot  
Posted : Sunday, 10 March 2013 1:16:28 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: creamer Go to Quoted Post
Hi there Shorescot. Take a bucket with you when detecting and collect all the space junk and take it home. All scrap metal is worth money.
I have a pile of said junk on my garage floor and you would be surprised what gets picked out of it. It often gets picked thru just for shear entertainment value.
.


Thanks. What a bummer - I chucked out the heavy fence post from yesterday after the earlier posts!
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