Collecting and selling scrap metal can be a lucrative business, but only if you know what you are doing. For the most part, dealers pay scrap metal collectors by weight. Therefore, the more waste metal you gather, the more money you fetch. Thus, most scrappers prefer to store their metals until the pile gets big enough to haul to a yard. However, things can get tricky because poor storage can degrade scrap metal quality, affecting the amount of money you get paid. This article highlights helpful tips for the proper storage of scrap metal.

Designate Bins for Each Metal Type -- When you collect different metals, it is easy to dump them together and do the sorting and cleaning later. However, it is inefficient because separating different kinds of scrap metal from a mixed pile takes time. Thus, it is advisable to use designated bins for storage purposes. Designated containers allow you to separate all scrap metals by type, even before cleaning them. It makes the cleaning process manageable because you focus on one bin and eliminate the need to sort metal types again. Additionally, using separate containers prevents cross-contamination, which might affect the quality of some scrap metals.

Lock Your Scrap Metal -- Scrap metal is valuable, and most scrappers will do anything to ensure they collect as much waste metal as possible within the shortest time to get good money. It is mainly the case for new scrappers struggling to find their footing in the industry. Thus, scrap metal collectors should store their collection under lock and key regardless of the location. Whether you keep your scrap metals in a barn, cellar, or storage unit, ensure it is always locked. You do not want another scrapper to take advantage of your days' efforts by leaving your scrap metal unprotected. Most importantly, the lock you use should be difficult for anybody to pick.

Keep Moisture Out -- Moisture is terrible for scrap metal since it causes corrosion and degradation. Therefore, you should do everything possible to keep moisture away from your metals. Notably, some scrappers focus on collecting non-ferrous metals since they do not have to worry about keeping moisture out of storage space. While it might make sense, you must understand that ferrous metals are recycled in far greater quantities than non-ferrous metals. Besides, ferrous metals are easy to find; hence, you are likely to fill your storage bins fast. If you store scrap metal in a storage unit, make sure there are no leaks whatsoever. A thermostat can also help regulate moisture levels in a storage unit.

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