Metal Scrap Yard Would Not Take A Safe

[George7941]

It was a small safe, about 24in wide by 22in deep by 15in tall and weighing about 180 pounds. They did not give me a reason why. I had cut the hinges off to open the safe. A customer had lost the key and I opened it for him. It wasn't easy, just cutting the hinges off was not enough. It took a lot of hammering and prying.

I am speculating on two reasons why the yard refused. Maybe the policy is to discourage thieves who might have stolen the safe. The other reason might be the concrete filling inside the safe panels. The door was about two inches thick and was a sandwich made up with two thick formed steel panels with concrete in between. I am guessing there was more concrete in the safe walls.

Eventually the yard relented and accepted the safe. I still do not know why they refused initially. I am leaning towards the theft prevention reason because the yard worker first asked me if I had the safe keys.

 

[dishdude]

It's the fire proofing, asbestos used to be used a lot. Tear gas was also used as well.

 

[ammolab]

Removing the steel (worth a few bucks) from the concrete (worth nothing) may be more work than value.

 

[Vercingetorix]

I knew a jeweler who could not get rid of their ancient pedestal safe. They were told the steel isn’t recyclable. Manganese I think was the issue.

 

[Hall]

They were told the steel isn’t recyclable. Manganese I think was the issue.

Manganese is a standard component of carbon steel, stainless, and so on.

Maybe the policy is to discourage thieves who might have stolen the safe. The other reason might be the concrete filling inside the safe panels.

Both are legit reasons for them to refuse it. For the concrete, since they pay based on weight, they can't accurately account for the steel content with the mix of concrete in it. Were you trying to get $$$ for the scrap steel too ? If so, what did they end up paying and based on what ?

 

[George7941]

Manganese is a standard component of carbon steel, stainless, and so on.


Both are legit reasons for them to refuse it. For the concrete, since they pay based on weight, they can't accurately account for the steel content with the mix of concrete in it. Were you trying to get $$$ for the scrap steel too ? If so, what did they end up paying and based on what ?

I had accumulated scrap steel in my backyard over the winter, so I made a scrap steel run and included the safe. I was expecting to get paid for the safe but ended up not getting anything for it. I got $26 for the other stuff, 280 lbs of it, and when I talked to the head honcho, he said I could dump the safe off where I had unloaded the other steel but they would not pay anything for the safe.

 

[skyactiv]

This pic shows why they didn't want it. A lot of concrete and not much metal. A smelter doesn't want concrete.

 

[bullwinkle]

I had accumulated scrap steel in my backyard over the winter, so I made a scrap steel run and included the safe. I was expecting to get paid for the safe but ended up not getting paid for it. I got $26 for the other stuff, 280 lbs of it, and when I talked to the head honcho, he said I could dump the safe off where I had unloaded the other steel but they would not pay anything for the safe.

That's why I never go to the scrapyard until I have 1000 pounds of motors & compressors, minimum, along with copper, brass, & coils! For shredder iron alone, it isn't worth the aggravation for (MAYBE) 6 cents a pound...

 

[George7941]

The primary reason for my trip was to clean up my backyard by getting rid of garage door springs, a cast iron sump pump, a garage door opener etc, etc. Stuff that had been buried in the snow in a corner of my backyard..
Scrap iron prices are up a bit. I got 8c/lb a few months ago and I got 9.75c/lb this time.
I will be making another trip. I have a few hundred pounds of motors, cast aluminium, brass and a number of old faucets, all of which were stored indoors. I expect well over a hundred dollars for it.

 

[JohnnyG]

I got a bunch of money for a fireproof filing cabinet once.
I bet they were mad when they found out what it was!

 

[ammolab]

Brass from the gun range is always a good trip to the scrap yard. Not pennies/pound but + or - $2.00/pound!

 

[SC Maintenance]

I am surprised they took it. I am sure the reason is its just not worth it. Full of concrete and other crud. #1 scrap steel is minimum 1/4 inch thick and max 3'x3' I believe and only pays a couple hundred a ton. Safe was worth nothing for scrap honestly.

Curios on what they gave you for it if anything?

 

[George7941]

I got nothing for the safe, but I did get rid of it.

 

[Hohn]

This pic shows why they didn't want it. A lot of concrete and not much metal. A smelter doesn't want concrete.


View attachment 329585

But that’s what an actual safe looks like on the inside.

Gun owners, take note: this is not drywall lining a steel box.

 

[dtridess]

Honestly sounds like a mix of “this might be stolen” and “this isn’t worth processing.” Safes are a pain to scrap - sometimes it’s easier to strip out the metal yourself first.

 

[mk378]

It looks a lot easier to break into one of these through the walls than through the door.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Take it to an empty lot that has a sign “ No Dumping” and dump it.

 

[George7941]

Honestly sounds like a mix of “this might be stolen” and “this isn’t worth processing.” Safes are a pain to scrap - sometimes it’s easier to strip out the metal yourself first.

Stripping the metal out is too much work. It will take a couple of hours to cut out the metal with an angle grinder, break up the concrete and box the concrete so that it can be disposed.
In my case the yard eventually accepted the safe. If they had not, I would have had to haul it to our municipal garbage dump.