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Post by Darkwalker on Oct 25, 2003 0:58:44 GMT -5
Ok.....a few days ago I helped my grandpa take in a full truck and car trailor of steel.....1.25 tons of it to be exact. When we left teh junkyard after unloading that heavy crap by hand, we came out of there with squat....$14 to be exact. But not three weeks before that, I had helped take in a few pounds of soda cans.....about 20lbs of them. We walked out of there with near $25 then. Why is it that steel, which makes our homes stronger and our cars safer, plus a whole lot more, is worth less per pound than aluminium, which is used mostly for soda cans?
Can someone with a clearer mind than mine explain that little factoid to me?
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Post by Wyrmfire on Oct 25, 2003 1:02:35 GMT -5
Well, up until about 100 years ago, aluminum was one of the most precious metals. Maybe the guy just didn't get that memo  Actually, I bet it has something to do with recycling. If you reshape steel too much, it loses strength, but aluminum doesn't have that problem. So, you can get more for scrap aluminum just because the final product is higher quality. |
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Post by Darkwalker on Oct 25, 2003 1:12:16 GMT -5
That is a distinct possibility, although I am more in favor of the memo idea. (grins) Anyone else got an opinion on this?
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Post by EvilBob on Oct 25, 2003 2:43:48 GMT -5
Maybe cause aluminium can be easly recycled, vs iron having to be smelted down again. the specific heat capacity of Iron is much much higher then aluminium, so that could be a reason....or you jsut got cheated.
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Post by Dr. Doom III on Oct 25, 2003 13:45:38 GMT -5
Do you pay a deposit on steel?
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Post by Darkwalker on Oct 28, 2003 0:35:56 GMT -5
No.
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Post by Sharess on Oct 28, 2003 0:55:13 GMT -5
It could be that the gov. gets more money from the alumin companys and not that much form steel. Or it could be that its just a lot easyer to recycle pop cans and there is the fact that it is a lot harder to smelt alumin from ore then to smelt it form pop cans Also alumin is used more then steel now a days. But either way sorry man it sound like you were screwed.
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Post by Dr. Doom III on Oct 28, 2003 1:01:37 GMT -5
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Post by Loki3 on Oct 28, 2003 1:16:48 GMT -5
Aluminium is classified as a Commodity thus its price is set by Market "value"
Aluminium is also a more in demand product wich effects price. Copper is the same way.
Turn in 1.25 tons of Copper and you walk away with over a thousand dollars.
Supply -vs- Demand, that is what sets price, there was a time when Steel was the same way. Also you will find a majority of what you think is steel in cars is really Aluminium.
Aluminium is lighter, pound for pound stronger than steel, and thanks to overseas competition driving steel prices to the floor is more economically smart to use.
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Post by Hussar on Oct 28, 2003 3:23:20 GMT -5
Let's also not forget that scrap iron is likely rusted and is extremely difficult to recycle whereas aluminum is easily recyclable and, as was said, very much in demand. In other words, scrap iron is worthless and aluminum is not.
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Post by Minion on Oct 31, 2003 12:18:31 GMT -5
Because people by more soda than houses? :b
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Vincent Janus Santioni
Soldier
"The only true innocents are the children who see the world through new eyes."----Vincent Santioni
Posts: 242
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Post by Vincent Janus Santioni on Nov 4, 2003 23:16:50 GMT -5
HEY! MINION! WAZ UP? haven't seen u on this forum before. Anyway... I would agree with thy supply and demand thing. I will look it up for you if you would like me too. If i forget and you don't see me post an answer. feel free to IM me @ VincentSantioni , MorriganAnslead , SteeltheFighter all AIM accounts. I most likely will be on as Morrigan or Vincent out of the three. Morry, Vince, Steel. in that order.
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