If you’re looking for a Houston TX scrap yard, look no further than Astro City Scrap Metal. We buy, sell, and recycle scrap metal. In addition, we are one of the fastest-growing scrap dealers in the Houston area.
What is a metal scrap yard?
Metal scrap yards are basically metal recycling plants. While many residents in Houston and surrounding areas have recycling programs for soda cans, plastics, paper, cardboard, etc., you can’t place metals in your recycling bin for collection. That’s where metal scrap yards come in.
You can recycle metal tools, electrical wires, copper, brass, stainless steel, and alloys at most metal scrap yards. In addition, you’ll get paid for your metal. Prices depend on the market value of the type of metal you bring in.
Many commercial industries use scrap yards to buy or sell metals. For example, electricians, plumbers, and construction workers often bring in old metal and buy recycled metal.
However, metal scrap yards often have legal or safety limitations to the metals they can accept. Some Houston TX scrap yard restrictions may include ferrous, radioactive, or combustible metals.
What kinds of scrap metal do you take?
Astro City Scrap Metal accepts non-ferrous, also called non-magnetic, metals. This includes most well-known metals like aluminum, most stainless steel, lead, brass, copper, etc. In addition, we buy many alloys, including Hastelloy, Titanium, Incoloy, Monel, and other nickel-based alloys.
At Astro City Scrap Metal, we accept electrical wires and other non-ferrous metals.
What scrap-metal products would this include?
Scrap metal is all around us and comes in many forms. Some common examples of scrap metal are insulated electrical wires, radiators, copper tubing, pots, pans, metals in kitchen sinks, faucets, medical equipment, drill bits, anvils, silverware, and more.
What is an alloy, and which ones do you accept?
Basically, an alloy is two or more metals that were joined together using a non-metal substance. Some common alloys we see and accept at the scrap yard are Hasteolly, titanium, Incoloy, Monel, and nickel-based alloys. If it’s a non-ferrous alloy, we will buy it.
What metal do you not accept?
Astro City Scrap Metal does not accept ferrous metals like steel, iron, etc. We can only accept non-ferrous metals. Non-ferrous metal is a metal that is not magnetic.
For safety and legal reasons, there are additional metal items that we cannot accept. These include AC units with freon, beer kegs, computers, loaded bullets, flammable or combustible materials, print rollers containing selenium, glass, batteries, closed containers, mercury metals, metal powder, metal-contaminated with asbestos, radioactive materials, and cans.
Astro City Scrap Metal cannot accept ferrous, also called magnetic, metals.
How do I know if my metal is ferrous or non-ferrous?
You don’t have to be a metal guru or psychic to know whether you have a ferrous or non-ferrous metal in your hands. There is a very easy, and pretty cool, way to find out!
Ferrous metals are magnetic, and non-ferrous metals aren’t. So, if you want to know whether your metal is ferrous or non-ferrous, do a magnet test.
Take a magnet, even a simple one from your refrigerator works, and hold put it on the metal. If the magnet sticks, you have a ferrous metal, and we can’t take it. However, if the magnet does not stick, it’s non-ferrous and we’d be happy to take it off your hands!
While the scientific names are ferrous and non-ferrous, feel free to rename them as magnetic or non-magnetic to make them easier to remember. If you have a non-magnetic item, bring it on over! However, if it’s magnetic, we can’t take it.
What are some examples of ferrous metals you can’t take?
Examples of ferrous metal items we cannot accept include railroad tracks, industrial piping, cast-iron cookware, galvanized steel, etc. Remember, if it sticks to a magnet, we can’t take it.
Stainless steel is tricky
Most often, non-ferrous metals do not contain iron. This is why the term ferrous, the scientific term for iron, is used. However, stainless steel is an exception to this non-iron generalization.
Both steel and stainless steel contain iron, so you may think that both are ferrous. However, stainless steel can actually be ferrous or non-ferrous. Stainless steel is an alloy that can be made in many different ways, which means the properties change.
The property differences among various kinds of stainless steel are enough to make some magnetic and others non-magnetic. Since metals are classified as ferrous or non-ferrous based on whether they’re magnetic, some are ferrous and some are non-ferrous.
Fortunately, most stainless steel you come across is not going to be magnetic. So if you have a stainless steel product, you can probably assume it’s non-ferrous. However, the best and easiest way to know if your stainless steel is ferrous or non-ferrous is to do a magnet test.
At Astro City Scrap Metal, we know this can be confusing and an annoying extra step to figure out whether you can recycle your stainless steel. That’s why we want you to feel free to bring your stainless steel to us. We can let you know for free whether it’s ferrous or non-ferrous.
How much money is my metal worth at a Houston TX scrap yard?
Copper wire is one of the most valuable metals in Houston TX scrap yard.
Metal prices are based on the type of metal you bring in. In addition, prices change based on market demand.
By far, copper is considered the most valuable recyclable scrap metal. In fact, it can be worth over $4.00 per pound. Brass is also very valuable and can be worth over $2.00 per pound.
Wire prices vary based on the type of wire. For example, an insulated No. 2 wire may only be worth $1.50, while a high recovery wire may be worth $3.50 or more. If you’re an electrical contractor in need of wire stripping, Astro City Scrap Metal will perform it onsite for free.
Astro City Scrap Metal guarantees top prices for the metals you bring in. We’ll unload, weigh, grade, and sort your metal and pay you cash on the spot. In addition, we believe in transparency, so we keep our scales where our customers can easily see their readings.
Call Astro City Scrap Metal Today
The next time you’re looking for a Houston TX scrap yard, we hope you’ll give Astro City Scrap Metal a call or visit our site for top metal prices.
Fun Facts about Houston, Texas:
- Westheimer is home to over 3,500 restaurants.
- With more than 32,000 works of art, Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts is the largest art museum in Texas.
- The largest shopping mall in Texas is The Galleria in Houston.
- For more fun facts, visit the Houston website.