Free metal, the way I like it

[OnlyStihl]

I was at a BBQ the other day and got to talking about welding, metal, etc. Someone pointed me to a free (sort of) scrap pile. I looked it over, went back the following day and figured out a good deal. I'd take what I wanted, and help get rid of the rest. The current owner is a widow, and her late husband was a junk collector. She is eager to see the pile gone.

I've several craigslist people interested in the rest. This is what I wanted. Lots of flat stock 1/8, 1/4, and some 1/2 in pieces. All in excellant shape, just a few minutes with a flapper disk and it's ready to weld.

 

[furb]

I was at a BBQ the other day and got to talking about welding, metal, etc. Someone pointed me to a free (sort of) scrap pile. I looked it over, went back the following day and figured out a good deal. I'd take what I wanted, and help get rid of the rest. The current owner is a widow, and her late husband was a junk collector. She is eager to see the pile gone.

I've several craigslist people interested in the rest. This is what I wanted. Lots of flat stock 1/8, 1/4, and some 1/2 in pieces. All in excellant shape, just a few minutes with a flapper disk and it's ready to weld.

View attachment 467249

View attachment 467250

This will be my poor wife one day. I have so much just in case material here. Anything from 1/4 plate to 6” square tube.

 

[OnlyStihl]

I have a guy showing up this morning to take all of what is left. He's not going to be successful, with just his pickup truck. The more I look at what is left, I can see more metal that I can use.

 

[OnlyStihl]

I found several lengths of welding cable, that all total looks to reach 200 feet. I haven't gotten a real good look at it, but it is in multiple sections with LC-40 type quick connects. A few small sections need some repair. I'll order some heat shrink tubing and make the repairs and configure it all to work with my existing leads.

Also found a 1/0 AWG 3 Conductor cable of length I haven't measure but looks like about 50'. Extension cable, or run a new line out and have a 50Amp receptacle at the opposite corner of the garage.

Turns out this pile of junk/scrap is fast becoming a nice little treasure hunt.

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[OnlyStihl]

Got a good look at all the leads. A 50' lead is excellent and the LC-40 quick connector at both ends matches what I currently have. A 36' lead has a kludge repair in the middle, heavily wrapped in electrical tape. I ordered a new butt splice and will fix it properly. Also has good LC-40 connectors. Another long lead is a toss as almost all the wrap is cracked and would need an entirely new shrink wrap fix, and the LC-40 is trash. Just not worth my time and expense. The 3 wire cord is actually just 10 gauge but in excellent shape and will be fine with new a new plug and receptacle. Not to bad and the price, free is a big win.

 

[OnlyStihl]

Part of my find was a whip lead 18 feet in length. Stinger was crap, so that got replaced. This will be nice when used lightly, vertical and especially overhead welding. Concern: Bulk cable is 2/0 AWG, but the whip lead is 4 AWG. Quite the difference, but the 4 AWG is supposed to be okay up to 135 Amps.

 

[Al Smith]

I'm in a position I have salvagable steel measured in tonage . It's structual stuff like I-beams , channel .,flat stock and plate steel plus pipe .I'm in the process of attempting to make it more orderly which has proven to be a pain in the behind .I've got around another week or more work until it's done .Then I have to install a barrier fence to hid it .If they can't see it they've got nothing to *b-word about it .
I don't have a dime in all that stuff just being at the right place at the right time .

 

[OnlyStihl]

I'm in a position I have salvagable steel measured in tonage . It's structual stuff like I-beams , channel .,flat stock and plate steel plus pipe .I'm in the process of attempting to make it more orderly which has proven to be a pain in the behind .I've got around another week or more work until it's done .Then I have to install a barrier fence to hid it .If they can't see it they've got nothing to *b-word about it .
I don't have a dime in all that stuff just being at the right place at the right time .

Sounds like you are amassing enough metal to take on all kinds of projects.

I'm going to build a go-cart if I can get enough metal together. I'd like to start from scratch build the frame and supports for an engine, brakes, steering, etc. Might be a piece of crap when I finished, but would be fun to attempt such a thing.