Important Scrap Metal Terms and Definitions

If you are preparing to enter the world of metal scrapping, you would do well to learn some important metal terms to better understand the average worth of your junk when it comes time to sell it off to a scrap metal buyer. Continue reading to do just that!

Indianapolis Scrap Metal Buyers 1-888-586-5322
Indianapolis Scrap Metal Buyers 1-888-586-5322

Scrap Metal Terms You Need to Know:

Scrap Metal – Scrap metal is any metal commodity or material that has been junked.

Metal Recycling – Metal recycling is the process of reusing metal to make new metal commodities and resources.

Metal Reprocessing – Metal reprocessing is the process of dismantling and melting down scrap metal, and making it into something new.

Ferrous Metal – Ferrous metal is any metal that contains iron. Since iron is magnetic, you can use a magnet to test whether or not a metal is ferrous.

Non-Ferrous Metal – Non-ferrous metal is any metal that DOES NOT contain iron. This means that a magnet would not stick.

Precious Metals – Precious metals are metals that are naturally-occurring and have high economic value, such as gold, silver, platinum, and titanium.

Noble Metal – Nobles metals can be both precious and non-precious, depending on how you look at them. See our article, “A Comparison of Precious Metals and Noble Metals” to understand more about noble metals.

Red Metals – Red metals are copper-based, and include brass, bronze, BeCu, and tellurium copper.

Heavy Metals – Although an official scientific definition for heavy metal doesn’t exist, most authorities suggest they are metals that are dense and usually toxic at low concentrations. Examples of common metals that are toxic and have high density include lead, mercury, and bismuth.

XRF Analyzer – An XRF analyzer is a very expensive piece of technology that reads the metal values within a commodity. They are often used at metal recycling and scrap metal centers to assess metal volume and values.

Electronic Platform Scales – Electronic platform scales are another type of technology used as reputable scrap metal centers. They are used to weigh large cargoes, such as vehicles, equipment, and more.

Scrap Metal Buyer – A professional who specializes in purchasing and reprocessing scrap metal from those who wish to sell their junk.

Where to Get Paid for Scrap Metal

Garden City Iron and Metal 1-888-586-5322
1-888-586-5322

Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to sell scrap metal for cash in Central and Southern Indiana. We pay cash on the spot for both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including junk cars, automotive parts, appliances, construction equipment, motorized farming equipment, and more. Request a free estimate for your scrap metal, today.

The Price Difference Between Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metal

Scrap Metal Recycling 1-888-586-5322
Scrap Metal Recycling 1-888-586-5322

Metal recycling is an incredibly important endeavor for our planet. Not only is it vital for the sustenance and preservation of our natural resources, it also reduces air pollution, protects wildlife and nature, and much more. But did you know that metal recycling is also profitable? You can sell your scrap metal bulk to a local metal recycling center, and they will pay you cash on the spot for whatever it’s worth.

Since there are two primary metal categories, and numerous types of metal within each, the price of your scrap will vary depending on quantity and type. If you want a better understanding of how much your scrap metal is worth, start by learning the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including their market values.

Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals

The difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals is easy to understand. Simply put, ferrous metals contain iron and non-ferrous metals DO NOT contain iron. In fact, the term “non-ferrous” translates to “non-iron.” The most common ferrous metals include iron, cast iron, steel, stainless steel, and carbon steel. Some common non-ferrous metals include aluminum, copper, brass, lead, tin, nickel, and zinc.

Now you may be asking yourself if precious metals are ferrous or not. Well, most precious metals do not contain iron. Gold, silver, platinum, cobalt, mercury, tungsten, beryllium, bismuth, cerium, cadmium, niobium, indium, gallium, germanium, lithium, selenium, tantalum, tellurium, vanadium, and zirconium are all categorized as non-ferrous metals.

General Price Differences

Ferrous metals are more abundant, which makes them lower in cost. The fact that steel and iron are widely recycled contributes to the vast availability and affordability of iron and steel metals. As a result, their values do not fluctuate greatly from a day to day basis. In contrast, non-ferrous metals are usually worth more since they are less available and more difficult to manufacture. Although aluminum keeps steady for the most part, other non-ferrous metals, like brass and copper, tend to fluctuate a lot from week to week.

Iron or No Iron?

To learn whether or not your scrap contains iron, you can implement the magnet test. You see, iron is magnetic, so anything that contains nominal traces of iron will attract magnets. All you have to do is see if a magnet sticks to your metal. If it does stick, it is ferrous!

Where to Get the Most for Your Scrap

Garden City Iron and Metal 1-888-586-5322
Garden City Iron and Metal 1-888-586-5322

Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to recycle scrap metal in Central and Southern Indiana. We pay cash on the spot for all metal and metal commodities, including vehicles, car parts, appliances, construction equipment, farming equipment, and much more! Collect all the scrap metal you can, and then sell it to us for the highest profit in town! Request a free estimate or information, today.