What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is a name given any steel alloy that contains the element chromium, or to be specific at least 9% Chromium. Other metals can be alloyed with stainless steel, the second most common being Nickel.
What is Chromium?
Chromium, colloquially called “Chrome”, is a metal that is worth about 6 dollars per pound by itself (but I have never been to a yard that buys pure chromium). Its primary use is in stainless steel due to its ability to resist corrosion, and as a plating on metal parts because it is shiny. It is basically never used by itself.
What causes some stainless steel to be non-magnetic?
Some stainless steel is magnetic, and some is not. This is because some stainless steel contains Nickel.
Nickel and chromium interact in a very special way, and the chrome negates the ferromagnetic proporties of the nickel and iron.
In general, alloys of nickel and chromium will not me magnetic, neither will alloys of nickel and copper.
What is the most valuable stainless steel?
Really, the value of your scrap is dependent on weather or not you have a buyer. If you have a whole lot of 200 grade stainless, but nobody to sell it to, you will be getting a much lower price than if you sell to a specialty buyer.
Non-magnetic stainless steel will usually be worth a little more than aluminum these days. And the great part is that the weight adds up much faster than aluminum per unit of volume.
What are the different grades of stainless steel?
The grades are numbered from 1xx-6xx. In general, the 400 series is the cheapest, and doesn’t normally contain nickel and is therefore magnetic. The 3xx series stainless is non magnetic and most commonly recycled at scrap yards. 304 stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel (commonly called 18-8). The 316 grade stainless is more valuable as it contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum.
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Great thread Irrationalist! This just cleared up my question posted in your other stainless thread.
I have a Stainless Steel table made for me by my brother who was a precision engineer, it is quite quirly, but i intend to move and it is to heavy to move. it tak two/three people to lift. Any ideas.
Fettybord, I would first check to see if it is valuable non-magnetic stainless steel by touching a magnet to it. If it sticks, then it is not an expensive metal, and will fetch, at most, about 10-15 quid.
If you are wondering how to cut it up, then I would suggest you use a reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade to cut the legs off from the top. A torch would work better, if you have one available. Then, maybe cut the top in half if necessarily.
thanks for the reply, the top a magnet sticks, the stand wehich is a wine rack and the stand is is mad non stick stainless steel, i am ‘little ole pensioner ‘ female, so i do not poccess any tools, my dear brother has passed away.
i live in Londonderry, do you kn ow any scrap merchants or the best way to sell this. Thanklyou for your help.
I’m not entirely sure of the best way to sell the table. You may want to try giving these guys a call. Click here. Explain to them your situation, and what you have. As a bit of a warning: many of the people in this business can be quite rough around the edges.
Thanks for the question by the way.
ScrapMetalJunkie,
I have a Soloflex exercise machine that I am thinking about scrapping or selling outright. It’s heavy duty steel frame and attachments. The best price I could prob. get selling it to someone is $75-125 USD, depending on area market/sales.
How much do you think it would sell for as scrap? It weighs over 50lbs easily.
Is it made of non-magnetic Stainless steel? Otherwise it is worth very very little as scrap steel. (Roughly $10)
Torch does not cut ss a plasma cutter will. torch melts ss but not cut smooth.
Hi, I’m dealing with the metal scrap, I want to know, how can we examine visually the grades 306 and 304 of stainless steel.
How much COPPER (in percentage) can be extracted from an armored cable?
It all depends on the type of wire. Armored wire encompasses a whole bunch of different types of wire.
Are there any conditions to recycle stainless needles?
It depends on what type of needles you are talking about, but there is no immediate issue I can think of, no.
Hi, i found a chunk of what looks like a piece of metal that has been melted down. It was not rusty, you cant carve it with a knife, and if you scrape it its becomes very shiny. I found it using a metal detector that classified it as silver or copper on an old homesite. Any help to see if it is really silver or something else?
I have stainless thats called 20cp3 stainless. Whats its worth. I was told 3.50 lb
Not all stainless which is magnetic is inexpensive! There are stainless steel alloys which are magnetic and are quite valuable! Take CPM S30V for example, if you seen a billet of it you would think it’s just any other billet of stainless steel? However, a billet just 6″ x 1.5″ x .140 x .156 is at least $25 or more! So you can’t discount value just by whether a magnet sticks to it or not! Just something to think about next time you see a rectangular piece of metal? Adieu…
Any one home
I have a free weights system and its stainless as well as aluminum how much do u think its worth 250plus in weights not sure about the aluminum
free weight systems are not worth much more than $25 in scrap, and thats assuming the weights are metal, not concrete filled. rarely are weight lifting systems made from non-magnetic stainless or aluminum, but if yours actually is, it would be worth considerably more. I suggest you read my ‘how-to’ about Scrap Metal Identification for more info.
I have a stainless steel (inside & out) dishwasher to scrap. Yard said they paid $.07 per pound as a unit. Do you think I would make more if I broke it into stainless, copper & brass components? Should I break the motor up or sell the whole unit? Thanks!
It would be worth much more as separated scrap. Breaking apart the motor, however would only be a few dollars at most.
Thank you.
Hi,
I am in Texas & I have 12 hospital sterilazation carts solid stainless steel, each one approx wt is 1200lb. What grade of stainless steel do you think these would be & about how much would they sell for scrap wise altho they do work.
Thank You
Bonnie
Do I put the stainless steel forks in with the stainless steel sink or not? Do not know much about metals. Thanks.
Chances are, Yes; but only if they are “non-magnetic”. Call your local scrap yard and ask about their policies for more information.