Aluminum Wheels
One of the most popular things to scrap across the world is old car parts. In addition to the many parts found under the hood, don’t forget about the aluminum rims. These are valuable scrap materials that are easy to collect and don’t require much sorting or processing before you go to the scrap yard. Here’s what you need to know about scrapping wheels on cars.
What You Do Need to Do
In order to get the best price on the rims, you do need to make sure that they are not attached to tires, and that they aren’t caked with dirt. No other attachments or rubber can be present. Don’t forget to check for lead wheel weights and the small rubber or plastic valve for airing up tires. Remove all of these so that you have a pure aluminum item for the best price possible.
Not Just on Cars
Aluminum rims aren’t just on cars and trucks. You can also find them on:
So be sure to check for it wherever you might see scrap potential. The best way to find aluminum is to carry a magnet on you. Aluminum won’t stick to a magnet the way other metals do, so this is a great test for finding pure scrap metal. Many rims have steel content, which makes the price go down when you visit the scrap yard.
Scrapping Alloy Rims
Some aluminum rims won’t be pure, such as the steel rims mentioned above. These alloy rims are not worth as much, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider scrapping them too. If a rim is magnetic, it is not pure aluminum. You often see alloy materials in the grey matte rims, rather than the shiny silver rims; they have a paint baked into the surface for aesthetics, which is an easy way to identify them on sight.
Aluminum Rim Prices
Prices on this metal scrap changes depending on where you live, the quality of the rim, and many other factors. You can expect to see somewhere around 50 cents per pound or a little more for aluminum rims. If you have a significant load of rims, be sure to separate out any that are alloy. The lowest value item in the pile decides the price for the whole pile, so be sure your best rims are in a pile all by themselves.
At Scrap Stop, we offer the best prices in the region. We also strive to get rid of the hassle that often accompanies a trip to the scrap yard. Bring in your rims today, and we will get you in, paid, and on your way in no time.