How to Tell your Scrap Metals Apart with a Magnet

Posted on 11 April 2022

For some, scrap metal recycling is a lucrative hobby. For others, metal recycling serves as a means of cleaning up the environment. Either way, there are environmental and personal benefits to the practice, especially when you develop relationships with trusted scrap yards in Toronto. Many will pay good money for your metal waste, but determining your scrap metal’s value can be a bit tricky. You can always do your research to help find that out, but did you know that using a magnet can be an effective tool to estimate.

Once your scrap junk is organized, Tal Metal will buy and sell your scrap waste. Recycling with us reduces the amount of metal waste at landfills and helps decrease greenhouse gas emissions that are used to make metal products. Whatever metal waste we take is remanufactured into new products.

Here’s how you can use a magnet to aid your scrap metal recycling and collection.

Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals

Before dropping your metal waste off for scrap metal recycling, it’s helpful to know what metals can earn you the most money. Any magnet can help you distinguish the monetary values between different metals. Ferrous metals, such as steel and iron, will stick to the magnet. Unfortunately, these metals aren’t worth as much when you bring them in for recycling. However, scrap yards in Toronto will still accept the metal and properly recycle it.

On the other hand, non-ferrous metals, including aluminum, copper, stainless steel, brass and bronze, will not be attracted to your magnet. These metals can earn you a lot of money when you add them up and bring them in for recycling.

Once you separate the two metals, Tal Metal recommends calling ahead just to give you an idea of how much we’ll pay for your metal waste. We also offer free pickup services to make the process easier for you.

Where To Find Valuable Metals

Valuable non-ferrous metals are all around us.

Aluminum cans are a popular metal product that are often dropped off in bulk. You can also find aluminum in your home’s gutters, siding, roofing, or patio furniture. Aluminum can also be found in electrical cables, wiring and automobile electronics.
Copper can be found in indoor and outdoor plumbing or drainage appliances, such as plumbing pipes and gutters. You can also find the metal inside your HVAC system or electrical wires and heavy duty power cables.
Brass is typically found in old motors, appliances and engines. You can also find brass waste in different hardware, such as door handles, bathroom and light fixtures.

Recycling Your Metal Waste

All of the metal waste mentioned above can be recycled and remanufactured into new goods. When recycling with Tal Metal, you can trust us in knowing that your waste is appropriately taken care of. We make sure that you are paid accordingly for your waste, and that your scrap metal doesn’t end up in a landfill. Our services can meet your needs and demands – we can accommodate different metals that come in varying grades and volumes.

Call us now to learn how to make easy money from your scrap waste with Tal Metal!