Clare Division Material Pricing Information
Bring Your Scrap Metal To Us
Copper | Brass | Aluminum | Radiators | Electrical Motors | Batteries/ LEAD | Cores | Converters | Ferrous | Car Body | Sheet Iron | E-Scrap | Misc
Go green by recycling the various unused or broken items you have at home with help from Fair Salvage Company. We are a well-established local scrap metal and electronics recycler in Central Michigan that buys steel, old vehicles, copper, aluminum, brass, batteries, and other recyclable materials. Bring your recyclables to our salvage yard in Clare, MI today, and rest assured that we will give you a fair price for the items you wish to sell us.
Clare Division Scrap Pricing Information
Copper
Material
Bare Bright
Only bright, shiny wire that is not coated fits into this category. Each individual strand of the wire must be the size of a No.2 pencil lead or larger. No contaminants allowed to receive full price, includes enamel coating.
NO. 1
For wire, each individual strand of the wire must be the size of a No.2 pencil lead or larger. Corrosion and small amounts of paint is acceptable. For pipe and other copper material, it must be clean and shiny to the point that you can still read the original manufacturer stamp. No contaminants allowed to receive full price, includes enamel coating.
NO. 2
For wire, each individual strand is smaller than the size of a No. 2 pencil lead. For pipe, other copper material, and wire, the only contaminations allowed is corrosion, paint, enamel coating, and solder. All other contaminants are not allowed to receive full price. (Clean copper that has been casted regardless of size gets purchased as number 2 copper.)
NO. 3
Sheet copper. Examples: copper pans, flashing. The only contamination allowed is corrosion, paint, enamel coating and solder. All other contaminants are not allowed to receive full price.
INS. #1
Must have only one coat of insulation and each individual strand of copper must be larger than a number two pencil lead. No ends, enamel coating, lead or steel is allowed to receive full price. All #1 insulated copper must be at least 70% copper and no more than 30% insulation coating by weight.
ROMEX
Plastic coated Romex. Each strand is #2 pencil lead size and bigger, individually coated, and one more coating holding all the strands together. No ends, enamel coating, lead or steel is allowed to receive full price. (Fiber coated wire with no ends will be purchased as #2 insulated.) Individual strands without the outer coating holding the strands together will be purchased as house wire.
INS #2
Example: regular housing extension cords and power supply cords without any ends or steel. Enamel coated copper strands are acceptable.
INS #3
Communication cable such as phone and computer cables without any ends or steel. Enamel coated copper strands are acceptable. Items that fit into the Insulated #2 category but have ends as long as they are not steel will be purchased as insulated #3.
INS #3 W / ENDS
Same as insulated #3 but can contain ends as long as they are not steel. Steel ends go into Christmas lights category.
Christmas Lights
Household Christmas tree lights. Large bulbs must be removed, all others are acceptable. Copper coax cable and wire with steel ends are to be purchased as Christmas lights. EC Wire: Bare aluminum electrical wire with no connectors or insulation.
Brass
Material
Hard
High strength brass alloy containing high amounts of copper, tin, and lead. Often found in bearings, bushings, and brass liners. Must be clean and free of other metals and dunnage.
Red
The mixture of copper and yellow brass that gives the brass item a reddish tint to the visual color. Paint, and solder does not lower the value. The only item that can be attached to red brass and not lower the value is copper. All other contaminants must be removed to receive full price. Enamel coating is not accepted in this category.
Yellow
Plumbing fittings, faucets, EDM wire, EDM chops, etc. Chrome (enamel) plate, paint, and solder does not lower the value. The only item that can be attached to brass and not lower the value is copper. All plastic, wood, etc. must be removed to receive full price.
Shell
Turnings
Brass turnings or shaving that are dry and clean, free of any other contaminants such as dust or metal. Normally found as a byproduct out of machine chops. EDM chops will be purchased as brass turnings.
Irony
Yellow brass or copper with excessive contamination. Must be at least 50% yellow brass or copper by weight.
EDM Wire
Clean Auto Radiators
To receive full price on radiators, all plastic, steel and other contaminants must be removed. Auto Rad: constructed of brass and copper Aluminum Rads: constructed of aluminum Copper/Aluminum Rads: constructed of aluminum fins with copper tubes Heater Cores: brass cores only with no contaminants. Aluminum cores will be purchased as aluminum radiators. Heater cores with contaminates will be purchased as irony brass.
Unclean Auto Radiators
Aluminum
Materials
Clean Wheels
(No valves, weights or chrome) Must be made of aluminum. Contaminants such as plastic coating, chrome plating, lead weights, or valve stems must not be present to receive full purchase value (See Unclean Aluminum Wheels).
Unclean Wheels
(With valves or weights) Must be made of aluminum. Wheels that contain plastic coating, chrome plating, lead weights, or valve stems are purchased under this category.
Chrome Wheels
Aluminum wheels finished with a chrome plating. Must be free of valve stems, wheel weights, and other dunnage.
Aluminum Clad Wheels
(Aluminum Wheels with Plastic)
Semi Wheels
Will be purchased as Clip Aluminum if they are made of aluminum and the wheel weights and valve stems are removed.
Old
any type of aluminum sheet with small amounts of contamination such as screws, staples, light tar, caulk, etc. No wood, stainless, or cast aluminum. Pop cans are also purchased as old sheet as well as other cans such as aluminum cat food cans. Pontoon floats are purchased as old sheet but they must have a hole cut in them so we can see that there is no water etc. inside.
Siding
Painted aluminum: Siding, soffit, fascia, and other similar materials. Most sheet type aluminum's that have been factory painted (not hand painted) and are completely free of contaminants.
Cast
Grill tops and clean aluminum pistons are good examples. Must be completely free of contamination. All casted product breaks. It does not bend or dent.
Clip
Clean, shiny, and rough aluminum like lawn chair frames. Must be completely free of contamination. Chrome plated material with a mirrored finish will be purchased as old sheet.
Extruded
Example: window and door frames. Material has been run through an “extruder” so it is molded, not folded. Must be completely free of contamination.
EC Wire
Unclean Extruded
Example: window and door frames. Material has been run through an “extruder” so it is molded, not folded. This product has small amounts of contamination such as screws, staples, light tar, caulk, etc. (No wood or stainless). The contamination can’t exceed 2% of the weight.
AL Turnings
INS Alum Wire
Irony
Aluminum with excessive contamination. Must still be at least 50% aluminum by weight.
Radiators
Material
Co/Al (Clean)
Copper/Aluminum Rads: constructed of aluminum fins with copper tubes
Co/Al (Unclean)
Aluminum
constructed of aluminum
Aluminum (Unclean)
Heater Cores
Heater Cores: brass cores only with no contaminants. Aluminum cores will be purchased as aluminum radiators. Heater cores with contaminates will be purchased as irony brass.
Electrical Motors
Material
Ballasts No PCB
Ballasts: Normally found in fluorescent light units. The block is used to transform the rough electricity into usable/rated output for the light. All ballasts must have a label that reads NO PCBs. All others will be purchased as sheet iron.
Elec. Motor
Electric Motors: Typically found as items with a steel housing and copper windings wrapped around inside. Electric motors with aluminum windings are purchased as sheet iron. No plastic, garbage disposals, washing machine motors, or any excess material that is not directly related to the motor itself is to be present to receive full value price. Example: well pump motor, the pump must be removed first, and then the steel housed electric motor is purchased at full value.
Starters
Starters and Alternators: include most aluminum nose and housing models. Starters with steel nose cone will be purchased as an electric motor. Generator motors out of heavy machinery will be purchased as electric motors.
Alternators
Starters and Alternators: include most aluminum nose and housing models. Starters with steel nose cone will be purchased as an electric motor. Generator motors out of heavy machinery will be purchased as electric motors.
Sealed Units
Sealed Units: These are Freon compressor pumps typically found in refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners. The pump must be by itself with no attachment and must be made of stamped steel. Cast iron compressors will be purchased as sheet iron.
Batteries / Lead
Material
Lead Batteries
Batteries: all lead acid batteries. No NiCad, Lithium, or Alkaline. Battery will say “lead” on it or have the lead recycling logo with “Pb”. Battery packs / Jump boxes will be purchased at 50% of Battery board price.
Steelcase Batt.
Steel Case Batteries: Example: electric fork truck batteries. Sealed lead acid battery cells incased in a steel housing. Battery packs / Jump boxes will be purchased at 50% of Battery board price.
Soft Lead
Soft Lead: Example: seals of cast iron pipe and sinkers. A very dense and soft material with no contaminants allowed to receive full price.
Wheel WTS
Wheel Weights: Example: lead jigs with steel hooks and lead wheel weights off car rims. Lead with excessive contamination. Must be at least 50% lead by weight.
Cores
Material
Automatic Transmissions
Torque Converters
Catalytic Converters
All Catalytic Converters are graded and purchased at the scale.
Material
Lg. Honeycomb
Bread Loaf
Reg. Honeycomb
Jumbo Bead
Regular Bead
After Market
Wire Converters
Catalyst
Low Grade Foreign
Sm. Foreign Conv.
Lg. Foreign Conv.
Precats
Diesel Converters
Straight Body
Water Bottle
Wide Gap
Ferrous
Materials
5’ Plate & STR
5 Foot Plate and Structural: Purchasable specifications are the same as 2 foot plate and structural. The only difference is the size dimensions. Anything 5 foot by 2 foot and under but over the 2 foot and structural dimensions will fall into this category for purchase.
AF Structural
Alloy-Free: Must be cut into 2 foot by 18 inch or smaller pieces and be 3/16 of an inch thick or thicker to receive full purchase value. Material must be I-beam, H-beam, and angle iron. Steel car size wheels (18 inch rims and smaller) are purchased as alloy free as long as the wheel weights, valve steams, chrome, harden steel, and alloys are not present.
Heavy Melt (3/16 inch minimum)
Heavy Melt: Includes all ferrous steel items. Must be cut into 2 foot by 4 foot or smaller pieces and be 3/16 of an inch thick or thicker to receive full sale value. Examples: nuts, bolts, and hardened steel. Items not allowed are galvanized, chrome, sealed containers (includes differentials without holes in the cover), alloys, and pinched pipe.
Mixed Cast
Mixed Cast: Includes cast iron items such as some gears, and older farm equipment. Porcelain (NO unbreakable or machine). Cast iron breaks. It does not bend or dent.
Machinery Cast
Machinery Cast: Heavy cast iron. Examples include; machines such as presses, lathes, and counter weights
Drums and Rotors
Drums and Rotors: Must be drums and rotors ONLY from F350's and smaller vehicles.
Clean Motor
Clean Motor Cast: Gasoline engine blocks with the cam in it only (see-through block), brake drums, rotors, intake manifolds, exhaust manifolds, and gasoline engine heads will be purchased as clean auto. No spark plugs, sheet iron, aluminum, copper wires, or plastic can be present on any of these items. We will no longer purchase crank shafts, wheel bearings, brake calipers, wheel cylinders, water pumps, or diesel blocks as clean auto cast. All of these items will be purchased as 4x2 after July 1st 2017. Unclean Motor Cast: Includes gas motor blocks that are cast iron with the aluminum and sheet iron. All fluids must be drained. Additional items include cast iron transmissions and transfer cases. Aluminum Car Engines get purchase as unclean motor
Unclean Motor
Diesel Motor
Diesel Motor: Includes all diesel engines. All fluids must be drained. Unbreakable cast will also go into this category. Heavy Melt: Includes all ferrous steel items. Must be cut into 2 foot by 4 foot or smaller pieces and be 3/16 of an inch thick or thicker to receive full sale value. Examples: nuts, bolts, and hardened steel. Items not allowed are galvanized, chrome, sealed containers (includes differentials without holes in the cover), alloys, and pinched pipe.
Unprepared
Unprepared: Must be 3/16 of an inch or thicker and includes all the above materials that have not been cleaned or prepared using the information above.
Unprepared Structural
Unprepared Structural: Must be 1/4 of an inch thick or thicker, and must be plate steel, I-beam, H-beam or angle iron to fit into this category. This category is the same specs as the plate and structural categories, except the material is too big in size dimensions.
Rebar
Rebar: Loose reinforcing bar Steel Cable and Fencing: Rolled chained fence and steel cable longer than 4ft
MST
Steel Cable
Heavy Torching
Car Body
Material
Super Complete Car Body
Complete Car Body
Incomplete Car Body
All car bodies regardless of their classification must have a large hole in the gas tank if they are being hauled in, otherwise there is a $30 deduction
**We will ONLY purchase hybrid and electric cars IF THE BATTERY PACKS ARE REMOVED.
Sheet Iron
Material
Appliances** and Light Steel
(**light unprepared under 1/4 inch)
E-Scrap
Material
Complete PC Towers
Complete and Incomplete PC Towers: Personal computer towers that are 100% intact will be purchased as complete, but if any item is missing from the computer, tower it will be purchased as incomplete. Even if all the parts are there but dismantled, it will still fall into the incomplete category.
Incomplete PC Towers
Complete and Incomplete PC Towers: Personal computer towers that are 100% intact will be purchased as complete, but if any item is missing from the computer, tower it will be purchased as incomplete. Even if all the parts are there but dismantled, it will still fall into the incomplete category.
Complete Laptops
Complete and Incomplete Laptops: Laptops that are 100% intact (which includes the battery) will be purchased as complete, but if any item is missing from the laptop, it will be purchased as incomplete. Even if all the parts are there but dismantled or the screen is cracked, it will fall into the complete category.
Incomplete Laptops
Complete and Incomplete Laptops: Laptops that are 100% intact (which includes the battery) will be purchased as complete, but if any item is missing from the laptop, it will be purchased as incomplete. Even if all the parts are there but dismantled or the screen is cracked, it will fall into the complete category.
Cell Phones
Cell Phones: Any type of cell phone that has the battery removed before hand. Bag phones are not included.
Cell / Laptop Batteries
(Lithium Only) Cell Phones/Laptop Batteries (lithium ion only): Batteries that come from laptops and cell phones that are exclusively lithium ion brand.
Misc. Items
Material
Magnesium
Clean Die Cast
Stainless
Unprepared Stainless
Carbide
All prices quoted at current market. May change depending on date and time of delivery. Prices subject to change without notice.
Fair Salvage Company will ONLY purchase hybrid or electric cars IF the battery packs have been removed.
Prices Effective 5/29/24
Trust a Reputable Scrap Metal Recycler
Get rid of incomplete electronic devices, old plumbing fixtures, broken Christmas lights, and other items you no longer use at one of our three local central Michigan salvage yard locations. For more details about our metal recycling rates and the items that we can purchase, simply contact us.
We are open Monday through Friday and half a day on Saturday.
