Places to buy scrap metal

[Lloyd Ewing]

Several weeks ago I called all of the places in the phone book under
"Recycling Centers & Services". (I needed a part to fix the old
furnace in my house and I couldn't find the part I needed for a
reasonable price, so I got a part from the place where old dead
furnaces go.) There were only two businesses in the Austin area that
would sell old scrap metal, and they are out by the ABIA airport.

ABS Metal Recycling 826-0797
8-4:30 M-F, 8-4 Sat
6001 FM 973 South in Del Valle
South of Hwy 71 past Pearce Lane and before Elroy Road

All American Recycling 243-1183
9-5:30 M-F, Sat 9-4 (but get there by 3 because they are busy on Sat.)
9202 FM 812
Near the intersection at Hwy 183

Both sounded like nice people on the phone. I only went to ABS. They
buy and sell several types of scrap metal, including aluminum, copper,
and iron. They do not take things apart to separate the materials by
type when they get them, but they pay more for recycling that has been
separated.

There were lots of appliances and furnaces with interesting motors,
timers, thermostats, fans, etc. Also metal debris from construction,
remodeling, and demolition. I also saw a wheelchair and a couple of
bicycles that looked like they might have been in working condition.
(I am pretty sure that those were brought in by the people who drive
around the neighborhoods where the city is doing a bulk trash
collection and try to pick up everything that is worth money before
the city trucks get it.)

You should probably call before driving out there, because if they
have just shipped out a load of aluminum then that would not be a good
time to get aluminum. If it has been raining take an extra set of
boots because the soil in that area is clay that sticks to your shoes
in huge clumps and is impossible to scrape off.

[Weston]

Metals 4 U sells custom cut metals, and they throw all their scrap on
a couple shelves near the front of the shop for sale by the pound.

15324 I 35 North
Austin, TX 78728
(512) 879-4575
metals4u.com‎

Austin Metal and Iron Co. has a section of their yard in the back
corner where you can dig through steel and some aluminum scrap that
they sell by the pound. Can't remember how much it costs, but it's
cheap. I got the sense that this is somewhat of an unofficial policy,
so if you go, try to be extra nice so they continue to make this
resource available to hackers and the like.

1000 East 4th Street, Austin, TX
(512) 477-4640 ‎