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4 Attic Items You Can Scrap for Cash

Admin • May 5, 2020
Items For Scrap — Chicago Heights, IL — Big Daddy Scrap

An attic provides an ideal place for storage, but more often than not, a lot of junk piles up in the space. If you are looking to clean out an attic and make some extra cash, consider the number of items you could scrap for cash.


The items in this list may not be the most obvious scrap metal options, but you can turn them all into quick cash options and reduce the clutter in your attic.


1. Christmas Lights

How many times have you encountered the big ball of tangled Christmas lights? Or maybe you have a string of lights where just one bulb goes out and the whole string turns funky. Well, there's no reason to untangle the lights or attempt repairs. Take your whole collection of unused lights and turn them into cash.

Christmas lights are often infused with valuable copper wire scrap yards seek out. If you have the knowledge and time, you have the opportunity to strip the lights down and cash in on just the copper wire. Otherwise, you may complete the transaction quickly by selling the whole string of lights.
Along with lights, consider other Christmas decorations, including metal yard signs or aluminum decorations like a light-up animated deer. With older Christmas decorations gone, use the scrap metal cash to invest in some new decorations to use for years to come.

2. Fishing Equipment
The art of fishing hasn't changed much over the years, but the equipment sure has. Older equipment like lures and weights were often made with materials like lead. The use of lead has presented issues for both animals and the environment. Not only should you consider replacing the lead equipment, but you could cash in on lead prices at a scrap metal yard.

Gather together old tackle boxes and fishing equipment. Sinkers are often made of pure lead and could lead to the most earnings if you have a large collection. A scrap metal yard will typically weigh all the items together and give you a price for all the lead items.

Fishing poles are often made of plastic and wood, but the separate reels could be mixed in with the lures and accessories. Reels may include metals like aluminum, steel, and copper which can be scrapped for cash.

3. Musical Instruments
Remember the time you were inspired to become the greatest trumpet player of all time? Don't let the three-month hobby let you down. Musical instruments are often made with premium metals like brass. Brass instruments do not need to collect dust up in the attic.

Gather up all your old instruments and turn them into straight cash at a scrap metal yard. When you cash in on brass instruments, there are two different kinds that will yield different prices. Irony brass contains a mixture of iron and copper. This is a cheaper form of brass and will earn less money per pound.

Yellow brass includes a mix of copper and zinc. Yellow brass is commonly used in instruments unless the instrument was a more affordable option. An experienced scrap worker has a number of methods to determine the type of brass. Tests may include filing down a piece of the metal to see the actual colors.

4. Air Conditioners
Air conditioner technology has improved greatly over the years. Newer air conditioners provide more cool air while lowering energy costs. As you replaced air conditioners, the older ones may end up in attics.

Lug the air conditioners down and bring them directly to scrap metal yards. You do not need to separate elements or pull out specific parts. A scrap metal yard will take the air conditioner whole and pay you directly for the weight.

Along with window-based air conditioners, scrap yards will accept central air units or air conditioner and heater combinations.

For updates on our daily prices, contact us at Big Daddy Scrap. We will provide you with direct information and tips to help improve your scrap metal experience.
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