Top 3 Most Valuable Welding Scrap Metals

Are you a welder? Selling your welding scrap metal could be the extra profit you’re missing out on! Take it from us, what looks like rubbish can actually hold plenty of hidden value.

So don’t waste your leftover welding materials, put them to one side and prepare them correctly for a big profit instead! Keep reading for a full breakdown of where you can find the most valuable welding scrap, how to maximise its value and where KAS Metal Trading’s local scrap yard can help with all of the above.

Welding Steel

As a welder, you’ll be used to working with steel everyday, whether that be stainless steel, mild carbon steel or low-alloy steel. But did you know just how profitable your leftover materials are?

Which welding materials can I find scrap steel in?

• Base Materials: Structural steel beams, plates, sheets, pipes, etc. These materials are used as the main components of a welding project.
• Filler Metals: The following materials are added to the weld joint to create a strong bond:
  • MIG (Metal Inert Gas) Wire: Continuous and solid mild steel wire, fed automatically through a welding gun.
  • TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) Rods: Mild, low-alloy or stainless steel rods used manually with a non-consumable tungsten electrode.
  • Stick Electrodes (Rods): Made up of a mild or stainless steel wire core, used for heavy-duty applications or on less clean surfaces.
  • Flux Cored Wire: A tubular steel wire filled with flux, used in flux-cored arc welding.

Welding Aluminium

Taking spot number 2 on the list is scrap aluminium, often used to make window frames, railings or furniture. One of the most valuable non-ferrous scrap metals, if prepared correctly, selling your scrap welding aluminium could have you walking away from our scrap yard with a pretty penny.

Which welding materials can I find scrap aluminium in?

• Base Materials: Aluminium sheets, plates, bars and extruded profiles (e.g. angle, channel/U-channel, square/rectangular box sections and round tubes)
• Filler Metals (MIG Wires/TIG Rods): 4043 Aluminium Alloy (contains silicon) which is good for general-purpose welding due to its fluidity, or 5356 Aluminium Alloy (contains magnesium) which is ideal for marine applications due to its high tensile strength and corrosion resistance.

Welding Copper

Last but certainly not least, is scrap copper. Found in plenty of welding materials, you won’t be stuck for choice with this top-earner.

Which welding materials can I find scrap copper in?

• Filler Metals: Copper/copper alloy filler metals used for joining copper with other materials:
  • Pure Copper (ERCu)
  • Copper-Silicon Alloy (ERCuSi-A)
  • Copper-Nickel (ERCuNi)
  • Phosphor Copper Rods
  • Copper-Coated Steel Wire
• Welding Equipment Parts: Due to its superior electrical and thermal conductivity, copper can also be found in the equipment used to weld materials together, including:
  • MIG Welding Gun Contact Tips
  • Electrodes
  • Copper-Core Welding Cables 
  • Welding Nozzles & Jaws

Ready to Sell Your Welding Scrap?

Ready to make a profit on your welding scrap? Visit our local scrap yard at M46 0RY today. Based in Atherton, we can also service the following areas: 

• Astley
• Bolton
• Chorley
• Lancashire
• Leigh
• Manchester
• Preston
• Salford
• Tyldesley
• Westhoughton  
• Wigan
• Worsley

Why Choose KAS Metal Trading?

• The very best scrap metal prices, always based on the London Metal Exchange (LME).
• Speedy turnarounds so you can get back to what you do best!
• Same-day payments via cheque, bank transfer or our pre-paid card method (before 4pm).

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Welding Scrap Metal: FAQs

How do I maximise the value of my welding scrap?

1. Sort Scrap Metal Before Recycling: Separate ferrous metals from non-ferrous metals. Top Tip: You can use a magnet to test this – if it’s ferrous it will stick to the magnet.
2. Categorise Non-Ferrous Scrap: E.g. Keep copper and brass separate from cheaper metals like nickel, tin and titanium. 
3. Remove Any Non-Metal Attachments: Plastic, rubber, paint, or any other non-metal attachments will need to be removed before recycling to maintain a high grade (i.e. purity) of scrap metal.
4. Keep an Eye on Supply & Demand: If there is an oversupply of a particular scrap metal and demand for it is low, prices will also be low. But if demand is high and supply is low, prices will sky-rocket. You can keep an eye on signs of change by monitoring official prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) website.
5. Save Up Scrap Metal to Sell In Bulk: It goes without saying that the more scrap metal you have to weigh-in, the higher the final price will be. (As long as the scrap has been prepared correctly!).

Which documents or ID do I need to sell welding scrap in the UK?

According to the British Metals Recycling Association, all scrap metal buyers must ask you for photo identification. The following are suitable forms of ID:

• A UK driving licence 
• A current UK passport and a supporting document that shows proof of your address, this could be any of the following:
  • A utility bill (e.g. a water, electricity or gas bill – not a mobile phone bill)
  • A bank or building society statement 
  • A debit or credit card statement
  • A council tax demand letter or statement
  • A mortgage statement
  • HMRC correspondence
  • A TV licence

Are scrap steel welding offcuts valuable even if they’re discoloured from heat?

Yes. In fact, this discolouration is proof that even the smallest of impurities has been removed from the steel during the welding (specifically, the melting) process.