Material
Information

DEFINITIONS OF MATERIAL PURCHASED:

Vehicles; Includes cars, pickup trucks, vans and similar vehicles (does not include buses and motor homes- please call for information regarding these vehicles). To receive the advertised per ton price on a vehicle the frame must be intact and the vehicle must have a clear title. The fuel tank must be either removed or have a large hole in the bottom of the tank (large enough to stick your head inside). If the fuel tank is not removed or have a large hole in it you will be charged a $40.00 service fee. A vehicle cut up must still have a clear title. Click here to download the application for a Michigan Scrap or Salvage Title. Application must be completed and turned into the Secretary of State for approval.

Sheet Iron; Includes washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, stoves and other similar items. Motor cycles, snowmobiles, ATV's are also purchased as Sheet Iron but these items must have a registration turned in to show proof of ownership.

Clean Copper;
     Number one: For wire, each individual strand of the wire must be the size of a No. 2 pencil lead or larger. For pipe and other material, it must be clean and shinny to the point that you can still read the original manufacturer stamp.
     Number Two: For wire, each individual strand is smaller than the size of a No. 2 pencil lead. Solder is ok.
     Number Three: Sheet copper.

Insulated Copper; Copper wire with insulated coating. There are several grades. Insulated number two example would be regular housing extension cords, insulated number one must have only one coat of insulation and each individual stand of copper must be larger than a number two pencil lead, insulated number three is communication cable like phone and computer cables and Romex house wire is its own category.

Brass; Plumbing and other fittings, faucets, etc. Chrome plate 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.

Aluminum;
     Wheels: must be made of aluminum. Steel rims are considered short steel or alloy free. The wheel weights and valve stems must be removed to receive full purchase value (bring the weights, we buy them too!). Wheels with plastic coating or chrome plate are purchased as dirty wheels even if the weights and valve stems have been removed.
     Old sheet: any type of aluminum sheet with small amounts of contamination such as screws, staples, light tar, caulk, etc. Non-returnable pop cans are also purchased as old sheet as well as other cans such as aluminum cat food cans. Pontoons are purchased as old sheet but they must have a hole cut in them so we can see that there is no foam, water, etc. inside.
     Painted aluminum: siding, soffit, facia and other similar materials. Most sheet type aluminums that have been factory painted (not hand painted) that are completely free of contaminants.
     Cast aluminum: grill tops and clean aluminum pistons are good examples. Must be completely free of contamination.
     Clip aluminum: clean and shiny aluminum like lawn chair frames. Must be completely free of contamination.
     Extruded aluminum: window and door frames. Material has been run through an "extruder" so it is molded, not folded. Must be completely free of contamination. Unclean extruded is allowed to have small amounts of contamination.

Batteries; all lead acid batteries. No NiCad, Lithium, or Alkaline. Battery will say "lead" on it or have the lead recycling logo with "Pb" (Pb is the symbol for lead on the scientific chart of elements).

Clean Radiators;
     Auto Rads: constructed of brass and copper
     Aluminum Rads: constructed of aluminum and generally have plastic tanks attached
     Copper/Aluminum Rads: constructed of aluminum fins with copper tubes
To receive full price on radiators all plastic, steel and other contaminants must be removed.

Heater Cores; brass cores only. Aluminum cores will be purchased as aluminum radiators.

Pistons (aluminum); purchased as irony aluminum with rings and/or rods still attached. Purchased as cast aluminum when no steel is present.

Irony Aluminum; aluminum with excessive contamination. Must still be at least 50% aluminum by weight.

Transmissions; Complete aluminum housing. Manuals purchased as a half of transmission. Steel housing transmissions are purchased and unclean motor cast. Torq converter must be removed and any oil drained.

Starters and Alternators; includes most aluminum nose and housing models. Starters with steel nose cone will be purchased as an electric motor.

Stainless Steel; must be non-magnetic (a magnet will not stick to it) and have no steel or other contamination attached. Most non-magnetic stainless material will be able to be purchased at the full advertised price. Watch out for stainless that may have a decal backing adhered to it, this goes at half price. 201 stainless such as the stainless used in semi van trailers is also half price.

Ferrous (steel) Materials:

        2 Foot Plate and Structural: Must be the same size as Alloy Free and Short Steel which is 2 foot by 18  inches and smaller but can ONLY be plate and structural material such as plate steel, I-beam, H-beam and angle iron that are at least one quarter of an inch thick. When cut into 5 foot by 2 foot sections material will be purchased as 5 Foot Plate and Structural.

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING PLATE AND STRUCTURAL MATERIALS:
There cannot be any galvanized material in Plate and Structural or Alloy Free. Galvanized material will be purchased as unprepared or sheet iron depending on how heavy the material is. Nuts and bolts are ok if attached to the P & S material but nuts and bolts cannot be purchased as P & S by themselves, if they are mixed in loose in the load it will be downgraded to Short Steel or 4 X 2.

        Short Steel: Includes all ferrous steel items. Must be cut into 2' x 18" or smaller pieces and be 3/16 of an inch thick or thicker to receive full purchase value. Any heavy steel that does not meet the specifications for Alloy Free cut into this length may go as short steel. Steel rims with valve stems attached are also Short Steel wheel weights must be removed! Some items such as shelving, refrigerator racks, etc. cannot go as short steel even if they meet the thickness and size requirements. Also nothing that has been galvanized.
        Mixed Cast: Anything over 3" thick will be priced at scales. Includes cast iron items such as cast iron sinks and bath tubs, some gears and older farm equipment.
        Clean Motor Cast: Includes cast iron motor blocks that have had all aluminum, sheet iron and non-metallic material removed from them. Also includes brake drums, rotors, crankshafts and  non-aluminum heads.
        Unclean Motor Cast: Includes gas cast iron motor blocks that have not had the aluminum and sheet iron removed. Diesel blocks are purchased at $50.00 per ton less than the advertised price for gas motor blocks.
        4 X 2 Steel: Includes all ferrous steel items. Must be cut into 2' X 4' or smaller pieces and be 3/16 or an inch thick or thicker to receive full sale value. Some items such as shelving, refrigerator racks, etc. cannot go as 4 X 2 steel even if they meet the thickness and size requirements. Also nothing that has been galvanized.
        Unprepared: Includes all the above materials that have not been cleaned or prepared using the information above.Price may be less than advertised depending on the quality of your material.

MATERIALS NOT PURCHASED

- Any items requiring proof of ownership and proof is not turned in at the scale. Vehicles and trailers without a matching clear and signed title will not be purchased. Boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc. must have a registration turned in.

- Radioactive material. All material entering Fair Salvage is scanned for radioactivity.

- Any type of sealed container that has not been cut open enough that we can see it is clean, dry and free of hazardous material.

- Vehicles with propane or natural gas tanks still attached.

- All materials made of or containing asbestos.

- Transformers that still contain oil.

- All items coming from or appear to have come from a grave site, monument or public property.

- Any type of gauge, thermostat, etc. that contains mercury.

- Nickel/Cadmium (NiCad), Lithium or alkaline batteries.

- Any metal that is excessively covered in dirt, concrete or other debris.

- Any refrigeration equipment that has not been certified to be empty of freon or have had the compressors completely removed from the units.

- Garbage; Including but not limited to plastics, loose tires, food and paper waste.

- Hazardous or Flammable Metal Dust; lead dust, magnesium turnings, etc.

- Propane, acetylene or any other type of gas tank that has not been cut.

- Television, computer monitors or any other items with excessive amounts of glass.

- Plastic and glass.

- Precious metals such as gold and silver. It is best to contact a pawn shop or jeweler for these items.

- Money. It is illegal to destroy currency.

- Deposit stamped cans. It is illegal to accept any recyclable aluminum cans that have a Michigan deposit on them.

MATERIALS PURCHASED 

- Aluminum

- Copper

- Brass

- Stainless Steel

- Lead Acid Batteries

- Lead and Wheel Weights

- Electric Motors

- Catalytic Converters

- Steel

- Sheet Iron (Tin) including appliances

- Vehicles

- Magnesium Solids

* See Material Purchased with Conditions and
Mataerials Not Purchased for additional information.

MATERIALS PURCHASED WITH CONDITIONS

- Drums, barrels and paint cans; Lids must be removed, must be clean and dry, no hazardous residues present.

- Large tanks; Must be clean and dry, valves removed, manholes open and in position so tank can be inspected at scale or a large hole must be cut in the side of the tanks.

- Tires; Accepted at no charge only when attached to a vehicle (you are allowed four per vehicle, no loose tires in vehicle). Tire deductions for all others will be $5.00 per tire for regular automotive size, $15.00 each for 4X4 and semi truck size tires and tractor and industrial equipment tires $25.00 and up depending on the size of the tires.

- A service fee of $40.00 per vehicle will be charged for each vehicle with a fuel tank still attached or without a large hole in each tank on each vehicle.

- Oil cooled transformers must be dry.

- Refrigeration Equipment; Accepted only if certified empty of Freon or the compressors have been completely removed from the units (simply cutting lines does not count).

- Railroad material; must be accompanied by a sales receipt from the railroad.

- Ballasts; must have a label stating they are PCB free.