Friday, January 28, 2011

Financial Crisis Inquiry Report Downloads Now Available

This should be of interest:

We're all impacted by recent economic events and the recession that we're now in. January 27, 2011 the FCIC released the Financial Crisis Inquiry Report to the public. I have made it available in Acrobat PDF format for you to download. In the ensuing days and weeks I will be adding many more reports, hearings, testimonies, videos, maps, regional impacts and related materials.

Download the Financial Crisis Inquiry Report

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Getting into Home Based Salvage & Recycling with Little Cash, Promoting Your Businss...

Hi - Just a headsup. Wondering how to get started in salvage and recycling with little cash? How to promote your business? I've been working on an article over the weekend. Includes information about the above plus how a local website may help you. I'll post a message here when it is completed.

Best to you in your endeavors

Mike
Recycling Secrets
How to Make Money in the Home Based Salvage and Recycling Business

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Download How to Make Money in the Salvage and Recycling Business Now

The revised eBook is available for download to all purchasers.

Click here and enter your username and password to download the revised 2011 eBook.

If you have not yet purchased How to Make Money in the Salvage and Recycling Business, you can learn more about it here.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Revised Home Based Salvage & Recycling Business Manual Available

Hello - If you previously purchased a copy of the Home Based Salvage and Recycling Business Manual I'll be sending you a revised version by midnight tonight. If you do not receive it, please email me using the email address you entered when you purchased the ebook and I'll make sure you get it. A link will also be posted on the website.

Mike

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Recycling Secrets

Friday, January 14, 2011

Advice on Starting Small in the Salvage and Recycling Business

A recent message that I think is of interest.

Mike, I am very interested in the salvage business but I want to start small and put off getting involved in heavy metals, construction waste, and goods that are space and labor intensive. What do you recommend?

My response:

Hi ____ - One of the first things I did was go around to local businesses and see what sort of things they might be interested in. I found a rebuilder of valves - water, oil, gas, etc. - who would buy old valves from me right away.

Also in winter, keeping in touch with insurance agents helps. I've gotten tons of free aluminum from torn up awnings and mobile home porches. The aluminum is easily scrapped - no storage involved.

When I've done deconstruction I've almost always been able to sell the stuff before I took the building apart so no space required there and there are all sorts of sizes of buildings.

The electronics end is going to take space and time to sort, determine what's of value, etc. so probably not best to begin with if you don't have the space to work on stuff. Good winter time work though.

Every community is different. I'd just get your name out there as THE salvage guy and see what happens. I'd stay away from beccoming the hauling guy. That's a different deal and folks will look at you differently if you charge to haul stuff away. Put up flyers, cheap ads, and talk to folks and then pick and choose.

I've run into barrels full of valves at times that I could buy at pennies on the dollars that I would get and turn them over the same day.

Some really big things like a water tank on an 80 foot tower I got for free and resold in a few days and never ever touched it. you just never know.

More examples in the manual.

Good luck and keep me posted on your progress.

Mike
www.RecyclingSecrets.com

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Rebuilding Cutting Torches - Low Cost Kits

I was thinking more about cutting torches. New torches can be quite costly. Used ones go for much less, but often it is not easy to test them out beforehand. I just did a quick check and rebuild kits are quite reasonable. So, if you can get a name brand torch cheap and have to rebuild it, you'll still be in good shape. Here's one link that I found for Victor rebuild kits. Other manufacturers also sell kits.

Hammerweld.com

Good luck and keep the questions coming!

Mike
Recycling Secrets

About Cutting Torches, Scrap Autos and Farm Equipment

From a recent ebook purchaser and member:

Dear Mike

Thanks for the insightful manual, its really helpful.

I in a process of starting a scrap metal business. I want to start by salvaging metal from old cars, farm machinery/equipment and other smaller things. My worry is that my truck is small so I will need to cut scrap metal into manageable pieces that will fit into the truck and transport it to recycling centres.

I would like to know what cutting tools I may need? I know there are heavy duty and light duty cutting torches. What should I be careful of or look out for when I buy these? I want to start buying used ones, I've seen people are selling them online here.

I will appreciate your advice.

Thanks

S B

South Africa

My reply:

Hi - Thanks for the compliments. As to cutting equipment, a small torch works best for me. You don't need to use acetylene - too expensive and don't need the heat. Most any used cutting torch will do - oxygen and propane works just fine. Best to buy one that you can try out first. If you have a welding supply nearby, they may have used ones. Doesn't have to be a very large one at all. Also, individuals often resell cutting torches. Something they thought they would use but never used very much.

As you scrap these items keep an eye out for what might be reuseable and sellable at much higher than scrap prices. Farm machinery parts especially should demand a price quite a bit better than scrap. Also, any farm irrigation equipment - valves, irrigation pipe, pumps and parts - can be quite valuable in any condition.

For large items, you may be able to enlist the help of a short time partner with a larger truck. When I scrapped a bulldozer and tractor, my truck was just barely large enough but I had to hire a crane to lift parts onto the bed. If I had gone to a commercial crane operator the price would have been too much, but I found a local logger who had a crane on his log truck. Ended up trading him small dozer parts for the crane work. Another source of small cranes is the fellows who deliver roofing trusses.

Good luck and keep me posted

Mike
Home Based Salvage and Recycling Business Manual
 
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