Got an old car that is scrap? We’ll tell you how it can be made useful

Consider a pair of old junk car seats like these-
 

You can turn them into comfortable office chairs with very little effort-

Fascinating, isn’t it?

And it is easy too. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Detach the redundant car seats
2. Get enough spray adhesive
3. Get spray paints, associated hardware and a rust remover.
4. Use the spray paints to give the old car seats a fresh and sophisticated look.
5. Utilize the rust remover to make the seats rust-free.
6. Use associated hardware to convert into office chairs.

That isn’t all you can do with scrap car parts. There are lots of other things you can do with junked car scraps to get something useful and beautiful. Here are a few: 

Create vintage flower art!

 

This creative art can be easily made by using old car license plates and a door knob! All you need to do is assemble the junked license plates and door knob in the way shown above. Soon you will see how this adage comes live- “A car’s waste is another person’s treasure!” 

Make a work-table

We understand the pain a car owner goes through after witnessing the breakage of car’s exterior over a period of time because of rusting. However, as you find treasures from a sinking ship, here too lies a treasure! Above is a brilliant example of how you can convert old car parts into gorgeous new furniture. All you need to do is get old rusted car doors like above. Assemble the door with a few wooden strands as shown above and you have a sturdy table ready to use! 

Or an artsy industrial vase

You’ve recycled the seats. And the license plates. And the rusted door. What else is left to recycle?

All the tiny metal bits and ends that hold the cars together. Weld them together to create an industrial-style vase. Or use them to make a striking showpiece or a vintage holder!

Head-lamps can be useful too

We personally love this marvelous table lamp assembled using an upcycled car headlight. You can see, the rouge retro headlight consists of dings and scratches thus showing how beautifully it has aged. Although it is worn out, it gives the lamp a vintage feel. To create this at home, assemble an old car headlight with a stand and a switch and a pivoting mechanism.

These old reclaimed car parts will lend a neat, industrial look to your home’s décor.

Or if you are not into DIY, you can consider recycling your car by selling it at the scrap yard. Car parts are mostly steel which is the most common metal and hence does not fetch much at the scrap yard. But you can get a good price for your scrap if you call up scrap yards in your area beforehand to enquire about their prices. In our experience, scrap yards pay more when you sell scrap in bulk.

At Lucky Group we actively encourage metal recycling and upcycling in Dubai.

Image source: http://dornob.com/; https://www.etsy.com

Difference Between Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metal Scrap

Recycling should be fun.

It should not be complex or so technical that it becomes a task. That is the main motivation for us to write blogs that help you recycle and keep it fun.

In today's blog post we are going to talk about the differences and similarities between ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap. People mostly get overwhelmed with the technicalities when they start recycling but after you read this blog post, we are sure you won't have any doubts about how to recycle either of these metals or negotiate on their prices.

Simply put: Ferrous metals contain iron. Non-ferrous metals do not contain any iron.

Ferrous metals include: Steel, cast iron and wrought iron. Non-ferrous metals include: aluminium, brass, copper, nickel, zinc, lead and tin. They also include precious metals like gold and silver, but you won't really  sell them at the scrap yard.

The Differences

Ferrous metals are widely used for their strength and durability. Skyscrapers, bridges, automobiles and tools use ferrous metals. But for all their strength and durability, ferrous metals have the disadvantage of rusting when exposed to air. Stainless steel and wrought iron resist rusting but not other ferrous metals.

Non-ferrous metals are not as strong as ferrous metals, but they are used for various other purposes. Aluminium is valued for its malleability and light weight and used extensively in aircrafts. Non-ferrous metals are also resistant to rusting and are used for road signs, roofing, water pipes and gutters.

The Price

The prices of ferrous metals remain fairly steady as they are available in good supply throughout the year.

Non-ferrous metals are harder to come by which makes the demand greater and the prices higher. Aluminum prices don't fluctuate as much because of its steady supply but other non-ferrous metals like copper and brass can face massive price fluctuations throughout the year.

If you are looking to sell scrap, always call the scrap dealer in advance to find out the rate they are offering to buy the metal you have to sell.

The Similarities

Both ferrous and non-ferrous metals are useful and important for the Recycling Industry and ultimately for the environment.

If you have any more questions about ferrous and non-ferrous metals, leave them in the comments and we will get back to you.

How can you upcycle discarded copper pipes?

Where to find copper pipes in your house

Copper pipes are commonly used in houses for plumbing purposes. Copper pipes are non-toxic and safer than lead and hence most new households install copper pipes for their hot and cold water supply.

If you are upgrading the plumbing of your home, there is a lot you can do with copper pipes.

How to upcycle copper pipes?

This is the age of DIY. Upcycle is the recycling of old objects in such a way so as to create something of value. Here are some ways to upcycle discarded copper pipes.

If you have lots of copper piping, consider building an open copper bookshelf.
Image:

Copper can also be re-used as a curtain road. It looks gleaming and great and goes well with any type of curtain.

Here are a few ways where copper pipes can be  upcycled as lamps. We think there is something amazingly beautiful about copper gleaming in light.

 

Selling copper as scrap

If you do not feel like experimenting with copper fixtures, there is another way you can help upcycle the metal.

Simply sell copper at the scrap yard to make some money. Copper is very highly valued at the scrap yard. The average return value is generally between $2-4 per pound of copper. Every time copper is recycled, 100% of the metal is recovered. So by selling copper at the scrap yard you are definitely doing your bit for the environment.

If you want to know about other metals you can sell to make money, read this blogpost.

How to sell scrap metal for money?

Where to look for scrap metal?

1. Look in your garage or basement.
2. Check in your neighborhood for discarded metal by the side of the road.
3. If you are holding on to old auto parts, those can be sold as scrap metal.
4. An old lawnmower has lots of metal parts and can be sold as scrap. Just make sure you empty the fuel tanks before you put it up for sale.
5. Yard sales are a good place to score some scrap metal for cheap.

How much is it worth?

Copper- Copper is the most valued scrap metal. Almost any metal recycling yard will accept it, depending on its condition. When copper is recycled, 100% of the metal is recovered. You can scrap motors that have copper or even copper wires. Old Christmas tree lights contain copper. And so do old toasters with their copper wiring. Old-fashioned or industrial plumping fixtures were also made of copper.

Brass- Recycling alloys like brass can also prove valuable. Brass can be found in gears, locks, valves, musical instruments and ammunition.

Aluminium- Aluminium is easily available as beverage cans, car bodies and tins. It is relatively cheap to sell as scrap.

Steel - Steel is the most common metal to scrap but the least lucrative. It can be commonly found in kitchen utensils, hubcaps and beer kegs.

How to sell it?

Step 1: Sort and clean the scrap metal
By doing these two things you significantly reduce the word the scrap yard has to do to recycle the metal. For that, your scrap metal could be bought for more.

Step 2: Find a transport vehicle. If you are carrying small quantities of scrap metal you can even use a bicycle to transport the scrap to the recycling yard. But if you are transporting huge quantities of scrap, then a pickup truck with an open back is your best option. Scrap metal in an open pickup truck can be easily unloaded by a crane. If you take your scrap metal in a closed vehicle, then you might damage your car's interior while unloading the scrap.

Step 3: Negotiate for a good price. Compare prices of the metal you are selling beforehand. You can either research it online or call up different scrap yards in your neighborhood and ask them their prices. Scrap yards usually pay more for larger quantities of scrap. Also in some areas, scrap metal fetches more during colder seasons.

Where to sell it?

The easy answer for this is scrap yards. But this question will deal with how to go about finding a scrap yard and sell your scrap? There are a few steps to this.

1. First, find a local scrap yard. You can look in your local classifieds book or do an internet search. Search for "scrap yard your-location-name" or "metal recycling your-location-name".

2. Different scrap yards buy different kinds of metal. Shortlist the scrap yards based on what you are selling.

3. Compare prices before you visit the shortlisted scrap yards by calling them and asking how much they offer for the metal you are selling.

4. Negotiate!

Upcycle in the Garden - Planters and Containers

What does an old worn out boot, used plastic water bottles and worn out tyres have in common?

Confused?
They can all be used as planters and containers in your garden.

Yes! We are not joking. Upcycle is the new recycle. Upcycling is when you take old items that you don't use anymore and converting them into something useful and beautiful.

At Lucky Group we have the most advanced environmental policy in the Middle East and we actively encourage upcycling materials before discarding them.

Here are a few ways in which you can upcycle used household items to make beautiful planters and containers in your home garden.


Old boots have an aura of mystery about them and plants and flower growing out of old boots only magnifies that aura. Put a little dam soil in an old boot you haven’t used in a while and insert a delicate sapling in the soil and keep an eye out as the wonder emerges.


Old plastic bottles have never looked so beautiful as they do with green foliage sprouting out of them. Cut a portion from the side of a used plastic bottle and plan some goodness in there. Then nail it on the wall. Ten points for the environment, we say.



Tyres really cannot be used for anything else once they are worn out. Except maybe for looking really pretty in the garden! Stack two tyres on top of one another and use them as traditional planters. They can be used for growing shrubs or herbs. Coat them with paint for an extra level of prettiness.



There is another way you can use tyres as planters. Nail them on a wall, drill some holes at the bottom for drainage, fill with potting soil and plant some blooms. See how a plain old wall becomes a wall of blooming art.

Recently Lucky Group was invited to participate as a recycling partner to the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) for its annual Can Collection Drive in October, 2014. We are very proud to share that we will be part of this drive.

If you have used upcycled items in your garden let us know how in the comments and we would love to add them to the list.

The Best Environmental Policy in the Middle East

Did you know that we have one of the most advanced environmental policies amongst all the recycling companies in the Middle East?

Lucky Group is one of the largest metal recyclers in the Middle East. Our recycling facilities in Dubai, Jebel Ali and Doha cater to clients that span over 40 countries worldwide.

As part of our operations, we procure metal scraps from various industries, scrap merchants and collection centers and process them in our facilities. Lucky Recycling has been re-certified for the AQSIQ certificate, which points to our stringent quality checks and commitment to the environmental cause. We are the first recycling corporation in the UAE to have the AQSIQ certification.

We believe in leading the recycling industry in the Middle East to a more environmentally friendly direction. Here are a few key factors in achieving our environmental objectives

-    We use only non-hazardous materials to minimize health hazards

-    We minimize waste through recycling

-    We utilize water and electricity as efficiently as possible

We endeavor to encourage environmentally aligned responsible behaviors. We communicate our environmental policy to our employees, clients and the public. We hope to continually evaluate and improve our environmental policy according to our strategic and operational development.

Leave a comment if you have any ideas for improving our environmental policy.

Creating Magic with Recycled Metal

Lucky Group is a scrap metal recycling company. We are also very environmentally conscious. We strongly believe that metal should be recycled and upcycled at home before it is tossed in the thrash. Check out some creative sculpture that can be made with thrash metal.

Standing on its own, the sculpture does not say much, but shine some bright light on it and suddenly the shadow becomes resembles Michelangelo's famous statue David.



 

This is another beautiful example of shadow sculpture. What looks like a messy discarded pile of used cans is actually carefully constructed to create a shadow on the wall of two people making merry.



 

Who knew old, rusted shovels could make for such an attractive garden ornament? This is a great example of making best out of waste.



 

While this is not a project you can take up at home, it is very pretty indeed. Old keys welded together to take the shape of a red wine bottle.



 

We’ve been saving our cutest finds for the last. These metal robots can be created from supplies that can easily be found in the kitchen. So go on, get some spare spoons, forks, nails and tins while we provide the inspiration.









Lucky Group is one of the oldest Metal Recycling Companies in Dubai. We also trade scrap metals in Dubai and the Middle East. Contact us for more details.

 

Image source: etsy.com, turningdirttofood.blogspot.se, recyclart.org