Guides

Metal ID & Sorting

Yards pay by grade, and mixed or misidentified loads get priced at the cheapest metal in the pile. These guides cover the magnet test, telling brass from bronze from copper, aluminum grades, stainless, and how to sort a mixed pile into money.

Jul 3, 2026 · The ScrapTally Team · Metal ID & Sorting
#1 vs #2 Copper: How Yards Grade It (and How Not to Get Downgraded)
The difference between #1 and #2 copper is often just a few minutes of cleanup — but it's dollars a pound. Here's exactly how yards grade copper and how to hit the higher tier.
- copper

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