The recent drop in commodities such as non ferrous metals has disappointed alot of scrap collectors. I personally work in the field essentially as a metals broker you could say, I buy and sell recovered wire through out Canada, I merely see this drop in the markets as a "capital cleansing" for the industry - A way to filter out the companies who were capitalizing on the rising metal prices, who were nickel and dime'ing literally the corporations for sole financial gain, with out contributing back to the industry itself.
Supply and demand are the essential words played by the media, however that does not make sense sometimes to investors. For example Metal prices started to climb and everyone watched, and when it got to a high point for people, they bought stock. People usually buy when high because they believe that certain stock will rise further, now it fell, people who believed copper would go through the roof, and make their dollar grow now have now sold at less fearing that it will sink to botto,less pit, So now their supply wasn't so demanding.
Alot of Merchants across Canada have sold off their metals at what they think was a good idea, sell now before it gets lower. That is exactly what was planned from the start. I believe.
Now China (a major purchaser of copper) Has almost stopped their purchases which is affecting the small guys who cant afford to not sell, therefore stabilizing a fair trade market for those who depend on less volatile markets to increase and expand business within a profital margin comfotably.
The metal prices will climb again, and they will probably reach further than before, and the good thing is that the metals will be a bit more controlled because those who lost in the game, couldnt play in the first place. Once your ass gets kicked once financially its hard to jump back in.
So if you have stocks in these areas, They are hoping you sell cheap, stay with the ride it will impress you. Mid January 2009 You will see the rise.

nothing is guaranteed

n o t h i n g

you may be better of just getting yourself a farm

Funny, a bunch of my friends have had their old aluminum boats swiped from their back yards, and back of their trucks, driveways etc... over the last few years.

What would a 120 lb aluminum boat be worth as scrap?

Before, this was NEVER a problem, everyone had these cheap boats lying in their yards without a care.

this could be also be used as re-using dirty socks the next day

Scrap metals won't be scrap metals if commodities surge - they will be assets - "scrap" will decline

i think you are 100% right with your january recovery idea

It has nothing to do with a world wide drop in demand?

Your friend Blacklist was nalways right from the beggining. Everyone thought the markets would be down forever lol or at least a year...look at the rebounds. So here is advice what you hear from the news and people......forget.
Just ask yoiuur friend.

BANGING INTO METALS CAN BE ROUGH!

I don't call that scrap - it is recovered or recycled materials and it's value is estimated in the contract for the demo.

I have 2nd hand experience with one demo job and the contractor who got the contract. The low contractor took his materials and labour estimate, deducted the cost of recycling or reselling the materials and put a big old fat mark-up on his "cost" and he was awarded the job. It may have been a one-off example.

Demolition, reclamation and recycling is a profitable business - I still do not consider materials of value scrap