Metal Recycling

24-04-08 : I recycled a light load of aluminium and received $103. The local recycler is buying cans at $0.75 per lb.

In the evening I started work upon dismantling my 100+ tons of dies. I already broke a 1/2″ hexagonal wrench (Allen key) because of the chemical, seizing, reaction that occurs between steel and aluminium. In my case, I have two slabs of aluminium that are bolted together with round-top steel bolts. To achieve the best prices, for both aluminium and steel, I need to separate the metals; hence, the bolts have to be removed.

Have you got what I’ve got ?

24-04-08 : My beautiful Thai Ice Maiden sent me another e-mail. This one began with a love heart symbol.

Actually, I don’t know how she did that. Perhaps it’s an option in her Hotmail e-mail account ?

All I can write is that I can’t wait to see her again at the end of May. I feel like a very lucky guy, but I’m proud that I gathered my courage to ask her out.

If you’re interested in reading about the Ice Maiden then click on Home. There are previous entries about her and how we met.

1963 Ford F750

23-04-08 : I just purchased this lovely F750. The truck has only 16,000 original miles and no rust. The original owner was a fire department in North Carolina. It has a 332 cid gasoline V8, and a 5 speed manual transmission. The gross weight is 23,000 lbs (10,454 kg).

I shall use this truck to transport dismantled machinery to the local metal recycling yard. I have more than 100 tons of machinery (steel and aluminium) to recycle so the truck will plenty pay for itself.

Getting busy in USA - 22/04/08

22/04/08 : I did this :

• received the representative of the local metal recycling plant for a looksee over my scrap metal; he promised to return to me with an estimation for what he would pay me to take it away. My feeling, however, is that I will handle the scrap myself. If I separate the aluminium from the steel then I will receive much better prices for both types of metal.
• my daily driver 1983 Ford F150 keeps getting hot, and water is being dumped out of the radiator overflow. I bought a new thermostat and gasket and removed the old one. I discovered that the old thermostat had been fitted the wrong way around - no wonder the truck kept getting hot; problem fixed.
• ‘phoned the seller of the F750 and offered $2,500; he countered with $2,600; deal !
• went running and jumping in the evening

Getting busy in USA - 21/04/08

21-04-08 : After staying with a friend in Elkhart from the night of the 14th onward, I arrived in the Indiana town in which I am based upon Saturday 19th.

Over the weekend I cleaned and waxed my Mercedes-Benz. Something has been dripping on it from the building roof, but it cleaned off easily and fully. I took digital photographs of the car. A employee of one of my client companies visited my site with a surprise gift for me - a comfortable sofa.

I didn’t get too busy until Monday 21st. I did this :

E-mail from the Ice Maiden

17-04-08 : I sent the Ice Maiden an e-mail at my first opportunity after returning to USA. Today she replied.

I really look forward to seeing her again.

My wonderful date with the Ice Maiden

13-04-08 : I’ve had my first date with the lovely Ice Maiden.

I had made a decision that I would not return to my room after my date. I wanted to see the Heartbreaker again, and then head to the airport in readiness for my 0810 flight the following morning. I, therefore, had my briefcase with me.

Songkran

Songkran, the water festival, was in full swing upon the day of the date. It’s for this reason that I brought along an additional shirt in my briefcase. Predictably, I was soaked by the time I had walked to the Ratchathewi BTS station. Children shot me with water pistols, but the adults actually poured small buckets of water over me. Foreigners are favourite targets during Songkran! I didn’t get mad, just stood and took it, but I did hold my briefcase up in the air in an ‘I don’t want this to get wet’ gesture.

Ice Maiden and a heartbreaker gogo girl

Ice Maiden

12-04-08 : I asked for the Ice Maiden’s ‘phone number and got it. Today she was working as cashier, so I was able to have a very brief chat to her as I paid my bill. It seemed like she’d been expecting me to ask so she was ready to give me the number. In fact, she asked for mine too. The whole experience was much easier than I had expected.

Now I’ve texted her to ask if she would like to go to a restaurant and bowling with me tomorrow evening.

Gogo

In the evening, I rewarded myself with a visit to a gogo bar and barfined a tiny 35kg cutie, named Lee, for a short time. She had great English, and an amazing body, but on the downside, at almost 24, she has a lot of experience.

While with Lee, my ‘phone rang, and I received a message, from the Ice Maiden. I didn’t answer the ‘phone. I had already missed 2 other calls from her because I hadn’t heard above the music in the bar. If she asks about it then I shall say that I went to the Internet shop and forgot to take my ‘phone. It’s consistent with the facts.

Ice Maiden and Research Scientist

11-04-08 : Thailand

Ice Maiden

Yesterday, the 10th, I tried to be cool headed and skipped on trying to see the Ice Maiden following my minor success of the 9th.

Today, my second attempt at communication with the Ice Maiden didn’t go so well. The reason is that she was working a different role today, specifically waitress rather than pointgirl or cashier. The shop was really busy, and, unusually, a trifle understaffed.

I don’t know whether she wanted to hang around with me, but it just wasn’t possible with so many tables to wait on. She did seem to make the effort, however, to come to my table 3 times : to bring water, to bring my ice cream, and to refill my water. Another girl actually took my order because IM was waiting on the next table at the time.

Possible Metal Recycling opportunity

10-04-08 : When I lived in UK, I don’t know how many cars I transported to my local metal recycler to earn additional cash. At first I used a car transporter trailer, but later upgraded to the real deal, an 8 tonne tilt & slide (rollback) truck. There are 3 problems with cars, as recyclables, however :

• While cars are large objects, they are actually not very dense, being mostly sheet metal enclosing air. Overall density, and therefore weight, is what brings the big bucks.
• Cars contain a lot of non-metal components such as plastic, rubber, foam, cloth, and glass. While these add to the weight, the recycler pays a much lower amount per ton, or per kilogram, than for pure metal. This is a fair policy; it just means that a small one ton car doesn’t fetch near as much as, say, a one ton excavator scoop.
• Most recyclers will no longer accept the tyres. Tyres need to be legally disposed of, and there is usually a small amount of money to be paid per tyre.