Materials, Save

[jmellc]

I’ve seen a few posts about shortages but hadn’t seen much issue until now. My boss went for materials this week. Supply house didn’t have 3/4 T’s or 1/4 x20x 2 inch bolts. He was also told that Bell boxes were short everywhere. I’ve been using whatever odd stuff I can find to do my project. Another boss had to wait half a day for same supplier to bring in a 3 phase 60 amp disconnect. Lucky to get it same day.
Are any of you saving good scrap from your demo’s? Would be a good idea.

 

[tortuga]

I’ve seen a few posts about shortages but hadn’t seen much issue until now. My boss went for materials this week. Supply house didn’t have 3/4 T’s or 1/4 x20x 2 inch bolts. He was also told that Bell boxes were short everywhere. I’ve been using whatever odd stuff I can find to do my project. Another boss had to wait half a day for same supplier to bring in a 3 phase 60 amp disconnect. Lucky to get it same day.
Are any of you saving good scrap from your demo’s? Would be a good idea.

Short answer yes, I went thru some old bins to get salvage about 100 1/4 x20 bolts, bought some nice lugs off a guy on ebay, and sold a used 3 phase panel today for the first time instead of just scrapping it....

 

[James L]

I swapped out a panel a few weeks ago because I needed more spaces. Old panel was Eaton BR, only about 5-10 years old. I gave it to my buddy because he needed exactly what I took out.

A few blunder plugs and he was set.

 

[Coppersmith]

In general, I don't install any used material because the clients are paying for new material. It seems like fraud to use used material. The only exception I make are for FPE and Sylvania breakers since replacements are very expensive. I carry a few salvaged from panel change jobs on the truck.

I ask the client if they want a salvaged breaker or a new one and give them the respective prices. I don't charge a lot for them and they save me a special trip to the supply house. Yes, I ask the client if they want a panel change first.

ETA: However, I love it when I am able to use a short piece of new scrap conduit or cable that I was planning on throwing out, but just hadn't removed from the truck yet. Free material! Also nice is using some item I bought out of the discontinued and discounted sale bin since I can charge full price for it. Extra profit!

 

[gadfly56]

In general, I don't install any used material because the clients are paying for new material. It seems like fraud to use used material. The only exception I make are for FPE and Sylvania breakers since replacements are very expensive. I carry a few salvaged from panel change jobs on the truck.

I ask the client if they want a salvaged breaker or a new one and give them the respective prices. I don't charge a lot for them and they save me a special trip to the supply house. Yes, I ask the client if they want a panel change first.

ETA: However, I love it when I am able to use a short piece of new scrap conduit or cable that I was planning on throwing out, but just hadn't removed from the truck yet. Free material! Also nice is using some item I bought out of the discontinued and discounted sale bin since I can charge full price for it.

Pretty much that right there. That said, it might depend on the customer's needs, and full transparency regarding the used items, with all the caveats clearly explained, might yield a mutually acceptable agreement.

 

[jmellc]

Thanks for the thoughts. I think hi hug if f mostly agree with not selling used items to customers & fought with a previous boss about it. But with conduit fittings & such being short, these items may be worth reusing. My projects now are in our plant, so it’s for ourselves, in a dirty, oily environment. New stuff doesn’t look new very long. Sometimes we have to use what we have & worry less about aesthetics.

 

[petersonra]

As a practical matter you reuse old stuff all the time because it's what's in place. You only replace the stuff that has to be replaced so I don't get too worried about whether a used piece of conduit got put in place instead of something brand new.

Now if you promise to use all new parts and you use used parts then I might get a little offended.