Short answer: The main types are cast aluminium, such as engine parts, wheels and fittings, extruded aluminium, such as window and door frames, gutters and tubing, sheet aluminium, such as cladding, signs and roofing, and thin items like cans and foil, and buyers often price them differently because they differ in alloy, cleanliness and how they are processed, which is why separating them can raise the overall return.
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List Free →Cast aluminium
Cast pieces are made by pouring molten metal into a mould and tend to be thick, heavy for their size and rough in texture, as in engine parts, gearbox casings and wheels.
Extruded and sheet aluminium
Extruded items have a constant cross-section, such as frames and tubes, while sheet is rolled flat, as in cladding and signs, and both are generally cleaner and often softer than cast.
Thin items
Cans, foil and trays are aluminium too but are thin and light, so they take a lot of volume to reach a meaningful weight.
How ScrapTrade Fits In
ScrapTrade buyers quote on aluminium by type, so each kind in your pile is priced on its own merits.
A little sorting goes a long way with aluminium. ScrapTrade connects you with verified buyers, transparent weighing and escrow-protected payments.
List or Find Scrap on ScrapTrade →Practical answers on telling aluminium scrap types apart, sorting them and selling each at its best price.