Scrap recycling. My friend works for a foundry. There is a guy there who dumpster dives for the electric motors they throw out. He pulls the copper wire and recycles it. I'm sure he also recycles the housings as scrap.
Stripped, clean copper wire is going for about $3.30/lb here.
My brother in law works for a major appliance store. He does deliveries. They promise to take away the old washer/dryer, refridgerator, or stove. The store lets the delivery guys keep any of the take away units they want. A lot of it still works fine, but doesn't "match" the remodelled kitchen or something. He got his sister a stand up freezer. I got a refrigerator and a dryer. All for free. The rest he takes to the junk yard. They put them in a car before they crush it for extra weight. In exchange the owner gives him a car to run in the junk car races plus any parts he needs to get it running. Then he just gives the smashed car back. Technically he isn't allowed to "sell" any of the take-aways, so he just "barters" like this instead.
I have all the equipment to DJ weddings and parties. Up front costs are high, and it can be expensive keeping all the music current. At most of the weddings I have done, I played 80% older songs anyway. I was getting between $350 and $500 for 5 hours of playing music on a Saturday. At that price, I was also under cutting the "Major" companies by $200 or more. Plus, I played until everyone was done. Most places I have dealt with quote a price for 4 hours, plus $75 or $100 per hour over 4. I had a friend who like to help me set up, tear down, take requests, find songs. I paid him $100 to basically hang out with me, talk to bridesmaids, and eat catered food.
I now have 3 kids so I don't DJ anymore. I have been thinking about getting it all together again and doing a couple gigs a year.
