Scrap Metal (Fallout 3)

Scrap metal is a miscellaneous item in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.

Fallout 3
The primary purpose of scrap metal is to trade it in for more valuable items. Several unmarked quests allow the player to turn it in for experience or item rewards. The ammo press in the Pitt can also be used to melt scrap metal down into ammo. Scrap metal is very useful in the presses due to it yielding more ammo than scrap put in. For example, if one puts 500 pieces of scrap metal into the press to make shotgun shells, it will return 1000 shells.

Related activities

 * The Outcast Collection Agent: Scrap metal along with various other items can be turned in to Protector Casdin at Fort Independence for ammo, grenades, and useful aid items.
 * This Old House: Scrap metal can be given to Winthrop at Underworld in exchange for radiation supplies or stimpaks.
 * Walter's Scrap Metal: Scrap metal can be turned in to Walter at Megaton for caps and experience.

Fallout: New Vegas
Much like in Fallout 3, scrap metal in Fallout: New Vegas can be turned in to various NPCs for unmarked quests. It is also a useful alternative to a higher Repair skill when trying to repair certain objects. It is a necessary component in the crafting of the Weapon repair kit. Its most lucrative use, however, is that it can be broken down into 200 units of lead, which is used in the crafting of ammunition at a reloading bench. These things are not mutually exclusive, however, as lead is the easiest component of ammunition to get; the primer, powder, and casings are all much less commonplace.

Related quests

 * ED-E My Love: ED-E can be repaired using three pieces of scrap metal and several other objects if the player lacks the requisite Repair and/or Science skill to do so without parts.
 * Volare! - Iron and Stealing: One option to gain fame with the Boomers and thus complete the quest is to give Jack scrap metal. 50 pieces will give the player instant Idolized status.
 * Dealing with Contreras: Isaac can be given scrap metal to make ammo for Contreras. 100 pieces are necessary. However, he will also accept the much more numerous and far less valuable bent tin cans instead.
 * Not Worth a Hill of Corn and Beans: Two pieces of scrap metal, along with many other supplies, are needed to repair William Farber's food processor in Camp McCarran if you lack the Repair skill to jury rig it.

Locations
Scrap metal can be found throughout the Capital Wasteland and the Mojave Wasteland. For semi-specific locations, please refer to the discussion page.

Behind the scenes

 * Scrap metal was originally called "spare parts" and was designed to function just like alien epoxy (which was added to Fallout 3 with the Mothership Zeta add-on), but this idea was dropped during pre-production.

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