Results 1 to 11 of 11

storage of not quite vintage

| Vintage Electronics
  1. #1
    NHscrapman started this thread.
    NHscrapman's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2013
    Location
    new hampshire
    Posts
    1,582
    Thanks
    4,076
    Thanked 2,175 Times in 941 Posts

    storage of not quite vintage

    A vast majority of my computers that I scrap range from the mid to late 80's to late 90's. A few of the older ones have some value right now but as time goes on these units are going to be harder and harder to come across IMO.
    What, if anything, do/ would you do, to store some of this equipment for a long period of time?
    I'm thinking long term, 30 years plus, without much damage to the units?
    There ain't nothing wrong with an honest days work. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool.- Old Man

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to NHscrapman for This Post:



  3. #2
    mikeinreco's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    TENNESSEE
    Posts
    4,972
    Thanks
    1,257
    Thanked 5,023 Times in 2,350 Posts
    i guess climate controlled dark dry place??

  4. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by mikeinreco:


  5. #3
    ScrappinRed's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    texas
    Posts
    709
    Thanks
    319
    Thanked 710 Times in 342 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by mikeinreco View Post
    i guess climate controlled dark dry place??
    I agree. And perhaps covered in plastic to keep the dust out?
    ~You have to start somewhere to get anywhere~

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to ScrappinRed for This Post:


  7. #4
    bigburtchino's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    California
    Posts
    1,647
    Thanks
    4,388
    Thanked 2,835 Times in 1,132 Posts
    I have a box that I add to as I find it, stuff that was never even opened. Programs (Microsoft windows 1.0/1985, windows 3.2, word, Windows XP), old AOL and other programs, I have no idea or reason why I'm keeping them, if they were never open, they go in the box. Maybe it will be a "Time Capsule" of value someday. As I find this stuff, I always have same question why would someone buy or keep this stuff and never have opened it?

    I have another box more hardware related with (Netgear wireless, Colorado 350, Verbatim MC 3020 cartridge), that's just three items on top layer of my other/never opened computer stuff. Honestly I don't have a clue what most of it was, is or if it has any value. If it was never opened, goes in a box. I keep it all in a room for better than scrap stuff, dry, at room temperature.

    My plan was to hire a person at start of this year, to start selling eBay and warehouse sales. With those sales being part of recycling/scrap metal business now in it's fourth year. The drop in scrap metal and some personal medical issues has made me put that in a holding pattern for now. I plan to continue my "trash to cash" plan, expand and develop a way of reducing business trash cost, by diverting trash from a landfill and into a useful resource.

    The one thing the last four years of looking at trash has taught me, there's got to be a better way. People throw just about everything and anything away, finding out how to sell it to those who need and want it is my plan. I have and will continue to give it away for free to those in need, better than throwing it in a big hole and covering it up with dirt!

    Doctor said slow it all down for now and my body does too!

  8. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by bigburtchino:


  9. #5
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Youngstown, OH
    Posts
    606
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked 282 Times in 193 Posts
    30 years? Hmm.

    Collecting habits (I assume you are targeting collectors and not industrial companies looking to keep old equipment running) will change quite a bit over 30 years of scrap machines. You can play the game of keeping everything you find and store it in a government warehouse like in Indiana Jones and the ark but few people have that kind of CHEAP space.

    I think parts are the way to go. You can store a ton of CPU's, heatsinks+ fans, motherboards, power supplies, video cards, various floppy drives, sound cards, RAM, hard drives in a small enough space sorted by era as you get them. People will mostly want specific machines that mean something to them and if they can find them in 30 years odds are they will need parts to make them run and that's where the money will be. Look at current power supplies now, a good gamer PS costs a pretty penny but they are heavy on the 12V side which won't help you on older systems that need a large 5V side so an older PS will be needed.

    Hoard anything not being made anymore that nobody wants now, basically anything with a PPC chip in it (Apple Powermacs, powerbooks), also Sparc machines from SUN. 68K equipped machines are already starting to fetch decent money after being worthless a decade ago. People will also be shifting their collecting to laptops down the road and few people bother to keep those around (intact). IDE drives of all types are still common now but they will not be in 30 years, same with SCSI (working 50 pin SCSI drives in the 500mb to 4GB range make bank now). Save a few thousand IDE and floppy drive cables. Somebody will probably make a killing saving used and working LCD panels from laptops if you can keep them from freezing or getting scratched.

    I have seen a few people with warehouses full of this kind of stuff have to dump it all because of illness so you might want to go in with a few people who have the resources to keep this stuff intact and safe for the 30 years needed before it is valuable to make a decent profit. As far as storage goes keep UV light out (no windows), seal the stuff in moisture proof tubs on dry days (use desiccants in cloth pouches), expect some spoilage and check on the contents every few years.

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to unknownk for This Post:


  11. #6
    NHscrapman started this thread.
    NHscrapman's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2013
    Location
    new hampshire
    Posts
    1,582
    Thanks
    4,076
    Thanked 2,175 Times in 941 Posts
    seems a little more clarity is needed.
    I'm looking at a few pallets worth of equipment. options include basement, sheds, barn, or outside.
    do not think inside the house is a great idea, besides the basement, without causing serious grief with the wife. understandably I myself wouldn't want to live with all that.
    a few boxes of software and books can and will be done like bigburtchino.
    paying for climate control cost a decent chunk of change but sounds like the best choice something like a storage locker. but 30 years of the cheapest around is going to run in the 10's of thousands...not counting price changes and all that jazz.
    plastic is also a great idea perhaps shrink wrapping each item, then shrink wrapping the pallets. I also have a sealer for bags.
    outside and barn my concern would be mice with only thin plastic to protect them.. and a little moisture and corrosion from such.
    I feel pulling all the battery packs would probably be a good idea? after seeing how many items I scrap due to blown out batteries.
    just trying to increase my odds on this roll of the dice.

  12. #7
    NHscrapman started this thread.
    NHscrapman's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2013
    Location
    new hampshire
    Posts
    1,582
    Thanks
    4,076
    Thanked 2,175 Times in 941 Posts
    Thank you unknown definitely something to think about.
    Last edited by NHscrapman; 08-23-2015 at 06:36 AM.

  13. #8
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Youngstown, OH
    Posts
    606
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked 282 Times in 193 Posts
    Basements that do no flood are an option if you have a house. A shed out back with a concrete floor might work as well if sealed well from extreme cold and water. If you pay extra for storage don't bother its not worth it.

  14. The Following User Says Thank You to unknownk for This Post:


  15. #9
    ChildhoodDream's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    1,276
    Thanks
    1,664
    Thanked 994 Times in 527 Posts
    If you are talking about a semi truck load, why not buy a used refrigerated trailer and park it out of the way and fill it up. They are well insulated and sealed after you close up the hole in front where the reefer unit was.

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to ChildhoodDream for This Post:


  17. #10
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Dec 2012
    Location
    elkton,md
    Posts
    1,062
    Thanks
    8,524
    Thanked 1,470 Times in 600 Posts
    Store them in old friges.

  18. The Following User Says Thank You to junkfreak for This Post:


  19. #11
    NewbyScrapper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    262
    Thanks
    1,480
    Thanked 175 Times in 101 Posts
    I am "vintage" (75) now, so if I stored stuff for 30 odd years, if I lived that long, I'd be antique


  20. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by NewbyScrapper:



  21. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Outside storage.
      By Wbrian in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 03-11-2015, 01:02 PM
    2. Storage Auctions Pay Off and I like Storage Battles!
      By CoachDomCosta in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 11-28-2014, 11:16 AM
    3. Storage: Outdoor carport gazebo. What do you use or want to use for storage.
      By mrsamsonite in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 22
      Last Post: 09-27-2014, 01:51 AM
    4. Storage Wars
      By DevinThaScrapper in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 36
      Last Post: 09-25-2014, 07:36 PM
    5. storage auction
      By mongo in forum Scrap Metal Spots
      Replies: 12
      Last Post: 07-22-2013, 03:58 PM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook