Scrapping 2 way paging equipment, found a bunch of things that I am unsure of

**Strouty** · 07-05-2014, 12:24 PM

I did a job a few months ago and I had to remove some radio equipment, I had thought of trying to resell it as is, but then found out that the frequencies were no longer able to be used. Long story short, I removed the valuable parts for ebay, then I began disassembly. I am now waist deep in a bunch of things that I have never seen before and would like advice about what to do.

There are large amounts of cast aluminum that appear to be silver plated, it actually looks like they were copper plated first, then aluminum plated afterwards. Should I be trying to find a buyer for this or is it something that has no real additional value due to the effort to remove it?

Second I found circuit boards that look like they are silver as well. I have never seen any like them, but I am a total amateur at this. There are also boards that feel like they are ceramic that have a nice copper backside.

Third I have lots of copper that has silver solder on it, what should I do?

I also think I have found some gold plated pins, but have not figured out how to check them. I am posting a bunch of pictures to show what I am messing with.

1) Silver Plated?

2) After grinding you can see there is a copper plated layer as well.

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

8)

**Mechanic688** · 07-05-2014, 12:41 PM

Pic#1 is a plated copper heatsink.
Pic#4-5 is gold plated or (flashed)
Not sure on the rest cause it's not in front of me.

**Strouty** · 07-05-2014, 12:45 PM

Are you considering the top pic as #1? If so it is cast aluminum, there are two layers of plating, one is copper.

**Strouty** · 07-05-2014, 05:15 PM

I am just starting to see all the gold contacts, this equipment is from the early 1990s so my guess is it has some good materials. I will post some pictures of the other stuff as well.

I am trying to break apart the transformers, but they seem to not want to come apart. Should I cut the copper and try and get it out or should I try cutting the frame apart? They are all copper (no aluminum).

**Mechanic688** · 07-05-2014, 07:47 PM

Should I cut the copper and try and get it out or should I try cutting the frame apart? They are all copper (no aluminum).

A lot of people will cut one side (copper) then punch it thru and out the other side. Use a vice to hold it.
Little tiny ones are just not worth the time, sell them whole.

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/tools...nsformers.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/gener...rs-copper.html

**Strouty** · 07-06-2014, 05:52 AM

These ones are not little, so I will mess with them. The smaller ones broke apart with the BFH pretty easily. They had a ribbon of copper that was easy to unwind.

**Strouty** · 07-06-2014, 07:13 PM

I beat the big transformers with a 12 pound sledge, no luck. These have alternating pieces of metal or something. I think they will need to be cut to get at the copper. Of course my big bandsaw is in the middle of a rebuild so these may have to wait a while.

**Flinthills** · 07-07-2014, 01:45 AM

In your last photo of transformers at right, is that a very hefty die cast heat sink? If so, and if the items in the last two photos of your first post came off the back of that heatsink, there's a real good chance that the threaded connectors for the heatsink are silverplated brass with gold plated pins.

**Strouty** · 07-07-2014, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Flinthills

In your last photo of transformers at right, is that a very hefty die cast heat sink? If so, and if the items in the last two photos of your first post came off the back of that heatsink, there's a real good chance that the threaded connectors for the heatsink are silverplated brass with gold plated pins.

They are about 40 pounds of cast aluminum. I did not see anything like you are describing, they were held on with regular bolts. There was a lot of fancy stuff I had never seen before. I am still trying to figure out what some of it is so I don't give it away (if it is actually valuable).

**Strouty** · 07-09-2014, 09:17 AM

After messing with the transformers, I talked to the scrap yard and they are willing to pay 20 cents a pound since they are copper on copper. I figure it is not worth the effort at this point. If I had my bandsaw going, I would try cutting them in half, next time I guess.

**eesakiwi** · 07-11-2014, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Strouty

After messing with the transformers, I talked to the scrap yard and they are willing to pay 20 cents a pound since they are copper on copper. I figure it is not worth the effort at this point. If I had my bandsaw going, I would try cutting them in half, next time I guess.

If you have a larger angle grinder and are confident about using it.
Just cut one end ofc the copper wire coil and punch the rest of the coil out.

Scrapping 2 way paging equipment, found a bunch of things that I am unsure of

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