Bought 4 oz of Gold Fingers

Originally Posted by Mick

There are a couple of threads on the forum taking guesses. In addition, here is an article by a well-known credible source: Recyclers Recover Gold from E-scrap Gold Fingers

The link you posted is close, but still misleading. One example would be where it's stated:

There are approximately 28.35 grams to an ounce

Strictly speaking, this is true for the ounce measurement they are referring to, which is the Avoirdupois Ounce. However, this is not the same ounce measurement that refiners or people who buy/sell precious metals use. We use ozt or Troy Ounce, which is just a little more than 31.1 grams per troy ounce. This becomes very important when purchasing material to process, and figuring any yield per ounce.

So which ounce measurement are we talking about, there are 16 "avoirdupois" ounces to a lb, and only 14.5 "troy" ounces per lb. 16 avoirdupois ounces = 14.5 troy ounces.

Whenever I post on the forum, I have to change the unit of measurement to lbs from kilos. When I express values with other refiners or people in the precious metal industry, I do so in grams, ozt or Troy Ounces, and kilograms so as not to confuse what is being discussed. It becomes ever more important the more material you accumulate.

So obviously, if they were troy ounces, you did better than if they were avoirdupois ounces.

Originally Posted by AuburnEwaste

I hope they are actually Gold, not just "anodized" fingers

Because the gold fingers are actually where electricity is transferred, I seriously doubt they would be anodized, I have never seen gold fingers that were anodized. I have seen silver alloy used, tin, etc but never anodized.

Originally Posted by ryanw

I could be wrong, but I remember fingers being about 2g per pound. If so, that means you have 0.5g of gold there, which is worth about $21.50.



What figures were you using?

Gold plated fingers could be 1-4 grams dependent on several factors. Whenever I purchase trimmed gold fingers, I figure 1g per lb, and this is the reason why.

Some gold fingers are only plated on one side, some gold fingers have less space between the gold traces, some gold fingers were plated before 2002 which was before gold took a steep jump in price, some gold fingers were made after industry responded to more expensive gold prices, and started plating more efficiently. Some applications such as military, telecom or communication equipment, hospital equipment etc use much thicker gold plating. I posted on a thread explaining these things here:

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/elect...nger-card.html

I can usually, if the person I am buying the fingerboards from has sorted them properly, gauge about what the value might be, but even processing the material, and understanding it, I never hit the nail on the head, I get close but never perfect. The only way you will ever know a true yield is by either assaying prior to processing, or processing and accumulating values.

Also, if you are processing larger amounts, the values become easier to accumulate. If you were, for example, to process a few ounces, the amount of gold recovered is actually difficult to see, just like dust is difficult to see on your shirt. But if you have a lot of dust on your shirt it's easier to see, same with refining gold. When it's precipitated out of solution it's in very small particles. If the refiner doesn't know what they are doing, the amount might be very difficult for them to even see. So more is always better, always always.

Buy Ryan, you are right, 2 grams if the fingers are plated on both sides, close cut, and the traces close together, 2 grams would be very reasonable to expect. An average mixed lot of gold fingers will generally yield 1.5 grams. But for calculating for the purpose of buying, you shouldn't figure more than 1g per lb so you never loose money.

The key things you want to look for when purchasing cut fingers are:

Are the gold traces on both sides of the fingerboard?

How close are the gold traces? Closer together amounts to more gold per lb, more space between equates to less!

What application did the boards originate from? Some applications require thicker gold plating.

What color are the PC boards, white/gold/brown/black are older boards probably prior to 2002 which means thicker gold plating, green is newer and red is either old Russian or new Chinese.

How close cut are the fingers, closer cutting means less fluff and a higher percentage of gold/PC board.

I am sure I am missing something else. I'll follow the thread if it gets more action and try to answer any questions. Or as always you can PM me directly if you need clarification.

Scott