Precious Metals

So I only escrap when i find a computer, tv, etc... Nothing in bulk. I enjoy tearing these critters apart, but do not forsee a large quantity coming my way and do not want to start getting into paying for things to take apart. This is from my own ignorance, I understand, but I have no basis on what to pay for what, as I have never cashed in on boards or anything yet. My questions are;
1) do I keep stockpiling low grade boards, or just give them to someone who deals in bulk?
2) I don't know what to do with with the green boards I have, since I only have 5 pounds if I'm lucky. Without buying junk computers in bulk, is this part of the business worth it for me, I understand the YMMV concept to an extent, but until I get a pile worth selling, won't know.
3) Picked up two household breaker panels last night. Brasscatcher said there is silver contacts in them, but I would say only a total of 40 breakers. I don't come across these often, so is it in my best interest to try and harvest the silver?
4) Does anyone want to buy 35-40 used circuit breakers? I have no clue if it would be worth paying shipping costs?
Anyway, maybe I will leave the electronics to the big guys, I only started picking up CRT's because I was noticing cut cords and a tv still sitting there on the curb. Or I guess I should say tvs with cut cords.
-I'm not even sure if I can distinguish the difference between gold and brass, silver from aluminum... therefore no OMG IT'S GOLD!!! bucket.
and one last question:
-If there was a stripped CRT on the side of the road for weeks, with all the goodies gone, would you pick it up and appropriately dispose of it out of good faith in humanity?
and another;
-WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME? WHERE DO BABIES COME FROM???!!!???

I wish I could help you. I am not knowledgeable about escrap. But I can tell you babies come from storks. My parents told me that in the birds and bees lecture. And the baby pin is silver according to them.

First of all, I have to agree with patriot on the stork( and don't say the pins are silver too loud. Some ppl will run to their babies to see if their baby pins are actually silve).
1) I would keep stock pilling them. One day u will have 100 lbs and at 20-30 cents a pound, that's a little chunk. Don't worry they will come ur way.
2) pretty much same thing. Read as much as u can on grading. When I first started escrap I thought the same thing. Now 8 months later I have sent several lots of mid and high grade boards in and about have another shipment. I also have a few I am hanging on to cause I like them. Looking for a better price, or maybe to just hold on to them a while. They are neet.
3) really don't know much about refining. Maybe see if they are any good. Might be able to see them. I bought a box of used breakers from a yard sale last summer for 10 dollars. Some of the larger amp breakers are close to that or more new. I used some when I put electric in my building. Maybe someone with more insite can add to this. Sorry
4) see #3
5) I would pick it up just because I think it is the right and responsible thing to do. The fly by night smash and grabbers are going to hurt the honest working scrapper by doing stuff like this. It really pisses me off when I see stuff like that and would love to catch someone in the act. For crying out load, take ur trash with u. Don't leave it laying around for someone else to clean up. Ok enough on this touchy subject.
Hope this might answer one or two of ur questions. Hope it ain't more fuzzy now than it was to begain with. As for the escrap, hang in there. Quantity will come. Before long u will be tearing down computers for the high dollar motherboards.
As another thought on the low grade boards, some ppl throw them in with their shread, if the yard allows it. I like to keep mine and sell as low grade boards cause it is a few more cents/lb and a few cents can add up

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Originally Posted by VoodooDaddy

So I only escrap when i find a computer, tv, etc... Nothing in bulk. I enjoy tearing these critters apart, but do not forsee a large quantity coming my way and do not want to start getting into paying for things to take apart. This is from my own ignorance, I understand, but I have no basis on what to pay for what, as I have never cashed in on boards or anything yet. My questions are;
1) do I keep stockpiling low grade boards, or just give them to someone who deals in bulk?
2) I don't know what to do with with the green boards I have, since I only have 5 pounds if I'm lucky. Without buying junk computers in bulk, is this part of the business worth it for me, I understand the YMMV concept to an extent, but until I get a pile worth selling, won't know.
3) Picked up two household breaker panels last night. Brasscatcher said there is silver contacts in them, but I would say only a total of 40 breakers. I don't come across these often, so is it in my best interest to try and harvest the silver?
4) Does anyone want to buy 35-40 used circuit breakers? I have no clue if it would be worth paying shipping costs?
Anyway, maybe I will leave the electronics to the big guys, I only started picking up CRT's because I was noticing cut cords and a tv still sitting there on the curb. Or I guess I should say tvs with cut cords.
-I'm not even sure if I can distinguish the difference between gold and brass, silver from aluminum... therefore no OMG IT'S GOLD!!! bucket.
and one last question:
-If there was a stripped CRT on the side of the road for weeks, with all the goodies gone, would you pick it up and appropriately dispose of it out of good faith in humanity?
and another;
-WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME? WHERE DO BABIES COME FROM???!!!???

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#1(low grade boards) I am asumming you do not have a local buyer for your boards. If you do or if the scrap yard will buy them then keep saving them until you think you have enough to sell. #2 (green boards) Green boards can be low grade, mid grade or high grade. Just because a board is green does not make it a mid grade or high grade nor does a boar with gold on make it a higher grade. I have seen many low grade boards with gold on them. #3(breakers) Thiere is silver and copper in them but not much, it can be worth it if you don't have much to do. Did you get the whole breaker box or just the small black breakers? If you got the whole box take the bar the breakers are connected to, it is called a bus bar I think, it will be copper but some times it looks silver but it's just plated. Some of those boxes have alot of copper in them. I do not buy breakers, sorry I can't help you with that. No I would not pick up any crt stripped or not. I won't even take crt's from my customers.

The buss bar appears to be aluminum even after hitting it with a file. As far as the breakers go, I guess I will just throw em in a corner and sit on em for a while...