New member, new scrapper

I discovered the hidden value in scrap metal when helping my sister clean out her house/garage/yard in Texas. There was a large gas grill that had gone to pot, so I read a little online and tore the thing into pieces. Made piles of the different kinds of metals. Added a few other items she was ready to throw in the recycle bin or trash, and came home with a nice $50 or so for a few hours' work.

I live in South Carolina though. So I think the prices here are lower and the restrictions are tighter. I've been collecting mostly broken electronics and computers and computer peripherals. I've got boxes of torn down items with different classes of materials - but I still feel a bit hopelessly lost. It's easy to pick out the ferrous material with a magnet, and the obvious copper wire. I've also come across a good bit of yellow brass candlesticks and knobs and things like that. But I still have a few piles of stuff I don't know what to do with. I'm throwing all of the circuit boards together to separate at a later date.

The main thing I'm confused on is the flat, plastic coated ribbon wire that is found around the edges of the screens of flat screen TVs, and in lots of computer peripherals and some other electronics. They have rows of copper or some other metal wires in them, but also some of them look to be gold coated on the connection ends. Are these ribbon cables worth anything? Especially the ones with (what I think is) gold coating on the connecting ends? What should I do with them? I don't have a picture now but I can get one soon.

It's also difficult to learn all of the various little bits of metals connected inside these electronics. Some look kind of exotic, but I have no way of knowing what their value is. I enjoy tearing things apart, but it has created a bit of a storage issue. I may just try to organize what I've got and sell it on ebay.

But are there any scrappers out there who would just buy boxes full of non-working electronics of all types? From compact cameras to portable stereos to computer peripherals and printers? I mean not broken down, but just boxes full of broken electronics. I feel a bit overwhelmed!

Anyone in South Carolina feel free to contact me - I guess I can't PM yet, but replying here is fine, or leaving an email address. I'm just worried that I'm spending hours and hours to make just a couple of dollars at the end of the day (or month, more like).

Anyway, it's nice to finally be a member here - I've been lurking for months! Thanks for all the free info and tips :o)

Welcome to the forum from the Dakota's. I am in the same boat when it comes to electronics. I specialize in iron and steel and the non ferrous market is supplemental. When I have electronics I have to go to the search bar in the upper right hand corner to find out what it is and how to maximize the profit. Good luck.

Welcome to the forum and do searches as Patroit76 suggested. Also look at the bottom of each thread for suggestions of other related threads. Before selling anything of possible higher than scrap value read lots more old threads. Mike

Connector ends run around .65 a lb right now. We have a few threads already about the breakdowns of different electronics and what the pieces are and how to classify them. Not knowing how much you've read I'll just list a couple of the links and hope they help.
http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...t-so-good.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/e-was...dentification/

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/tv-mo...ing-guide.html

There is tons more info available in just about each section.

Wow, thanks for the great info! This seems like a very good community!

I'm getting better learning about separating materials, but I think it'll take lots of experience - mainly knowing what is worth the time of breaking down farther, etc.

Plus, so many metals look the same. Bronze and brass can be confusing. So can brass that is silver and not yellow (like the plugs on the ends of extension cords).

I also can't tell how much plastic and other junk is ok to leave on certain things - mainly Iron/steel junk that you just throw in the back lot. I can see it being worthwhile to clean off more expensive metals to get them 100% clean, but with the low value of steel/iron, finding ways to break off little bits of plastic, etc. seems like a waste of time. Doesn't make sense to spend a half hour cleaning a pound of steel I'll get something like $.50 for!

I'll start doing more searches. Seems to be a lot of good info here!

thanks again :o)