How do I know (metals question)

Let me first be honest and say i have been interested in learning to scrap for about...4 days now and only because i was dirt broke.

After getting into it a bit i am realizing how a good knowledge of this stuff is an incredible tool in life!

Anyways, my main question. I have tons of laptops and old computers, tvs, microwaves... And i am definitely running into an issue of being uncertain what holds value and what is plastic.

Just today i opened up an old IBM PS/1 computer and its filled with shine (friend told me there is even possibly gold).

Simply put, can anyone direct me to some more knowledge to make sure i dot do anything stupid? :D

I will continue surfing these forums to learn - so glad i found this place!

First off, welcome, but it would be better to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself post so post one there for starters. Second, when it comes to computers, almost everything that glitters is gold, or at least a thin gold plating. You really can learn a lot here on the forum and the best thing to do is read a bunch of posts about computer breakdowns before taking anything to the scrap yard.

Good luck and happy reading.

watch you tube videos... over and over again. mike or jack the scrapper is a good place to start.

Here would be a good starting point; And then just about anything in the Electronic Section.

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/elect...ification.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/elect...rds-parts.html toot toot

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/elect...breakdown.html

Hit the archives.

And yes the shiny golden stuff on that motherboard and cpu...gold. although there are other valuable metals in there too in addition.

Good.luck and spend the ime with the suggestio s above...you will k ow a ton very quickly.

Thanks much for the responses! I have been going thru youtube vids also and plan on a scrapyard trip in the morning. Ill update with my earnings!

One more quick question...

Is older electronic items generally more valuable than newer stuff?

Just curious to better tailor my huntings ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aristella

One more quick question...

Is older electronic items generally more valuable than newer stuff?

Just curious to better tailor my huntings ;)

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As has already been stated, would be a good idea to introduce yourself here.

Then READ READ READ and you will find the answers you are looking for, and much MUCH more.

Good luck with your new venture!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aristella

One more quick question...

Is older electronic items generally more valuable than newer stuff?

Just curious to better tailor my huntings ;)

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Some of the older stuff like processors are worth more. Youtube and reading a lot here will help you on your way

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...-isri-etc.html

Ahoy fellow scrappers!

So i took about (.10) of motherboards and cirtuit to my 4 local scrapyards yesterday, up in buffalo, NY.

Needless to say i was pretty disappointed! I only had my stuff weighed at one yard, and immediately the guy took some ribbon wires, computer connector and broken down CAC card readers, and threw them into a pile of stuff that belonged to the scrapyard, assumingly taking my stuff without asking and got me pissed! He proceeded to weigh my stuff as circuit breaker meterial though i specifically said i wanted to sell this for the price of the gold pieces on them. Anyways i left with all my stuff not bothering to get a price.

Mainly because i have (i think) a better idea: melt down the gold myself ;)

Im going to dive into this topic tonight and see what tools i need, and the overall expense.

Any pros have thoughts on this? Id love to hear, as always thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Well, I'm not a pro but just a kid. To refine the gold you would have enough to make it worth while, at least thats what I am doing, so you should have a set aside area to store it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aristella

Ahoy fellow scrappers!

So i took about (.10) of motherboards and cirtuit to my 4 local scrapyards yesterday, up in buffalo, NY.

Needless to say i was pretty disappointed! I only had my stuff weighed at one yard, and immediately the guy took some ribbon wires, computer connector and broken down CAC card readers, and threw them into a pile of stuff that belonged to the scrapyard, assumingly taking my stuff without asking and got me pissed! He proceeded to weigh my stuff as circuit breaker meterial though i specifically said i wanted to sell this for the price of the gold pieces on them. Anyways i left with all my stuff not bothering to get a price.

Mainly because i have (i think) a better idea: melt down the gold myself ;)

Im going to dive into this topic tonight and see what tools i need, and the overall expense.

Any pros have thoughts on this? Id love to hear, as always thanks for sharing your knowledge.

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I am going to stop you right there. We have buyers on this forum that are worth shipping to. Check them out.

As far as "melting down the gold", as you mentioned, it is not anything like that. There is massive chemical process that in order to do it properly requires lots of time and equipment and knowledge to do properly. You can actually kill yourself if you don't do things the right way.

So, please check out our buyers, but if you are dead set on checking out refining the material yourself, then the site you are looking for is called the gold refining forum. Look them up and spend a LOT of time reading before you ever think of asking any questions there. They will first point you to a book that you can download for free to read by Hoke. Start there.

talking about gold refining on here is frowned upon as its dangerous stuff.you are better off going to gold refining forum but I'd would read a lot there before asking questions.

Thats interesting that it is frowned upon here. It would of course require complete focus and alot of preparation. Thanks for the response

You could send it places that would do it for you so you wouldn't have to

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Originally Posted by Aristella

Thats interesting that it is frowned upon here. It would of course require complete focus and alot of preparation. Thanks for the response

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Here is our Administrators stance on refining, it is in the rules section.

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...dangerous.html

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Originally Posted by Aristella

One more quick question...

Is older electronic items generally more valuable than newer stuff?

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I have found that they are...at least with the older computers and related items.

As far as selling your eScrap, you should really check out some of the buyers here on the forum. Here's a link:

Scrap Buyers & Sellers - Scrap Metal Forum

Good Luck...

Thanks, i have had awesome luck so far opening just 3 computers so far.

One motherboard of an hp pavilion (z5000) has about .15g of gold including the cpu, and another shiny metal that i havent been able to define yet.

I also found a few ram cards made probably of aluminum.. Ill post pics when i get to a laptop!

you should look through vintage computer forum and ebay completed listings too, before scrapping that stuff

I got started scrapping, looking to refine Gold from Scrap. I broke down an entire analog telephone system. Several Motherboards, and riser cards. Quite a large amount of material. I used some very dangerous processes, and spent quite a bit of money to put together a lab to "DO it right".

I am no chemist, but I'm a pretty smart guy. I follow directions very well. read through Hoke, and the forums. Took the time, to build a workshop JUST for this process. And failed at it.
I probably wasted Hundreds of Dollars in good recyclable material, not to mention the amount of time and money spent on figuring out how to refine gold from plated jewelry and printed circuit boards.

After refining down the gold, and then comparing that to what I would have made if I'd just sold the boards to a buyer here on the forum, I would have made more $$.

Gold is fun, and exciting....but not the only thing of value on a circuit board.

When you sell to a buyer here, they compile your load, and others to a refiner, who then incinerates the loads, and pays out on the total scrap value of all precious metals. you make more money selling boards whole, than by refining only the gold YOU can.

I believe there could be more money in selling this stuff as parts, but im focused on learning the craft (reading hoke right now haha). I want to know this stuff for the knowledge and to make some good decisions in the future.

Your story sounds alike like me but its still something i have to follow my interests on.. P.s have you TRIED AGAIN? :)

Please understand that even if you knew how to refine, it's not gold as in solid gold, it's gold as in gold PLATED. If you melted the metal down all of it melt. Before you jump in take some time to read or you risk devaluing your recyclables greatly.

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Can anyone help me idenfity if thats silver on the wifi card, or a type of pallidum or aluminum? I have a few ram cards like that too

Fins are either silver or tin.

Hey I'm a fellow Buffalo Scrapper. Would you mind sharing the name of the scrap yard so I know not to do business with them. Lord knows I've been scammed before.