Results 1 to 14 of 14

Scrapping an old Computer

| Scrap Metal Videos
  1. #1
    samuel-a started this thread.
    samuel-a's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    69
    Thanks
    12
    Thanked 98 Times in 31 Posts

    Scrapping an old Computer

    Hi all,

    As you guys know, a new scrapper is burn every day so i decided to make a new scrapping video, main subject is plain old PC's...

    Most of you probably know all of this as i'm covering the very basics in the video, but i think new guys or those scrappers who never dealt with computers before will find it useful.

    A few points which may come up and some have already brought up in the comments section of the video are:



    - What about the cable ends (contains gold plated pind) which are being cut off?
    In my mind, simply collect them, let them pile up and sell to a larger dealer.
    - What about the PSU ?
    Too much work for my taste for a too little return.
    - What about the platters and Neodymium magnets in HD?
    I think selling these platters on eBay for "PLATINUM RECOVERY WOW" is a total ripoff, but that's just me... The magnets are cool things to have though.
    - What about the Laser diode in the CD-Rom?
    Again, too much work in my mind, just for this little gold plated diode casing.

    If you have any more of the same, please feel free to ask, comment or answer yourself.


    The video:


    (p.s- all of the answers above are only my own opinion, which not nessecerly be the best)
    Last edited by samuel-a; 03-11-2012 at 08:06 PM.
    Regards, Sam

    www.Goldnscrap.com

  2. The Following 13 Users say Thank You for This Post by samuel-a:



  3. #2
    little726's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    74
    Thanks
    1,377
    Thanked 41 Times in 30 Posts
    Great video! Thanks for sharing it!

    One of the boxes I removed from a computer says, "Class 1 Laser Product" "Containes Radioactive Material Inside and Out." My question is, is this a box I can safely break down?

  4. #3
    Jeremiah's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    437
    Thanks
    147
    Thanked 381 Times in 138 Posts
    Good Vid!
    my .02

    1) taking apart the floppy drive and power supply is wasteful. Many yards pay upwards of .15 per # floppy and .39 per # power supply as is. This method recovers a .15 low grade and the rest is .10 shred. Same for power supply.

    2) It's been my experience that cd-rom boards are considered mother grade not medium grade.

    3) Cutting fingers off the memory is again wasteful. Do the math. $14 per pound of memory stick as is. If cut off, $70 per pound for gold fingers, then .50 per pound for what is left. Your incresing profit by 500% on the gold fingers (about 1/8th the weight) and decreasing your profit by approx 400 percent on the other 7/8ths of the weight.

    4) You should keep the small heat sink on the mother board if your buyer allows you as this is trading $3.50 per pound weight for .50 per # weight. You should also cut off the plastic casing that held the larger heat sink as many buyers will dock you for this.

  5. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by Jeremiah:


  6. #4
    samuel-a started this thread.
    samuel-a's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    69
    Thanks
    12
    Thanked 98 Times in 31 Posts
    little726,

    I have never heard of a CD-Rom laser diodes that contains Radioactive materials...
    Though, you did not mentioned what this box is....
    Honesty, i'm not well versed in the constroction and the makeup of lasers or lenses, so i feel i can't really give you a straight answer...
    If you are in doubt, don't scrap this box.


    Jeremiah,

    Thanks for your input, it's great to see others approach to the same matter.
    Boy... how scrap buyers are different from each other...
    For example, around here, they couldn't care less about the plastics but goes berserk if too much Ali shows up.
    The same goes for unusual boards grading...

    One thing i can not agree with you is, the PCI cards/RAM sticks prices for after fingers removal.
    They are downgraded to some degree,yes, but from 14$ a lb to 0.5$ a lb... man that's a total ripoff and you should find another buyer... As about half of the total gold value (in RAM's) is in the the IC's, the rest is on the stick and the fingers. Not to mention the Copper and MLCC's/Resistors which stay on the stick...
    My buyer buys trimmed PCI cards at same rates as motherboards so i just mix them...

    As far as i know (and correct me if i'm wrong) boardsort.com is the only one publically advetising his current rates, you can see the difference from trimmed and un-trimmed are not as acute as you described. And he is still in business...
    I can't tell you how much do i sell RAM stick as i process them by my self and never sold one piece

    Again, Thanks for your 2 cents, means a lot

  7. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by samuel-a:


  8. #5
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    One of the boxes I removed from a computer says, "Class 1 Laser Product" "Contains Radioactive Material Inside and Out." My question is, is this a box I can safely break down?
    Yes they are safe to open, I think the warning is for the laser diode, don't know of anything dangerous in there. the diode is only dangerous if you look into it.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Mechanic688 for This Post:


  10. #6
    little726's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    74
    Thanks
    1,377
    Thanked 41 Times in 30 Posts
    Sam and Mechanic, thank you for your polite reply.

    I am not sure what the box is. It was taken out of an Apple, Mac monitor. The monitor looked like it was an all-in-one monitor. I will check the box again and see if I can find out what it is. I almost think it's a floppy disk player.

  11. #7
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    961
    Thanks
    609
    Thanked 1,399 Times in 431 Posts
    You are referring to the warning label regarding the Laser in the optical reading devices. Not hazardous to you when.... just dont put it over your eye when it is powered on.
    Specializing in Maximum value for mixed precious metal printed circuit boards and electronics

    Check out our pricing and read some of our RAVING reviews: http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...tal-scrap.html
    QUESTIONS? Email us: info@CashForComputerScrap.com
    or Chat with us: www.CashForComputerScrap.com

  12. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by Ewasted:


  13. #8
    LB7's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Great video!

  14. #9
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Thank you for the video. I have an old broken pc that I was going to tear apart for my first scrap and really had no clue where to start. Very informative to a computer noob , thanks again!

  15. #10
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to Mechanic688 for This Post:


  17. #11
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    coast of nc
    Posts
    110
    Thanks
    261
    Thanked 132 Times in 53 Posts
    thanks for the video...i have a question.i called and can only get .27 a lb for power supplies. at what price would you break them down?

  18. #12
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    466
    Thanks
    1,612
    Thanked 417 Times in 199 Posts
    Good video. I like your point and tap approach with text on the screen to describe what you are doing. Much more effective than hearing ahhhhhs and ummmms and eliminates the need for unnecessary chatter when nothing is happening. Allows the viewer greater concentration on what is actually happening.

  19. #13
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by shootsitall View Post
    thanks for the video...i have a question.i called and can only get .27 a lb for power supplies. at what price would you break them down?
    I get paid .27 for them without wire, so I clip them and the buyer gets the box.

  20. The Following User Says Thank You to Mechanic688 for This Post:


  21. #14
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Macedon NY
    Posts
    12
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    "Quite helpful video. A good opportunity for us to learn, how to scrap an old computer in a better way.
    Looking forward for some more."


  22. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. What do you get from scrapping a computer?
      By Backwell in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 01-08-2013, 03:27 AM
    2. Sujestions on Scrapping Computer wire
      By saturninin in forum Dismantling, Breaking Down & Maximizing Scrap
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 07-23-2012, 04:06 PM
    3. Scrapping computer monitors-Illegal?
      By ResourcefulRecycling in forum TV and Monitor Recycling
      Replies: 12
      Last Post: 04-26-2012, 10:47 AM
    4. Computer help required.. (NOT scrapping)
      By Torker Man in forum Off Topic Discussions
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 10-30-2011, 01:17 PM
    5. Scrapping a computer. Could use some help.
      By Cwatson325 in forum E-Waste Grading and Identification
      Replies: 1
      Last Post: 04-23-2011, 06:51 PM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook