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Identify & sort

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  1. #1
    missmargaret started this thread.
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    Identify & sort

    Pulled from electric pencil sharpener. Wire isn't copper, better to leave and put with steel? Then the aluminum "drum" on steel shaft...does it go w aluminum or steel? Should I press/punch the shaft out?

    Sorry, new to posting and can't see how to add a photo from my phone

    Last edited by missmargaret; 06-27-2018 at 02:33 PM. Reason: Add photo


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    Wire could be aluminum or aluminum coated copper. If a magnet will not stick to it, the value increases. I have never scrapped a pencil sharpener so I am not sure. The aluminum drum on a steel shaft could be sold around here as aluminum breakage. As far as punching the shaft out, I would do it to see how it is made, how to separate, and to find out if I want to do it next time. This is usually the strategy I use the first time I scrap an item. Others on the forum could save you some time, but not experience.
    Give back more to this world than we take.

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    I have put too much time into separating Aluminium from Iron & then ended up with a huge dose of 'Reality' at the payout counter.

    Separating Copper from Iron, yes its probably worth it.
    But not with Heatpump compressors.

    Work out what a Kg/Lb of the metal looks like, how much it takes to fill a sack/Tote.
    And how much your time is worth. Take into account the wear on tools & the increasing chance of having a accident vs the $.

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    Quote Originally Posted by eesakiwi View Post
    I have put too much time into separating Aluminum from Iron [...] how much is your time worth?
    I've seen folks spending hours fishing out less than $0.20 worth of silver from switches. If you have nothing better to do, sure, I guess, but if you are running a business - maximum $ per hour is your goal.

    I think this is one of the most insane time & money wasters I have seen

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    Just speaking for myself, I don't waste time separating 4 cents worth of stuff off of an item I can get 10 cents without any work other than throwing it in my shred pile. GO GET A BIGGER PIECE OF ALUMINUM TO THROW INTO THE ALUMINUM PILE!

    Just my unvarnished opinion.

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    eesakiwi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RLS0812 View Post
    I've seen folks spending hours fishing out less than $0.20 worth of silver from switches. If you have nothing better to do, sure, I guess

    Lol, that mighta been me....
    I did once pull apart a whole bunch of Sanken audio amp chips to remove & weigh their Silver wires so I could post the facts here on SMF.

    And then somebody pointed out that its was less than 50cents worth of Silver..

    I also picked apart a whole lot of micro switches from microwaves to get the math on them once too. Posted the math here too.
    Shortly after somebody was offering to buy micro switches for US$0.25 (25 cents) each.
    I have a bucket of micro switches, a 4 gallon pail of relays & a icecream container of Sanken amps if anybody else wants to confirm the figures..lol

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