What im using to recover plated pins ATM

**joebob49** · 06-30-2012, 11:52 AM

I was asked in another thread what the easiest way to pull the plated pins was. Well easiest is a hammer mill however. I have constructed this cheap and easy way to show the guys an gals who are interested. I have some photos and explinations.

That is my hammering rod. It used to be a pickling fork. I broke it bustin ball joints apart on my bronco. I cut the rest of the fork off to use as a punch of sorts lol.

this is a 6 inch piece of galvanised pipe and one end cap. purchasable at any hardware store. My cost was 18 bucks.

Hand full of connector ends. Those are from the sound cables and USB connections where they hook to the mother boards.

Drop them in the pipe and hammer away. Its best to cup one hand around the top of the pipe. That way you dont fling pieces of plastic all over the floor. This will keep your spouse happier lol.

Pour the smashed contents into a bowl or something. Then seperate the plastic from the pins. Some times you may need to put a ferw pieces back in and hammer harder lol.

After seperating the plastic from the pins. All that being said . I hope this thread helps some of you out. And please any helpful info is greatly welcomed.

**Destructo_d** · 06-30-2012, 02:14 PM

I don't keep my pins.. I just leave plug in with my insulated wire... I don't seem to have a place to sell to in Canada... but looking on your idea... I think I can improve slightly... keep using the container you are smashing the plugs in... but how about a air chizzle/hammer with a round flat bit.... go alot faster I would imagine

**joebob49** · 06-30-2012, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Destructo_d

I don't keep my pins.. I just leave plug in with my insulated wire... I don't seem to have a place to sell to in Canada... but looking on your idea... I think I can improve slightly... keep using the container you are smashing the plugs in... but how about a air chizzle/hammer with a round flat bit.... go alot faster I would imagine

It would but my wife wont allow me to use that in the house lol. I mainly smash pins out when inside. Its cooler and I can watch alil tv while im doin it. If the plug has plated pins I allways cut it off an stash it untill I have enough to remove the pins. I have around 30-40 pounds stashed right now. Im mainly smashing the easier ones right now, I used to sell my connector ends but after weighing it out I was losing alot of money.

**mascraps** · 07-22-2012, 12:35 AM

How do you now sell the plated pins I understand you get .80-1.60/ but how do they classify it/ buy it when you smash them up?

**bpatnoe** · 07-22-2012, 07:43 AM

Curious about pricing also

**BarrenRealms007** · 07-22-2012, 10:33 AM

Priceing depends on how much of the junk you get off of the connector. Look at the 2 connectors in top of the bottom picture and look at the red wire one verses the blue wire one. The red wire one would be worth more per lb.

Edit: Actualy a lot of those look like they might not have any gold on them. I usually look thru the little slot window on the connector if it has one and if it dosen't look like gold color I don't mess with them.

**Mechanic688** · 07-22-2012, 12:20 PM

I think the ones that you can't see any wire would be worth the most, that way your buying more gold potential and less copper.

**BarrenRealms007** · 07-22-2012, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

I think the ones that you can't see any wire would be worth the most, that way your buying more gold potential and less copper.

That is correct. When you are processing pin's you are already removing literally 98-99% of the base metals to get to the gold. When you have a lot of surface area not show up as gold plating you have an even larger percentage of base metals to remove and it drastically reduces the yield and the price offered.

Also sort your material. Take a magnet and separate the material into magnetic (steel), slightly magnetic and non magnetic lot's and you will get better prices. Also if you can keep your same types and sizes together it will get you better prices because they can be better identified and graded for yield and price.

A rule of thumb I also go by when looking at pin's is the darker the color the thicker the plating on the pin, the more shine a pin has to it the thinner the plating

Something needs to be understood there is a lot of work required to deal with these item's. And the people you sell your material to need to make a profit as well as yourself or they will not be around for you to sell to.

I'll go look and see how to upload a picture here.

**IdahoScrapper** · 07-22-2012, 03:57 PM

That reminds me of a mortar and pestle. As for containing the mess as you smash it, what about a cloth with a hole for the punch, and then a rubber band to secure the cloth to the tube? Or even another end cap if you have the right size bit to bore it just a tad larger than the punch.

**Mechanic688** · 07-22-2012, 04:02 PM

I'll go look and see how to upload a picture here.

Here you go; http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/smf-s...rum-video.html

**joebob49** · 07-23-2012, 05:48 PM

Sorry all. I have been so busy I have not been on. The pins in the pic all have some gold. However some are just tipped. I am sending mine to a refiner. It is an 80/20 split on the gold recovered. Pricing all depends on the buyer. Some huys pay between 3-60 bucks per pound. All depends on the quality of the gold.

**joebob49** · 07-23-2012, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

That reminds me of a mortar and pestle. As for containing the mess as you smash it, what about a cloth with a hole for the punch, and then a rubber band to secure the cloth to the tube? Or even another end cap if you have the right size bit to bore it just a tad larger than the punch.

Yes a cloth would work. I have been using my hand kinda cupped over the open end. I have another cap just have to drill it for the rod. I try my best not to make a mess as my wife tends to threatin to make me stop in the house lol.

**joebob49** · 07-23-2012, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by mascraps

How do you now sell the plated pins I understand you get .80-1.60/ but how do they classify it/ buy it when you smash them up?

If you remove the pins from the plastic. You are making less work for the buyer. and as mentioned my buyer requests them be sorted. I am having mine refined for the bullion tho. Asfor pricing it all boils down to the buyer. and quality of the plating.

**jassiejames** · 09-30-2012, 08:01 AM

Just a helpful hint, Put the connectors in the freezer before you put them into your pipe crusher. Plastic shatters better when frozen. Cool Idea, I need to go to the hardware store for some pipe now.

**directrecycle** · 06-14-2013, 10:16 PM

how about a burlap bag and a sledge hammer

**Mechanic688** · 06-14-2013, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by directrecycle

how about a burlap bag and a sledge hammer

I would imagine that if you hit the pins so hard as to smash them you might wear or knock the gold plating right off the pins.

What im using to recover plated pins ATM

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