Scrap metal for cash - How much is expected?

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PaulZA

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#152271 22-Sep-2014 12:37

Hi guys, I understand this is probably one of the grey areas in the market, but I was just wondering how much, should one expect to get minimum?

Under our house is full to the brim, with old broken electronic equipment, some of it smashed, and in a million and one pieces, and most of it is 12 feet under. some of it is 10 years worth, if not more.

Although the equipment itself is pretty worthless, for salvage people, it's probably still a goldmine, as the circuitry on quite a large part of the items, is mostly intact.

How much should I expect, should I take it into a recycling center, or hire the resources to do so?

The gold, and metals in those boards, must be worth a fortune.

Anyone can shed any light on this?

Thanks

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

#1133587 22-Sep-2014 12:42

Well, here is some per-kg pricing from http://www.metalcorp.co.nz/pricelist.php if that helps

Power Supply

0.12

Medium Grade Circuit Boards

0.70

Low Grade Circuit Boards

0.12

Computer stripping

0.20

toyonut

1508 posts

Uber Geek
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#1133600 22-Sep-2014 12:55

As above, it is pretty much worthless in terms of value to you 20 odd cents a KG. Best bet if you want it cleared is to see if one of the recyclers will send a truck around and give you a hand to pull it out for free.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

Handle9

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#1133619 22-Sep-2014 13:11

I'm trying not to sound to harsh but to make money from scrap metal you need to provide only scrap metal. What you are talking about is junk which requires a ton of processing (ie cost) to recover the metals from it.

This is why you won't get much of anything from it.

The scrap guys will pay good money for metal if it's provided to them clear (eg stripped TPS is work more than TPS still with insulation attached).

wellygary

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#1133802 22-Sep-2014 15:38

PaulZA:
The gold, and metals in those boards, must be worth a fortune.

Yeah, but the cost of extracting it from the boards is a slightly smaller fortune,

basically if its mixed its not worth much, so Nope you ain't retiring off it, but on the plus side they will pay you for it, which is cheaper than having to pay to send it to landfill or equivilent, and you know it will go off to a better place and be reborn as your next toaster or clock radion :)

Now if you actyally want to get rich recycling metals, start buying up old houses and renovating them, the copper water pipes and Tanks you will pull out might even get you into 3 figures, the only problem is that old houses seem to be 6 figures, or if its auckland 7 figures, oh well back to the drawing board for another money making scheme...

gzt

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#1133820 22-Sep-2014 16:09

There is a cottage industry of people who instantly whip the coils off the back of any CRT left on the side of the road. 95% copper wire and easily recovered so I would expect the full copper price per kg for that part if you remove it.

If there are many old computers with steel casing you will get the full steel price for the cases or part of. Steel much lower price than copper so weigh it up.

PaulZA: Under our house is full to the brim, with old broken electronic equipment, some of it smashed, and in a million and one pieces, and most of it is 12 feet under. some of it is 10 years worth, if not more.

Advice segment over. Photos please. ; )

Any remotely vintage or retro interest in there?

ilovemusic

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#1134462 23-Sep-2014 11:32

wellygary:

Now if you actyally want to get rich recycling metals, start buying up old houses and renovating them, the copper water pipes and Tanks you will pull out might even get you into 3 figures, the only problem is that old houses seem to be 6 figures, or if its auckland 7 figures, oh well back to the drawing board for another money making scheme...

haha
as the old saying goes...
if you want to make a million from (insert get rich scheme), start with two million.