so basically what is the going rate for toll refining, or is it a percentage ?
That depends
a LOT on what you are having toll refined --- in other words there is no "set" rate/percentage that applies to "all things" refinable
Things it depends on ---------
1) amount of material being refined
2) type/grade of material being refined
3) whether costumer/client (you are refining for) wants metal back - or paid cash - &/or how much you get paid for your metal
4) & to some degree cost of chems &/or how well you are set up (if you are the one planning to toll refine for others)
Examples -----------
1) amount of material being refined; ---
NO refiner can refine one gram of gold for
A costumer --- the cost in time alone to do the refining would cost more then the value of the gram of gold - therefore the refiner has to have a minimum batch size - which is going to depend on type/grade of material - or - buy the material out right so he (the refiner) can add it to a larger refining batch
2) type/grade of material being refined; --- it is much easier & more straight forward to refine something like karat scrap, gold filled, fingers etc. then say something like IC chips or MLCCs --- so not only does batch size factor in - but type/grade of material also factors in
3) whether the costumer/client (you are refining for) wants metal back - or paid cash - &/or how much you get for metal you keep; --- if you have buyers for your metal that will buy for more then spot (like jewelers or bullion stackers) then you can treat your customer/ client better on what you pay them out (in cash) --- if your buyers pay you less then spot then you can't treat your customer as well --- also - whether you pay your customer/client cash or return metal makes a difference - I don't have time to explain why in this post - but if you return metal you can not treat your customer/client as well as paying cash (depending on where/how you sell your metals)
4) & to some degree cost of chems &/or how well you are set up (if you are the one planning to toll refine for others) --- the cost of your chems factors in - example - if you buy nitric by the liter & have to pay $60 - $80 per liter compared to if you buy in bulk & only pay $2 - $3 per liter - makes a big difference in your refining cost - which in turn you need to factor in to what you have to charge your customer/client --- as well - are you set up to do batches in sizes large enough to be profitable AND do so in a timely manner that makes your customer/client happy as a return customer/client
Kurt