Westerngs said:
One good reason for a small to medium scale refiner to refine their own material would be if you can make a product other than pure metal bullion, especially if you can find a niche product.
(...)
(...)
If I were to start another small to medium refinery (I've been thinking about it), I would first look at the colored scrap list I posted that started this thread and try to find the easiest, most profitable, available, safe, somewhat local, hopefully stuff I have run in volume before, stuff I like to do and fits my situation types of scrap. With my particular experience and knowledge, I would definitely process aircraft scrap at some point and would do a big search/network thing to find out exactly where it is located. I would possibly buy gold filled from the gold buyers and good sorted CPUs, pins, fingers, etc. from people and small companies that scrap out electronic stuff. I know I could pay more than, say, boardsort, for the good stuff. Doesn't take long for word to get around. I would also do a lot of certain types of silver scrap. Much of it sits around or sells for a song. Most people don't want to mess with it. Just got to find out where it is (locating where any type of scrap is is always #1). Everything is assayed, of course.
After gaining some momentum, I would think about expanding things. I would locate reps around the country that would, for a fee, find the types of scrap I want. They're out there, somewhere. If I were to do other types of electronic scrap, it would only be manufacturing scrap - I like scrap before it's been assembled. Lots of reps in that industry.
Just my present take on a few things. I might do everything differently.
Chris