CD/DVD drive question

[vyper]

Following through on something that Ive read I started dismanteling some of the 40 or so dvd/cd drives I aquired a few weeks back. I read in the laser enclosure theres useally a piece of gold plated scrap. I split a few of these in half and the appear to gold plated silvery metal but one i split in half appeared to be gold all through mind you it is hollow and about 1/4 to 1/2 a cm thick. Has anyone else ran into these and if so what is it.

I will post pics tomorrow if I can find the dang camera.

Thanks.

 

[MMFJ]

very low grade gold plate - mostly worth less than the trouble to get them

we grab them when they 'fall out' (very easy to get), but if it takes more than a quick second, not worth it.

As for 40 drives - even if you get every one out, you are not talking about any measurable amount of gold. If you refine it yourself (which takes a lot of skill, chemicals, etc.), you might recover the cost of your chemicals.

Best to spend your time on other routes.

"Gold is where you find it", but there are times it just isn't worth the effort (unless you figure your time at nothing...)

 

[Harold_V]

but one i split in half appeared to be gold all through mind you it is hollow and about 1/4 to 1/2 a cm thick. Has anyone else ran into these and if so what is it.

To expect solid gold is a huge (unreasonable) stretch.
It's not uncommon for yellow brass to be gold plated (think pins, for an example). If you file in to, or cut in half such items, they appear to be gold through and through.

I'm going to preach to you for a moment.

In Hoke's book, you are taught how to test. If you've done your homework, you'd already have the answer to your question, as one simple test would disclose exactly what you have.

Have you read Hoke?

If not, why are you asking questions on the forum?

I'm not trying to be rude, and I don't mean to hurt your feelings, or insult you, but it's VERY important for you to understand that if you intend to pursue precious metals, it's mandatory that you understand what you're dealing with. That's what Hoke will teach you.

I hope you can see the wisdom in my sermon.

Harold

 

[vyper]

Harold -I did not mean to say I thought they were pure throughout, was trying to describe what it looked like in the short time I had to post and still not being able to find the camera. I have not ran across any gold plated brass pins as of yet but now that you mention brass that is probably what it is. I will put a drop of nitric on it tonight when I get some time and see what results.

As far as time goes, with a chisel and hammer I was removing the laser and this gold plated piece in about 30 seconds or so, so not a bad use of my time since I am popping the CD cases open to get the boards out anyway.

 

[MMFJ]

As far as time goes, with a chisel and hammer I was removing the laser and this gold plated piece in about 30 seconds or so, so not a bad use of my time since I am popping the CD cases open to get the boards out anyway.

You might find this video helpful
http://youtu.be/7pbJD2rSniw

 

[ericrm]

“How I turned a PILE OF JUNK
into $72,864.29 in 9 weeks -
after I lost my job…”
that is actualy you ?
your making 420000$ a years from junk wow ,im impressed
i will stop buying gold to negerian,i will buy a copy of your thing, it should be more profitable

 

[MMFJ]

“How I turned a PILE OF JUNK
into $72,864.29 in 9 weeks -
after I lost my job…”
that is actualy you ?
your making 420000$ a years from junk wow ,im impressed
i will stop buying gold to negerian,i will buy a copy of your thing, it should be more profitable

Yes, that is actually me. Did it just after getting fired from my job of 12 years - had to go out and make some money and the story is 100% true (somewhere I have the paperwork to back it up, but it was a few years ago that we did that one). I never stated that was day after day, week after week - if it were, that would really be something!

Consistently, though, JUNK brings in as much or more than most people make from a 40+ hour week at a 'normal' job - and I only work 'part time', when/as I want to (perhaps you notice I do spend a lot of time here on this forum, which is by choice, not because it pays my bills!)....

Note that I did not say, nor will I, that much is made from 'Urban Mining' - chasing tiny bits of gold here/there - many which are not worth the effort, which is what you are trying to do when going after the gold in a CD drive. While that is fine for 'hobby money', the serious money is in the JUNK, not in the scraps - but I believe in, and enjoy, doing a bit of both (mostly because chasing the gold is a lot of fun!)!

And, yes, I believe that if you follow the steps that I (and many on this forum) have used for years, you will be much more profitable than anything you would ever get from a Nigerian gold deal!

 

[Harold_V]

Harold -I did not mean to say I thought they were pure throughout, was trying to describe what it looked like in the short time I had to post and still not being able to find the camera. I have not ran across any gold plated brass pins as of yet but now that you mention brass that is probably what it is. I will put a drop of nitric on it tonight when I get some time and see what results.

As far as time goes, with a chisel and hammer I was removing the laser and this gold plated piece in about 30 seconds or so, so not a bad use of my time since I am popping the CD cases open to get the boards out anyway.

Not disputing what you're doing---just trying to make you understand the value of TESTING. The most successful in this business all have one thing in common. They know what they're dealing with.

Harold

 

[vyper]

Harold I thank you for educating this neophyte. I tested it and it is some copper based alloy.