Drive head sensor parts.

[Barren Realms 007]

I pulled these out of the sensors out of some drives I had. Can some one give me some info on what recovery rate might be possible? I haven't processed any of these yet and am not sure if they are plated or solid. There is aproximately 17 grams in the ones still in the round case and 24 grams in the ones out of the case. Thanks in advance.

 

[lazersteve]

The items are plated for sure. There's no engineering reason to make components out of solid gold.

Yields are likely the same so other plated scrap (0.25 - 3 grams per pound average).

Expect the lower end of the yield scale and you'll be happy if it's higher.

Steve

 

[Barren Realms 007]

Thanks Steve, that is kind of what I was figureing. I guess I will get a cell put together and deplate them.

 

[samuel-a]

make sure when putting them inside the cell to be in a very well vantilated place.
thoes sockers produce some nasty fume with the solfuric acid.

 

[Barren Realms 007]

make sure when putting them inside the cell to be in a very well vantilated place.
thoes sockers produce some nasty fume with the solfuric acid.

Thanks Samuel,

I was thinking along the lines of the cell in Steves video on his web site. I will do the process outside anyway. Will low temps change the reaction of the material. It's in the 40's here now.

 

[samuel-a]

i wouldn't know that cous here it's almost never go under 60' and i'm using indoors.
in spite, i belive that you will not have a problem doing this out door since:
1- freezzing point of concentrated (93%) sulfuric acid is -25 F
2- as long as the stripping process undergoes ther's allways some heat emmited to the solution that will keep it warm.

i belive that the main concern in your case should be about hot solution rather then cold one.

 

[Barren Realms 007]

Heating of the solution should not be a problem as I don't have enough of these items or large plated items to do a large batch. But I'm keeping items like this in a single container till I get onough to make it worth the effort.

The anode and cathode in the cell, the lead is not a problem.

However I don't have any copper mesh like Steve. But I do have a piece of 3" or 4" copper pipe that I can cut length ways and flatten out and then bend with my brake to work for the wire mesh. Is there any reason this would cause problems in the cell?

 

[samuel-a]

no, no problem.

i builted my mesh from scrap copper wires from motherboards.
looks funny but get the job done!



remember, when you first put the scrap wire mash in the acid it will get oxidesd and pill of the outer coating of the wire to form a glow red foils that will float around, i just fished them out with the mesh.
so remember to dunk the mesh and connect the power one time to strip the coating, this will make much better contact later on...
once done, fish them out and start stripping

 

[butcher]

some of those look like lazer diodes. is there a market for them?

 

[Barren Realms 007]

no, no problem.

i builted my mesh from scrap copper wires from motherboards.
looks funny but get the job done!



remember, when you first put the scrap wire mash in the acid it will get oxidesd and pill of the outer coating of the wire to form a glow red foils that will float around, i just fished them out with the mesh.
so remember to dunk the mesh and connect the power one time to strip the coating, this will make much better contact later on...
once done, fish them out and start stripping

I don't think it looks funny at all. I didn't think of doing this. I have some 4/0 wire I need to scrap out and I can use the wire for this rather than the scrap yard. Thanks for the idea I will let the copper pipe stay where it is.

 

[Barren Realms 007]

some of those look like lazer diodes. is there a market for them?

It is a good chance they are since they are out of drives and probably some of them have been lazer read drives.