Hello All!

[Ol Sarge]

My nickname from my last deployment overseas is Ol' Sarge, so that is what I'll be going by on the boards if that is OK. I'm a Pipefitter from the Saint Louis, Missouri area. I found this website because I am usually turning in some sort of scrap, steel and copper mostly, to the local scrap yard and I noticed that they are now starting to take electronic scrap. I had heard that there were traces of gold in electronic equipment, and I figured that I would rather refine it my self rather than sell it for pennies on the dollar.
I understand that I have a lot of reading and research to do yet, so I will hold off on the questions for now, expect perhaps 2 things: 1. Is it worth it to try and refine precious metals from industrial equipment, like large motors and HVAC equipment (control boards and such);
2. Has anyone given any real thought to extracting silver from brazed copper joints? (The brazing rod we use is 6 - 15% silver with Phosphorus).
Anyway, I'm looking forward to learning a lot and sharing any results I may actually have at a future point.
Thanks for what looks like a great forum and a lot of useful and knowledgeable information.

 

[Long Shot]

Well I'll guess I will be the first to welcome you to the forum Ol Sarge. I am not anywhere near a senior member but I will say that I am with you on the common scrap thing - I have been parting out electric motors for the copper and short steel scrap for years and have in the last few years developed an interest in PM recovery. I have been involved in technical service for 20 years and before I took up an interest in this have ignorantly thrown out all kinds of scrap that contained stuff that is of reasonably high value, all considered. Every switch, overload, contactor has "points" of electrical contact that are usually made of mostly silver and sometimes gold or gold plated on silver. As far as HVAC goes - there are all kinds of overloads and relays in these and the aforementioned applies. My advice to you would be to hoard everything you can get your hands on, study up to see how you will deal with it, use the search function on this board to answer your questions about process and methods before you post. My experience here is that most of the common questions from newbies have been addressed over and over with good answers from the senior members and I can sympathize with them when they get a little short about answering the same old same old when it is freely available with a little effort. That said, please don't feel intimidated as I have felt when I first joined. Understand that the seniors on the board have been doing this for a long time and some of them (maybe most) are first rate professionals in the field. They have learned by experience and hard knocks, I suppose, so questions without effort bother them, as it should. On the other hand they don't expect you to know everything (I have read that when it comes to some of this stuff, one lifetime isn't enough). They are patient and very helpful but if you are arrogant or have a sense of self entitlement you won't get far. Please enjoy the forum and if I can address anything for you please feel free to post or send me a personal message.

Jeff B

 

[Long Shot]

Hey Ol Sarge - I forgot to address the silver solder thing. I have extracted larger silver contacts from the base metals using a Oxy-Act torch from which they are attached to (usually copper or brass) and have left the remnant AG solder in place - mainly because the method of recovering that would involve dissolution with nitric acid which is expensive, and HNO3 will be used up big time by CU or brass. Not worth the effort or expense for the slight return IMHO.

 

[Ol Sarge]

Thanks for the reply and the welcome Long Shot!

Believe me, I understand completely about getting annoyed with answering stupid questions over and over again. I do have over 17 years in the military after all, and they love asking stupid questions....

I've got a lot of reading to do and a lot of research, but at least I know a bit about what types of stuff to start saving. So thanks for pointing me in a bit of a direction.

Now to start scraping and seeing what I can find while I learn myself up a bit. Or in this case, a great deal.

Thanks again!

 

[Claudie]

Good to see you here. Have fun learning!

 

[butcher]

Welcome to the forum Sarge

Thank you for your dedicated service.

I think you will find the forum very informative, as you search for answers to your interests and your questions, your study will open a whole new world of information about these precious metals.

There may not be a whole lot of profit in a few silver contacts, or some of the scrap you may be collecting now, or trying to learn more about, but your study here following that interest will be profitable, if not only with a little metal you may collect, and wish to learn more about. but in the education gained.

Your interest can lead you to an education about these precious metals, which can be priceless.

Your search for answers can open all sorts of possible ways for you to profit from that education, it is simply amazing to me what you can learn here on this forum, and with such a great group of people to learn from, and to share with what your learning with.

I hope you find it as interesting, and as enjoyable as I do.