New hear - need some answers

[funnow]

Hello to all old members, admins, moderators,....

I'm from EU - Slovenia, a small Country which was part of Ex Yugoslavia. I'm working in IT for long time (selling, repairing,.. computers), I get some scrap, to test if this is realy good business.

I started read about remove gold from computer scrap but I still have some questions about.
Hope You could help me with all answers even if you put only a link - I'm not good to look the forums, so please forgive me.

1) Which solution is better Aqua-Regia or HCL+NaClO or is there even a better solution?
2) Is there any specification how much gold is in one motherboard, CPU (I find only old CPU gold quantity Pentium Pro for example), PCI cards, memory?
3) For one ton of scrap computers I have read that you can get from 500-1500g of gold, I think that's not true.
4) Is worth start this business with 10-20 metric tons of computer scrap?
5) If yes 150000€ is enough for start?

Thanks in advance for your help and have a golden day everyday.

Aljosa

 

[patnor1011]

You are asking for troubles stating if 150k of euros is enough. I bet your email will be spammed by messages from scammers already. You do want to check your state regulations on waste. What scheme your state operate regarding eWaste - will you be paid for your services (yes this is common on some places) what regulations are on place with storing, processing electronic waste, major competitors in your area - how they may react, EPA - I think your country must adhere to some sort of program concerning WEEE.
Your question - how many metric tons are good to start is way too vague. You do not know what is inside of those computers or do you know that already? Some may be just plain cases - in any way 20MT of them represent at least 15MT of iron&steel.
You may want to start looking for different answers.
Gold & Silver are not main profit for any electronic recycler. They are just icing on cake, that is why they do not even think about AR or chemicals. It is not worth it. They are happy for others to process that for them for split or fee.
Recyclers make their money on ferrous and non ferrous scrap, glass, plastics. You will be much better served to start looking and getting best deals or contracts on scrap iron, steel, nickel, aluminium, copper, plastic - that is where money are in this business.

 

[funnow]

In my country I didn't find any eWaste, so first came, first serve. So I could be the first bigger one. With my single person company I can take scrap. There is a simple procedure.
The scrap materials are motherboards, cards, CPU and memory.
Scammers?? They are all welcome, I always know who is scammer and who is not, so here I never had a problem.
Here is always full of computer eWaste....

Iron ecc,...? There is too much people doing this.

 

[patnor1011]

You do not understand this business then
Any given electronics recycler make bulk of their money from metal scrap.
Iron, steel, etc...
In order to separate or process eWaste you do create some amount of waste too. You will have to start accept different types of electronic and I for one will know you will have soon problem with lead glass from crt - just one example.
My friend run fairly big sized operation - about 30-40 people and he do not bother with recovery, it is all being done by different company. He is busy enough to sort everything and deal with non precious metals and rest. He too started one man operation many years ago. But you have to focus on what is bread and butter in recycling.
One man operation is nice to think about - no wages to be paid, all will be mine...
You may want to spend some time reading in here - few threads where people talk about how long it will take to dismantle computer, how long it will take to process boards - separate to different material which require different methods to process. You will soon find yourself buried under different boxes, pallets, crates and will run out of time fast.

If you are dead set on recovery precious metals then go for refining business and not electronic recycling. These are two totally different things.

 

[funnow]

Look, I write some questions, you post another thing.
Still my questions weren't answered. So please I will decide what to do
Sorry, but what you will do if you come to BMW come to buy a new 5 model, and then they want to sell you a Honda Civic, for example?

It's the same here. I'm new, I would like to see the truth about gold recover from computers. I have time, I have dismont about 40000 or more computers in my life....
If I get from Slovenia PC-s, also metal will be sell back to the company which will sell me computers

 

[NobleMetalWorks]

Hello to all old members, admins, moderators,....

I'm from EU - Slovenia, a small Country which was part of Ex Yugoslavia. I'm working in IT for long time (selling, repairing,.. computers), I get some scrap, to test if this is realy good business.

I started read about remove gold from computer scrap but I still have some questions about.
Hope You could help me with all answers even if you put only a link - I'm not good to look the forums, so please forgive me.

Welcome to the forum

1) Which solution is better Aqua-Regia or HCL+NaClO or is there even a better solution?

One solution is better or more appropriate for a certain type of scrap, than another. A better question would be to ask which solutions are better for which types of material, and then you also must remember that your comfort level, ease of use, availability of supplies, etc all factor in. So the best solution for me, for a specific type of scrap, might not be the best for you. I would suggest first reading C. M. Hoke "Refining Precious Metal Wastes". If you do a search there are many links in the forum for the electronic version of the book, as well as places to purchase a physical copy.

2) Is there any specification how much gold is in one motherboard, CPU (I find only old CPU gold quantity Pentium Pro for example), PCI cards, memory?

That is a difficult question to answer, and one best answered by your own hands. Depending on the year it was made for example, the gold plating with be more or less. Depending on where it was made, what it is, what type of application it was intended for. Yields are a highly discussed topic on this forum. You should read those posts so you can get an idea of what I am trying to explain in this short answer.

3) For one ton of scrap computers I have read that you can get from 500-1500g of gold, I think that's not true.

You will never know how much gold scrap will yield until you do it yourself, using your process, by your hands.

4) Is worth start this business with 10-20 metric tons of computer scrap?

You might do better starting with small amounts and testing to see if it's even of interest to you. At the same time you can get an idea of how much work you need to do to get x-amount of precious metals. Remember, the scrap you are talking about doesn't only have gold, there are many other types of metals present as well.

5) If yes 150000€ is enough for start?

You would have to make a business plan, and figure out how much the equipment you want to use costs to lease or purchase, your building, your insurance, whatever other fees you have to pay in your country, supplies, the laundry list goes on and on and on. So many things you might buy, or not, depending on what type of scrap you want to process, and other things like maybe legal issues. It is far too difficult for anyone on the forum to say if that would be enough to start. I recently started figuring out for myself how much start up capital I need to move into a building and process on a larger scale. I thought a few hundred thousand dollars would do the trick, but I am finding out that I was wrong in assuming that number.

Thanks in advance for your help and have a golden day everyday.

Aljosa

It's good to see new people on the forum interested in starting a precious metal refining business. I hope you stick to it and learn enough to actually do it. If you do, I would be interested in learning your progress.

Scott

 

[funnow]

Scott, thanks a lot.
You said me read a book-ebook. That's one of my bad part, I hate books. Omg only 369 pages?? Damn!
Yes, I have about 10 motherboards, lot of old cards, modems,.... So I could try to see.
I have write the ammount from the investor which want to invest.

I also have a team which "If I turn on the green light" would like to work for me.

 

[Geo]

funnow, when you get a basic understanding about how the processes work, it will be much easier to help you when you have a problem and need to ask a question.Ms Hoke's book will give you that understanding. after you read it and reference it often, you will be able to ask the correct questions and understand the answers from members that know the answers.

 

[funnow]

funnow, when you get a basic understanding about how the processes work, it will be much easier to help you when you have a problem and need to ask a question.Ms Hoke's book will give you that understanding. after you read it and reference it often, you will be able to ask the correct questions and understand the answers from members that know the answers.

I was supposing that this forum is for help, but It seems is not. I didn't read anywhere that YOU MUST buy or read Ms Hoke book, to start posting or asking help.

 

[patnor1011]

funnow, when you get a basic understanding about how the processes work, it will be much easier to help you when you have a problem and need to ask a question.Ms Hoke's book will give you that understanding. after you read it and reference it often, you will be able to ask the correct questions and understand the answers from members that know the answers.

I was supposing that this forum is for help, but It seems is not. I didn't read anywhere that YOU MUST buy or read Ms Hoke book, to start posting or asking help.

Do you feel some sense of entitlement?
Yes this forum is here to help. That mean you can help yourself - everything you ask was discussed here. When you log in as you did several times one of control question is: Will you refrain from posting if you haven"t make a search first ?

I answered your questions so did Scott. I guess this was not answer you were looking for. There was quite a lot of people who come here struck with gold fever. Do not take this wrong, I do have gold fever myself but I am willing to educate myself. It seems you are not willing to put effort in doing at least basic research. Do not expect that people are here to give you everything on plate.
If you are looking for tutoring or if you want somebody else to do your homework indicate how much are you willing to pay for contracting somebody to tutor or educate you.

 

[patnor1011]

In my country I didn't find any eWaste, so first came, first serve. So I could be the first bigger one. With my single person company I can take scrap. There is a simple procedure.
The scrap materials are motherboards, cards, CPU and memory.
Scammers?? They are all welcome, I always know who is scammer and who is not, so here I never had a problem.
Here is always full of computer eWaste....

Iron ecc,...? There is too much people doing this.

You have a lot to learn my friend.
For start use google. Basic 2 minute search show that there is a lot going on in your country you do not have clue about. There is no country in world who do not have electronic recycling in place and this market is in fact pretty crowded so you do need to think a lot to present something special to muscle in:

http://www.environmental-expert.com/waste-recycling/electronic-waste-recycling/companies/location-slovenia

Some things about your country compliance with WEEE:
http://www.weeeregistration.com/weee-registration/slovenia.html
http://export.gov/europeanunion/weeerohs/weeerohscountry-by-country/slovenia/index.asp
http://www.weee-forum.org/taxonomy/term/22
http://export.gov/europeanunion/weeerohs/weeerohscountry-by-country/slovenia/index.asp

and some companies well established in your country already:
http://www.vintenradamec.com/weee-compliance-slovenia
http://www.barco.com/en/AboutBarco/Corporate%20Sustainability/Compliance/WEEE/Customers/Slovenia
http://inhabitat.com/slovenia-metal-recycling-plant-proves-industrial-sites-need-not-all-be-trashy/
http://www.interseroh.com/it/system-services/international/slovenia/

No, you don't need to thank me, I am glad to help.

 

[butcher]

funnow,

You just have no clue to how complicated recovery and refining precious metals is; you think it is something simple, it is not. It takes an education, hard work and skill. Not something you learn by reading a few pages or by someone showing you a few tricks

If you are serious about learning to recover and refine gold you have found the best place in the world to learn.

This is an art and a science, not a simple thing to do that you can learn with a few simple instructions.

It takes a lot of education, these fine members share their knowledge and understanding of the processes with others, they also help others learn, we all learn something new here all of the time.

It is a lot of work to learn this, and if you wish to learn we can help you.

If you wish to learn read the Hoke's book, reading the 369 pages is just the beginning, you will have much more to study, if you wish to master this art and science.

If this is not for you then sell your scrap to someone who has spent the time to learn, and get you some money from your scrap, and pay the person recovering and refining some money for their time they spent educating themselves.

People come here thinking this is so simple, they have no idea of what we do or how much a person needs to learn to be able to do this, then they get upset when we try to help them learn, thinking we are not answering their questions, or giving them the advice they need to be able to recover and refine precious metals, when what advise they have been given is the best advice possible for them to learn this art and science. these people just have no idea, those who do stay and learn soon become the member who will tell you go read that book and read the other information provided here on the forum, as they get an education of what all this craft contains and how much knowledge it takes to be able to do it.

If you wish to learn recovery and refining of precious metals, and have these fine members help you learn go read Hoke's book, if not the just sell your scrap and find something else much easier to learn to spend your time on.

Welcome to the forum , a place where people work hard to learn and also share what they learned to help others who work hard to learn.

 

[Harold_V]

I was supposing that this forum is for help, but It seems is not. I didn't read anywhere that YOU MUST buy or read Ms Hoke book, to start posting or asking help.

Lets get one thing straight right now.

What you are asking is much the same as a person asking to be told how to perform a piano recital of classical music, having never seen the piano. Do you really think someone, here, can tell you in a few words how to go about refining?

This forum is here to help people who know how to help themselves. You have been given the best possible advice anyone can provide---to read Hoke's book. It is available as a free download, and will help you begin to understand what is involved in extracting and refining precious metals. Without that knowledge, you will struggle endlessly, as none of this is intuitive---you simply must know some things in order to succeed.

If reading that book is more than you are willing to do to help yourself, please leave the forum quietly. If you do not, you will be banned. We do not cater to those with an entitlement attitude here.

Harold

 

[adamscot]

Now i wounder what happen there...,

 

[patnor1011]

Nothing.
He is somebody who know somebody with money and who hear somewhere that there is gold in computers. He is looking for somebody who will tell him how to get it out, and then he will be looking for somebody who will do it for him. To earn something for him and his friend who has the money.
We tend not to register things which we are not interested in. He thought that what a great idea I dont know about anyone who is doing this so I will be the first. When he started to look around and to notice things he never noticed before he probably found out that there is scrap yard in every town & village around and also that there is plenty of recovery and refine operations he never noticed before. There are a lot of things going on we dont know about. We only realize that when we stat looking for them.

 

[funnow]

Yes I have an investor who has money, the place about 300m2, now I find some machinery,....
So even I'm new in this forum, I know a little about the business.
I started to asking for gold refining, but the conclusion is that computer parts has more precious metals, not only gold....
Refining gold and silver I study the procedure
Now I only need to study platinum and copper refining and I can start with the business.

 

[patnor1011]

You are in for a surprise.
Electronic recycling is about ferrous and non ferrous scrap. All you need to study is how to efficiently dismantle and separate those.
Gold and rest of pm is only small part of that cake. Very small. Your friend will regret investment based on gold fever.

 

[eesakiwi]

I will probably say what the others have said already, just in a different way.

funnow. I can see you can get a lot of escrap & no one else is doing it in your country.
You want to get GOLD, oh & some silver & your friend has some money to set up your operation.
First, to refine that amount of escrap its going to cost a LOT more $$ than what you have.
You are going to need huge machines to crush everything & sieve it & get all the precious metals out & melt it into ingots.
Tons of paperwork & health & safety stuff & workers wages etc, the list never ends as its changing all the time.

Its called 'precious metals' because theres more than gold & silver in there...

I'd suggest just breaking the escrap down & finding a buyer to buy it from you.
They give you the $$ & if you want a gold bar, use the $$ to buy one.

First, really, find a escrap place that will buy your escrap from you in 'Gaylords' (1.2metre cube pallet box)
Get them to tell you what they want you to do, how to scrap everything down & clean it & what groups to sort you scrap into.
And, what they pay you for it.

Then you can scrap everything down into groups & send all the escrap away to the buyer.
You will still have several times more than that weight in iron, copper & aluminium.
Take that metal into your local scrapmetal buyer & sell it to him for ca$h.