PCB Refiners to handle bulk PCBs

[integer1980]

I've two questions here:

First time poster. Couldn't quite find a definitive answer thus far.

Most importantly, I need to find a refiner that will handle the bulk PCBs such as this website: http://www.specialtymetals.com/electronics/computer_scrap
From what I can tell these guys will take the PCBs, do their thing and leave me with the remaining precious metals. Silver (solder), Palladium, gold, etc.
Is this worth it?
I figure on a conservative estimate of 3,000 lbs would cost $4,100 for the processing alone and just to be safe I'll estimate $900 for the trip/overhead cost.
I live in the Southeast USA. Would like to find similar outfits that are closer to me that will handle these.

What I've been doing is taking off the easy stuff like RAM breaking off the fingers and removing the flat packs storing them separately. Then the fingers from all of the other daughter cards.
What I'm left with are the motherboards. I haven't taken off the graphics processor chips as I see some gold on them. or the socket connectors where the RAM or PCI cards go in. So there are a little bit of 'meat' left on the bone.


Also is it smart to remove the capacitors/resistors? Also what is the best way to dispose of the capacitors/resistors?

 

[patnor1011]

If you want to get best price do not depopulate. They usually recover every metal there, even aluminium from capacitors why to dispose them?

 

[integer1980]

I figured that would just add weight as I'm really only after the precious metals. According to that particular website

"Payable Metals:
98% of Gold recovered
98% of Silver recovered
97% of Platinum recovered
97% of Palladium recovered"
I'm sure each refiner has different policies.
I would be very interested in recovering the copper. Even still I'm looking at a worst case scenario. If I managed to get some copper or aluminum out of the deal then it's gravy money.

Anyone know of other refiners in the USA? To put in perspective this refiner is the only outfit that I've found which does this type of processing. Which is about 950 miles / 1500 km.

 

[kuma]

Hello Integer , how are tricks?
I hope your well!

I figured that would just add weight as I'm really only after the precious metals. According to that particular website

"Payable Metals:
98% of Gold recovered
98% of Silver recovered
97% of Platinum recovered
97% of Palladium recovered"
I'm sure each refiner has different policies.
I would be very interested in recovering the copper. Even still I'm looking at a worst case scenario. If I managed to get some copper or aluminum out of the deal then it's gravy money.

If I'm reading this right , you think that they are going to send you the recovered and refined metals ?
As I read it , the numbers that you have quoted reffer to the payment that you would recieve from the refinery upon their completion of the extraction and refining process.
For example , if they were to recover one kilogram of silver , you would recieve 98% of of the value of the one kg recovered silver , paid at the current spot once locked in.
So say silver was at $1150.00 per kg , you would recieve $1127.00 money payment in return , not the actual silver metal.
There will also be 'treatment charges' and 'lot fees' payable , which would come out of your earnings.
All wouldn't be lost though , you could use your earnings to go and buy gold and silver afterwards , 8)
Again , this is only as I read it , and someone will point me out if I'm wrong chief , :roll:
All the very best with it , and kind regards ,
Chris

(Edit , I appolagise! I've just re-read the website again and they do offer the return of bullion , I missed that the first time around and have never heard of that option before now , you learn something everyday! I really should stop staying up until silly hours just to jump back online first thing , brain-keyboard-engage , :roll: :lol: )

 

[goldsilverpro]

I figured that would just add weight as I'm really only after the precious metals. According to that particular website

"Payable Metals:
98% of Gold recovered
98% of Silver recovered
97% of Platinum recovered
97% of Palladium recovered"
I'm sure each refiner has different policies.
I would be very interested in recovering the copper. Even still I'm looking at a worst case scenario. If I managed to get some copper or aluminum out of the deal then it's gravy money.

Anyone know of other refiners in the USA? To put in perspective this refiner is the only outfit that I've found which does this type of processing. Which is about 950 miles / 1500 km.

I think that they are talking about what is called "accountability" in the trade. As an example, for gold, all of their charges are deducted from a 98% base - they take 2% off the top and then you get 98% - less all of their lot charges, assay charges, etc. Same with the other metals. I hope you don't think that you'll get 98% of all the gold they get from processing your lot of electronic scrap - karat gold scrap, yes - electronic scrap, no way. If the refiner is honest, you might end up with around 70-80% of the values, more or less depending on the material. If they are very dishonest, maybe 30-50% or, who knows?

Due to the lot charge, you can get nothing and actually owe them money, if the material is too low grade.

You probably already understand all this. I just though I should say something.

 

[integer1980]

OK, points well taken.

At first I was thinking they could only recover 97-98% of the metals. Surely you'll never recover 100%. However, even with a couple percent haircut seems to be worth it. Surely there will be

I'm thinking this method has to be profitable for people to continue using these services. Else nobody would refine with these guys are any other outfits like this. (That is, unless, of course, you're a "real" recycler and trying to minimize your losses.)

The cost at the refiner stage would be
3,000 lbs @ .92/lb
5,000 lbs @ .88/lb
Surely there are enough precious metals in your average pound of computer eScrap to at the very least to recover costs.
But much goes into what GoldSilverPro says about the honesty and integrity of the refiner. If it's a really good batch where lots of precious metals come off they may skim off the top. Just leave you with enough to cover costs and a small profit.

I don't have a ton of motherboards and such laying around. I figured after picking the 'low hanging fruit' of the computers (i.e. fingers, CPS, etc....) there are still lots of PM on the boards. (Where the RAM, CPU and monitor connect. Small gold wires inside of the ICs, and a few other spots.) These seem so hard to remove. Would anyone point me to a post to a complete break down of computer boards?

 

[goldsilverpro]

There's an old saying in this business: "You can shear a sheep many times, but you can only skin him once". In other words, if you steal too much, you'll never get repeat business from him. These guys become very proficient at knowing how much they can steal and get away with it. They can just look at a lot of material and know what your "gray area" of knowledge about that material is. For example, when you send in a lot of mixed boards, this "gray area", the percentage of doubt in your mind, can easily be 50% or more. If 50%, they can easily steal only 30%-40% and get you back again. Since you don't assay the material, you don't know the difference. You might suspect them but you really don't know. It's a big problem.

To me, when it comes to electronic scrap, this "accountability" thing is totally bogus because it sort of plants a feeling of realism and honesty to the client. What's 2% when you steal 30%? The only thing that ever counts is the bottom line.

Unless you can ship many tons at one time to a big refiner and hire an experienced rep to watch the material being processed and pull the right samples when needed, you'll probably never get a fair shake from a refiner. That's just the way it is.

 

[Harold_V]

Unless you can ship many tons at one time to a big refiner and hire an experienced rep to watch the material being processed and pull the right samples when needed, you'll probably never get a fair shake from a refiner. That's just the way it is.

Been there, done that, and believe it to be true. You'd be amazed at how good these guys are at stealing.

Harold

 

[jack_burton]

Even at the honest rate, you'd probably be better off just selling your boards, cards, and whatever else to BS or CFCS.