Worth it?

[localearner]

I've been asking around for nearly a month now, trying to find a company that would be willing to sell me electronic scrap, particularly old ceramic CPU scrap.

It's been nearly impossible to find a legitimate company amongst all the scammers out there, but I recently found a German scrap company with a legitimate VAT ID that agreed upon selling me the ceramic CPU scrap I've been looking for.

They are offering to sell a 2 kg lot containing a mix of Intel i386 and Intel i486 CPUs for 500 €/kg (520 $).
I found sources claiming that a mix of them yield 8.67g=790$/kg (OwlTech), whilst other sources claim that they yield 4.42-5.1g=$405-$470/kg.

If the yield is on the lower end, I might lose some money once I also pay the shipping cost.

Can anybody with any knowledge of ceramic processors help me on deciding whether it is worth it or not?
I have everything ready to process them.

 

[anachronism]

I don't like to put things down, it's not constructive but I don't think you'll win out of this when you take everything into account. If it's a test of your skills and a learning exercise that's reasonable, but otherwise not.

 

[localearner]

I don't like to put things down, it's not constructive but I don't think you'll win out of this when you take everything into account. If it's a test of your skills and a learning exercise that's reasonable, but otherwise not.

I already have everything to refine, the glassware, the chemicals and equipment. Refining gold has recently become a hobby of mine that I do occasionally, and I find that old electronic scraps are very easy to recover gold out of. I was curious to know if I would lose any money doing this, since in the long run it will benefit me if I recover more in gold and accumulate a greater amount of it.

 

[anachronism]

I already have everything to refine, the glassware, the chemicals and equipment. Refining gold has recently become a hobby of mine that I do occasionally, and I find that old electronic scraps are very easy to recover gold out of. I was curious to know if I would lose any money doing this, since in the long run it will benefit me if I recover more in gold and accumulate a greater amount of it.

Yes I do understand your thinking. The problem with deals like this is that you're relying upon a particular yield in order to benefit. I try to steer clear of those as much as possible. Have you looked into toll work? You can achieve 20% ish clear by being an honest toll refiner.

 

[localearner]

You're absolutely right with the dependence upon a particular 'unconfirmed' yield, really is not the best thing to rely upon. I haven't looked into toll work, it had never crossed my mind before. I'll see if it is something I can do. Thank you very much for the idea.

 

[Shark]

Finding quality material in a constant and steady supply is the usual problem for most small refiners. But with steady and consistent searching sometimes you get lucky. I did for several years and know it can be done, it just isn't always easy.

 

[Argentum Auricle]

Yes I do understand your thinking. The problem with deals like this is that you're relying upon a particular yield in order to benefit. I try to steer clear of those as much as possible. Have you looked into toll work? You can achieve 20% ish clear by being an honest toll refiner.

How does one become a toll refiner?

 

[Yggdrasil]

How does one become a toll refiner?

Either you offer to refine for someone or they ask you to refine for them.

Conditions may vary upon many factors.
The problem is that one need to agree on what you receive and the conditions for the refine.

Unless you have a very strict deal on how much Gold there is in what you receive and the time frame there can easily become a dispute.
We have seen it unfold in the forum at times

 

[anarxi]

I've been asking around for nearly a month now, trying to find a company that would be willing to sell me electronic scrap, particularly old ceramic CPU scrap.

It's been nearly impossible to find a legitimate company amongst all the scammers out there, but I recently found a German scrap company with a legitimate VAT ID that agreed upon selling me the ceramic CPU scrap I've been looking for.

They are offering to sell a 2 kg lot containing a mix of Intel i386 and Intel i486 CPUs for 500 €/kg (520 $).
I found sources claiming that a mix of them yield 8.67g=790$/kg (OwlTech), whilst other sources claim that they yield 4.42-5.1g=$405-$470/kg.

If the yield is on the lower end, I might lose some money once I also pay the shipping cost.

Can anybody with any knowledge of ceramic processors help me on deciding whether it is worth it or not?
I have everything ready to process them.

I don't know the profitability of these processors.
but simple human logic says that the company is engaged in recycling waste, knows the real content and will sell these processors at the price of gold and palladium (which they also possibly contain).
+ small margin.
there are no miracles.

 

[localearner]

I don't know the profitability of these processors.
but simple human logic says that the company is engaged in recycling waste, knows the real content and will sell these processors at the price of gold and palladium (which they also possibly contain).
+ small margin.
there are no miracles.

Before contacting the German company, believing that companies that deal with recycling waste would have these old ceramic CPUs, I contacted them first but they wanted higher prices from me ($650-$750/kg) for the same CPUs.

I personally believe that I won't lose much if I proceed with this order, maybe even earn something, but first I'll have to do a sample test with a couple of the CPUs to see if they yield a good amount of gold.. if I do proceed with the order.

Worst case scenario I could sell the rest of the CPUs on eBay or Boardsort, as Boardsort is paying 490$/kg for the same CPUs.