Hard drive actuator arm questions.

**mcemc** · 01-02-2014, 06:26 PM

Hey guys I have searched the forum and cannot find a break down of what the different parts are made of. Some say the tips are platinum the arm aluminum copper.
Would like to get a definitive answer on this. I have many many pounds and would like to break them down to different piles. Thanks for the help in advance

**Mudlucky** · 01-02-2014, 06:46 PM

What I believe I know is that there is Aluminum, copper and something magnetic. I buy these by the pound. Just check the buyers section for my price. It is worth it for some, and for others it isn't.

If there is platinum, I can't imagine it would be worth going after with out a lot of volume. It isn't worth the average scrapper going after the platinum in the platters than come out of hard drives and the platinum in the arms would be miniscule. This isn't a definitive answer, but the best I have and what I've learned. I'm always looking to learn more...

Ken

**Bear** · 01-02-2014, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by mcemc

Hey guys I have searched the forum and cannot find a break down of what the different parts are made of. Some say the tips are platinum the arm aluminum copper.
Would like to get a definitive answer on this. I have many many pounds and would like to break them down to different piles. Thanks for the help in advance

I didn't have any luck with that question either MC. http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/disma...d-equal-;.html I asked indirectly in the first post, and directly in posts 10, 16, and 23, but never got any direct answers. I'm expecting maybe google could be your friend ; )
I also expect there's more in it than aluminum, copper, and tin

**Mechanic688** · 01-02-2014, 09:19 PM

Usually a SS bearing and the copper wires and looks like lil gold contacts. The OP is tripping over dollars to pick up a dime here.
I mean way too much time spent for way too little $$.

**Bear** · 01-02-2014, 11:26 PM

well, I pulled one apart and looked at it under a light and a magnifying glass, it does look like copper from most angles, but there's just this one, ya know? ; )

**mcemc** · 01-04-2014, 08:12 PM

thanks guys I always thought the tips were coated platinum that reads the platters. Was just curious cause i got a bunch sitting around.

**bejak** · 01-05-2014, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by mcemc

thanks guys I always thought the tips were coated platinum that reads the platters. Was just curious cause i got a bunch sitting around.

A buyer of these did chime in on your thread, might want to check it out.

**stillwaterrecycling** · 01-05-2014, 12:44 PM

When I first started breaking down computers a few months ago I was doing this too. IT was just fun. I thought yea Im making $$. SPent way to much time breaking down. Its a must do at first so you know what is in there.
I heard also the tip was pl. Who knows. I dont care. I remove the logic board and my base metals buyer take the drives as old sheet al (paying mid .50c). From there they are sent to shred.

Also remove any 500gb and laptop 250 gb and larger. Them you can resell all day long for 1000 times what scrap is. Maybe not 1000 times. But a few hundred times.

Do it to learn and have fun. But to make $$ keep buying buying and flipping and flipping.

Aaron