Hard drive case grading

**Ironhunter** · 07-18-2014, 08:53 PM

So I have a couple tubs full of these anodized aluminum hard drive cases, fully stripped of everything I can get off them. What would be a fair grade to expect at the local yard?

**Mechanic688** · 07-18-2014, 09:03 PM

I get paid cast which is what they are. .60 a lb

**Longhairboy** · 08-05-2014, 04:56 PM

I read in an old post where easyrecycle said they are extruded?

**Mechanic688** · 08-05-2014, 05:26 PM

They are cast and the "smooth" part is machined. I thought they might be ext. also and had a good "argument" going at my yard but the owners son settled it by bringing out the gun and shooting one. I just sell mine as cast now. .60 a lb

**hobo finds** · 08-05-2014, 06:18 PM

Cast $.55 clean, if not clean then dirty alum $.25

**snapperhead** · 08-06-2014, 01:58 AM

Cast is the best grade for selling HD chassis to the yards, but they are actually forged in their manufacture. A hot short, slug of extruded Aluminium is sandwiched between a set of dies under massive pressure,to form the basic shape. Then the critical surfaces are machined in after the coating has been applied.

They are forged from extruded Ali to avoid any defects in the grain structure that is common in cast items. A give away is the surface texture of the chassis, too smooth to be a cast item. Some yards may try to tell you they are die cast (implying a zinc content), but its not. Neither does it have the silicon content in the alloy that allows the molten metal to flow into those tight shapes and corners. They are forged from extruded slugs of pure Aluminium.