Ten things learned in the early days of my E-scrapping...

**VoodooDaddy** · 01-09-2014, 01:54 PM

So as we are no longer allowed to simply chuck electronics out with the trash in these parts, TV's are seemingly hard to get rid of. I have been scrappping for a solid four years, but stayed away from the TV's because of the glass. After spending more time on this forum than actual scrapping one day, I decided to give it a shot. Right now, I am stockpiling, have yet to turn anything in. Here's what I have discovered;
1) The biggest enjoyment from scrapping for me comes from the frequent use of hammers, prybars, baseball bats, sawzalls, and grinders. Not much of that in e-scrap.
2) There are a billion tiny little screws that end up stuck in the sole of my boots, which I then track into the house.
3) I have just started, and have no real connections for large quantities of scrap computers,etc.
4) It is really neat to see all the tiny bits and pieces that are inside of these things.
5) I feel as though if I could bring in large quantities, I could be doing the nearby neighborhoods a service.
6) Best Buy is out of my way, but will take up to three CRT's a day, under 36".
7) I still have no clue what I am looking at when it comes to grading boards, or how far I need to strip them down, despite all the best efforts of the members of this here forum. Maybe when I get a good pile, I will dig deeper.
8) There is alot of plastic to dispose of, which I can only put in my trash.
9) I finally found a use for that "Precision Screwdriver Kit" in my toolbox.
10) I need to do alot more research, contact a buyer, and see what he/she wants in scrap.
-I am going off the assumption that all boards with one green and one brown side are low grade, and all with both sides green are mid grade, though I am sure I am wrong. At least that is how I have been separating them.
-I strip these items, down, but do not strip anything off the boards. ANYTHING.
-I did see at one point, someone actually paid for the connectors off ribbon cables, but what to do with the actual cables?
-This is alot of fun for me, and takes up a wee bit less room than scrapping dryers, washers, and bicycles...
-Printers have ALOT of plastic on them, is there anything of worth?
-The Ol' Dog hates that I spend so much time in the basement, instead of doing things she would like to do...Gotta go!

**lousypirate** · 01-09-2014, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by VoodooDaddy

-I am going off the assumption that all boards with one green and one brown side are low grade, and all with both sides green are mid grade, though I am sure I am wrong. At least that is how I have been separating them.
-I strip these items, down, but do not strip anything off the boards. ANYTHING.
-I did see at one point, someone actually paid for the connectors off ribbon cables, but what to do with the actual cables?
-Printers have ALOT of plastic on them, is there anything of worth?
-The Ol' Dog hates that I spend so much time in the basement, instead of doing things she would like to do...Gotta go!

actual ribbon cables can be put into #3 insulated (my local takes it all as #2)
The old printers have several small motors and a couple decent boards as well as some gold ribon cable.
I'm trying to get my wife into it more, get her to start looking for things to throw in the back of her jeep while she is out and about, and to keep an eye out at thrift stores and garage sales or flea markets. (actual old dog, or just a reference?)

I had her help me last night with the last few bits of my last laptop batch. I need to fire up the propane heaters in the garage and finish up keyboards and do some sorting and cleaning. It's getting bad in there.

**VoodooDaddy** · 01-09-2014, 03:02 PM

No reference, she's a ten year old purebred mutt. The Ol'Lady on the other hand... haaha. She is actually the one who got me started scrapping. Made me save and turn in my beer cans! She is a pizza delivery driver and brings home all kinds of stuff for me. I would reccomend talkimg to anyone you know who delivers food, they travel back alleys and avoid main routes all day!

**Mechanic688** · 01-09-2014, 03:17 PM

VdD, I'll try and touch on a couple of your points. I recycle anything if there's money in it. Escrap is easier. Takes up less room. Do some networking and handing out cards every time your out and about, and one day the calls will start trickling in.
#1- I use my small hammer and prybar on the printers to open them like a clam, pull the goodies and boards.
#2- I have some small tin cans (12oz) with plastic lids that holds all the screws and small bits. When it's full the lid gets taped on then to the yard with the next microwave/computer carcass.
#7- Maybe this will help, but some green/green boards are hi grade also.
http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/elect...rds-parts.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/elect...ification.html

There are niche buyers for the ribbon connectors, platters, HD magnets, HD arms among other things, that's where going back and reading thru the archives you may stumble across buyers of other things.
As far as stripping boards goes, usually brown boards are fair game.

**VoodooDaddy** · 01-09-2014, 03:28 PM

Thanks, Mech. what i did figure out is that i can cram some steel in the computer carcass and i still get to beat it closed with the bat! Just not my usual methods of breakdown... I will eventually sort the green/green boards, but some are those little finger boards, or rambus... they are all in the same pile. For now. Does it matter what the board came out of?

**Mechanic688** · 01-09-2014, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by VoodooDaddy

Thanks, Mech. what i did figure out is that i can cram some steel in the computer carcass and i still get to beat it closed with the bat! Just not my usual methods of breakdown... I will eventually sort the green/green boards, but some are those little finger boards, or rambus... they are all in the same pile. For now. Does it matter what the board came out of?

The main thing that matters is what your buyer wants and how he would like it. Most buyers grade things differently, you just have to get used to how your buyer plays the game.

When I send in a load, I try to group like boards together, small ones go in a gallon storage bag. I may pile/pack them into a box to ship and use newspaper to separate the different kinds of boards. On the few I'm not sure about, I put them together and put a piece of paper with them with a large question mark on it, pretty self explanatory.

**VoodooDaddy** · 01-09-2014, 04:19 PM

So you are essentially scrapping for unknown prices? Not being a jerk, just a question. In my original post, i had stated that I would like to find a local buyer, so i could drive over, and see his sorting process. I suppose thats what matters the most, huh?

**MattInTheHat** · 01-09-2014, 04:25 PM

most local buyers are not large enough to match what you can get by shipping the boards, even accounting for shipping costs

**VoodooDaddy** · 01-09-2014, 06:03 PM

Really??? I would think local would be the way to go...

**Mechanic688** · 01-09-2014, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by VoodooDaddy

Really??? I would think local would be the way to go...

Most locals can't/won't give you 2.50 - 4.00 a lb for boards, my "local" yard pays .10 for all computer related. Hello FEDEX.

**hobo finds** · 01-09-2014, 06:24 PM

I get .10 for brown boards and .25 for most green boards that they don't toss in with the brown ones! LOL

**Flinthills** · 01-10-2014, 03:46 PM

I'd like to add to number four. 4a-It's really cool to see the progression of revisions to board configurations out of the exact same device. Also, #9 I couldn't agree more but then we knew it would come in handy some day when we bought them. In fact, I believe that was my reason and/or excuse for buying it.

Ten things learned in the early days of my E-scrapping...

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display