eScrap Breakdown

Hey all - found this site months back when was looking to learn more about scrapping and different metals. Had done some scrapping but nothing like I do now. I buy storage units as a hobby and I work in IT. So I see a number of computers, tvs, and other electronics. Wanted to put together a list of what can be done with each item that may find in a storage unit or buy from other auction buyers. Here is what I came up with so far.

I'm sure I'm missing some stuff or got things wrong. Still doing searches and reading over all the threads we have on this board. Let me know what should be updated / changed / clarrified.

*NOTE - this assumes everything is non-working / scrap only *

Computer (Many parts have gold in them and are sold by weight to eBuyers):
CPU - gold -- older chips have more gold then newer
RAM - gold tips
Video Card / Other cards that fit into slots - gold tips
HDD - sell complete or remove high-grade board and sell seperate (depends on buyer)
DVD/CD/Floppy - sell complete or remove board from DVD/CD to sell and rest shred
Motherboard - sell complete - remove cmos battery, back plate that holds CPU
Case - goes in your steel/shred pile
Fans - some buyers, so remove from case and save
Power Supply - breakdown or sell complete
Ribbon Wire - put in insulated pile
Ribbon Wire Ends - cut off and save - gold in connectors

Keyboard - if non-CLICKY (CLICKY being from early 1990s and back I think???? makes distinct sound)
Cord - cut off an goes in insulated wire pile?
Cord End (non-usb) - don't know of any use for.
Cord end (USB) - brass or gold connectors
Silver Sheet - save and sell when have few pounds (takes many keyboards)
Borad - think this is low grade, may or may not be worth keeping

Mouse
Cut - insulated wire pile
Cord End (non-usb) = trash
Cord End (USB) = brass or gold connectors
Inside Mouse = low grade board? Ball could be coated steel

Monitors / TVS
Cord - insulated wire pile
Cord End - remove prongs?
Degause Wire - copper
Yoke = copper
Monitor/TV = Should contain low-grade board.

VCR/DVD/Stereo:
Cord - insulated wire pile
Cord End - remove prongs?
* Most have low-grade boards
Stereo speakers - magnets

Phone & Network:
Phone ends - brass ends
Phone cord - insulated
Network ends - gold???
Network cord - insulated



Most low grade boards will have alum heatsinks, a few small transformers with copper, and few other places with copper or copper wire. A few threads about removing the resistors/caps are on the boards here to read. Low grade boards can be tossed in your shred pile if local yard will buy them. May find some buyers on internet that will buy. May not be worth cost to ship.

Computer cases and many of the dvd/stero cases are ABS plastic. That can be recycled and in some cases sold for money. TV and old CRT tubes contain lead - don't break open the tubes and expose yourself. Dispose of the tubes in a safe way.

The low grade boards can be sold to some buyers for $ .12 to .25 a lb.

CDROM drives takes the board out send to a buyer and throw rest in shred pile.