Tech enthusiast and noob to scrapping - Hello from Texas!

Hello! Just a part time food delivery driver and computer hobbyist. Its funny, I got a degree in computer maintenance, my A+ certification yet I've been struggling to find a decent job as a technician or in the IT field due to lack of experience yet I need experience to get a job in the aforementioned fields. xD

Still, doing deliveries isn't bad. I make about $14 an hour and make my own schedule. Fuel really isn't an issue because my mom's Civic is really good on mileage and I flip hardware on the side, making any where from $100 to $200 in profit whenever I have the money to spare at the end of the month.

I love digging through computer scrapyards and recyclers because people tend to get rid of perfectly good and usable hardware for no reason. I like to give things a new home in budget builds or as parts for those wanting them for budget builds or spares. I have gotten some duds, it happens when you buy stuff as-is, though it doesn't really hurt my profits given how little I pay to begin with. I'd love to learn about how to make the most out of all the stuff that I get that ends up not working or not worth repairing. I have 8 towers that have boards with bad and bulging caps that would cost what little their worth in replacement boards and bad graphics cards that either don't display, artifact or are otherwise faulty.

Welcome to SMF where many computer guru's hang out. While you are waiting for others to reply take the time to visit our library of threads. Lot's of information and laughs can be found. Look forward to your contributions and good luck.

Well you have come to the right place...............Any more most boards/cards etc are disposable..........This is probably the most informative EWASTE site on the net...........Good luck and start reading

Welcome to the forum ! For job prospects, depending on where you live, try a school system or position in a small town IT department.
the A+ should get you in the door, work on your infrastructure/ network , security knowledge so that you can talk the talk. Set up your own
network / server system at home and play. You will learn alot that way. When I worked in the small town IT department I ended up doing it all. Desktop support, network infrastructure, security, specifying and purchasing new equipment etc. . Something different every day- it was an adventure. Back then the town departments were still all on dialup so i had alot of work to do .
Join any "hacker space" or makerspace type clubs in your area or other computer based clubs to start making connections with other people in the field.

Good luck in your search

Fair warning there's a guy up in your neck of the woods that bills himself as an ewaste buyer. I'm not going to name names, but caveat emptor when dealing with him.

Best ewaste buyer I've found in DFW if Friedman Metals Inc in Oak Cliff. They require an appointment, and will only pay with a check written to a business.

Next best bet is HLH&R in Waxahatchie.

Welcome to the forum. You've been given some great advise. 73, Mike

Wow ... great information in this thread.

You're already on the right track. Your best option is always repair / refurb aka " Better Than Scrap ". That's where your best money is. You scrap out the obsolete and unrepairable to gain a few pennies more.

Old timer's advise to a young guy starting out :

It's later than you think. There's no telling where you'll be ten years from now but you have to lay the groundwork for the future.I would strongly recommend furthering your education.

One possible way you could build on what you already have. There are tons of really good nuts and bolts mechanics but very few competent tech guys out there. Most of the vehicles on the road these days are heavily computerized. There are already some experimental driverless cars along with hybrids & electrics. This is likely to be what our future looks like 20 or 30 years from now.

~ You could write your own ticket if you are in the right place at the right time.~

Thanks everyone for the information and the welcome. I think there's a lot for me to learn here. Y'all already gave me some great tips to go on moving forward and I hope to get more down the road.

Ultimately, I'd like to have my own business doing what I love. Working on computers, cooking, video games and table top games. Whether or not it happens isn't the question, its when it happens. How ever long it takes, I'll have my own place.