Zinc Prices

**matador** · 09-14-2014, 01:27 PM

Hi-

I have some casings from iMac G4 computers. I am trying to find a yard to send them to. These casings are zinc.

So, I have two questions:

What have you been getting for zinc?
Are there any special things about zince I should know about?

Thanks!

**Jonniebrass** · 09-14-2014, 01:38 PM

They buy it here as zinc/ die cast here. Cannot recall price.

**Jonniebrass** · 09-16-2014, 08:34 AM

Diecast/ zinc. 0.18 per lb.

**Mechanic688** · 09-16-2014, 01:47 PM

Don't know about the zink but diecast pays the same a cast alum for me at .60 a lb.

**petehart** · 11-19-2014, 12:46 PM

i had a few g4's...according to google the shell is aluminum...and heavy too

**wayne1956** · 11-26-2014, 03:34 PM

I noticed on coinflation that the value of zinc is just over a buck a lb. My yard only pays .25 a lb, and I have heard of some paying lower, and a very few paying a little more. Anyone have any idea why they are paying so little. My guess would be it is due to the fact that most scrappers do not know the value of zinc, and so just take what the yard is paying, since that is what they have been paying for some time. Value 1.00 and paying .25. That would be like copper at 3.00 and them only paying .75. Someone please enlighten me.

**logansryche** · 11-27-2014, 05:12 AM

Originally Posted by wayne1956

I noticed on coinflation that the value of zinc is just over a buck a lb. My yard only pays .25 a lb, and I have heard of some paying lower, and a very few paying a little more. Anyone have any idea why they are paying so little. My guess would be it is due to the fact that most scrappers do not know the value of zinc, and so just take what the yard is paying, since that is what they have been paying for some time. Value 1.00 and paying .25. That would be like copper at 3.00 and them only paying .75. Someone please enlighten me.

Either that or yards don't know what to do with it once they get it as they've never handled it or rarely handle it.

**wayne1956** · 12-01-2014, 08:36 AM

They have been buying it for quite some time, so they have an outlet for it. I just do not understand why the low buy price. Sure seems like a huge profit margin in there for them.

**submarinepainter** · 12-01-2014, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by wayne1956

I noticed on coinflation that the value of zinc is just over a buck a lb. My yard only pays .25 a lb, and I have heard of some paying lower, and a very few paying a little more. Anyone have any idea why they are paying so little. My guess would be it is due to the fact that most scrappers do not know the value of zinc, and so just take what the yard is paying, since that is what they have been paying for some time. Value 1.00 and paying .25. That would be like copper at 3.00 and them only paying .75. Someone please enlighten me.

Where I work ZINC ANODES are considered hazardous and treated as such, could be the controls you need that makes it sell for less?

**wayne1956** · 12-01-2014, 12:39 PM

The zinc I get is the molded stuff (drawer handles, water faucets, holders for ceiling fan blades, etc).

**zaydeh** · 12-03-2014, 05:38 AM

Unfortunately what you have wayne1956 is not even close to pure zinc. What you have is zinc aluminum die casting alloy which has been plated or coated. Zinc or zinc aluminum alloys are dull grey in color not bright and chrome colored like a faucet or door handle. The only relatively pure zinc most scrappers would see is the old grey metal weatherstripping from windows. heres a good piece of info:
COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES OF ZINC DIE CASTING ALLOYS

DESIGNATIONS COMPOSITION (in percent max. unless shown as range for die castings) ... for ingots	No. 3	No. 5	No. 7	ZA-8	ZA-12	ZA-27
Aluminum	3.5-4.3	3.5-4.3	3.5-4.3	8.0-8.8	10.5-11.5	25.0-28.0
Copper	0.25	0.75-1.25	0.25	0.8-1.3	0.5-1.25	2.0-2.5
Magnesium	0.02-0.05	0.03-0.08	0.005-0.020	0.015-0.030	.015-030	.010-.020
Iron	0.100	0.100	0.075	0.10	0.075	0.10
Lead	0.005	0.005	0.0030	0.004	0.004	0.004
Cadmium	0.004	0.004	0.0020	0.003	0.003	0.003
Tin	0.003	0.003	0.0010	0.002	0.002	0.002
Nickel	ó	ó	0.005-0.020	ó	ó	ó
Zinc	Bal.	Bal.	Bal.	Bal.	Bal.	Ba