Questions about scrapping?

**scraptainblackbeard** · 07-28-2013, 07:52 PM

first thing is first
I have No idea the difference in what makes a circuit board valuable. I don't know if I should touch the resistors or capacitors on this guy and I don't even know what it came off of. I am pretty sure it came off of a big furnace used in a lab but not 100%. I am afraid to remove pieces as it might decrease the value of what I have. There are two others sitting at my work with my name on them if I want to take them.

Secondly I have two types of wire both obtained from used ballasts. I know one is just copper and am pretty positive from what I have read that the silver wire is aluminum coated. Is it worth it to strip both types or just the straight copper?

I'm definitely not stripping all these tiny wires but is it worth it to seperate my straight copper from my aluminum coated?

I have a bunch of copper pipes as well.
I am cutting off all the soldered parts. But is how green the copper is going to affect the price I get at the yard?

When I went to a garage sale I also picked up a bunch of fresh copper. Is it worth the time trying to sell the pieces I got as new to someone on ebay or CL or should I not waste the time and take it to the yard?

Thank you any tips are appreciated. I am trying to figure this out on my own but your advice is helpful.

**Bear** · 07-28-2013, 08:36 PM

Those boards are probably low to mid grade, but you'll need more input on those(and most anything else haha ; ) I'm also not real sure about the ins aluminum wires, I've been setting mine aside, not putting it in with ins copper.
Those fittings you could list on craigslist, maybe put the whole list and say best offer by some date or something. (that is similar to an auction though, which I don't think they look highly on) or maybe just make up a price and post OBO

**sledge** · 07-28-2013, 08:38 PM

The in bag fittings- Craigslist 1st. Better than scrap price
Also check my tip on cleaning your dirty bare copper in the other thread.

**Bear** · 07-28-2013, 08:46 PM

man the prices they ask for copper stuff these days is shocking. I scrapped out some old battery cables last summer, and a couple days later was browsing around in Orshlyns, just the copper end part that can be crimped onto the starter or ground side was almost ten dollars.
I'd check new prices somewhere on those fittings for an idea, and start askin price about 25%

**billygoat** · 07-29-2013, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by scraptainblackbeard

Secondly I have two types of wire both obtained from used ballasts. I know one is just copper and am pretty positive from what I have read that the silver wire is aluminum coated. Is it worth it to strip both types or just the straight copper?

I'm definitely not stripping all these tiny wires but is it worth it to seperate my straight copper from my aluminum coated?

It's tinned copper, not "aluminum coated." The bare stuff goes with your #2 copper and the insulated wires goes with #2 insulated.

Whether to strip it or not is your decision. Only you know what's worth your time and what isn't, and that usually comes from personal experience. Generally, I strip the larger wires and toss the smaller stuff in with my #2 insulated. It all depends on how busy I am and/or whether I want to maximize my payout or go for a quick turnover.

**TheRecycler** · 07-29-2013, 08:51 PM

Ok, here is the sure simple way of detecting value. The more gold you can identify, the more the value. Remember, you are in a business where the more you have, the more you make. However, don't waste your time nickel and dimimg every board.