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Gold In Vacuum Cleaners

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  1. #1
    HeavyMetalScrap201 started this thread.
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    Thumbs up Gold In Vacuum Cleaners

    Not sure if this topic has been posted and if any one is aware that some vacuum bags hold gold. i made a nice little score after taking some time and effort to clean out about 13 vacuum cleaners i picked up out of the trash. find: pair of 10k, 14k mixed earnings and one silver bracelet total worth in scrap value $123.00 i no it's not much but I'm happy camper please share your finds.


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  3. #2
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    When rooting through vacuum bags..Do remember that other things less then good come out of them. Fleas, bed bugs, other various bugs.

    Other then that, nice score, an hope ya don't find one that someone had a flea issue an put down the powder an vacuumed it up, same with bed bugs, they can be vacuumed up.

    Sirscrapalot - Who needs cracker jacks when you just get a free prize in every vacuum bag!

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    I'm sitting on six vacuum cleaners right now and I have never thought to look through them. Just don't want to deal with the unpleasantries, not to mention the toxicity of the dust.
    Your Trash-My Cash
    Yours Truly, TheRecycler:
    RecycleReuseItAll@Facebook.com

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    I'm gonna officially pass on this activity.

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  9. #5
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    Might need to break out my metal detector

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    Sirscrapalot's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by erewen View Post
    Might need to break out my metal detector
    LOL..good idea, use that before opening the bag!

    Sirscrapalot - Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them. - William Arthur Ward

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    Know a guy that owned a quarter car wash, usually had pretty good paydays from the vacuum cleaners. lots of change, to diamond rings and other jewelry.

    I would wear a gas mask and do this outside.

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    I used to work at a gas station that had one of those car vacs. I always volunteered to clean that baby out when everyone else ran from it. Never got any gold, but the thing always had coins in it.

    I think I'm going to try something a little different on the vacuums. I just want to dump it all on a piece of sheet metal away from my shop and let the rain sort it out for me. May even hit it with a water hose. That will keep me from breathing a bunch of dust or bringing fleas into my shop.

    Another thing to be aware of is the possibility of hypodermic needles. That was something I'd find in the big car vac so I always had to be careful. Washing out the contents seems like a better idea now that I think of those.

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  14. #9
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    Worst couple of vacume bag finds for me were.

    Puke with magotts
    and cat turds inside one of those bagless ones.

    If a coin comes out when I remove them then and only then do I dump them out LOL

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    If you have a metal detector, just run it over the vacume bag. You could even buy a pin pointer to check bags if you deal with them a lot.

  16. #11
    HeavyMetalScrap201 started this thread.
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    yeah put on some gloves and mask, Duh!!! happy finds use your head!!!

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    Quote Originally Posted by erewen View Post
    Might need to break out my metal detector
    That's what I do.

    All I've ever found is spare change and paperclips though. LOL

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  19. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by HeavyMetalScrap201 View Post
    yeah put on some gloves and mask, Duh!!! happy finds use your head!!!
    I like that name "happy finds" and who is a fool?


    “Every man is a fool in some man's opinion”
    Last edited by hobo finds; 01-06-2014 at 03:24 PM.

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  21. #14
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    yes bugs are a risk but something like this I do out in the yard anyway to rid the crap easy but i always look in vbags couch and chair cracks even if im not keep them as i find at least $30 a week in loose change and bills toys and other strange stuff like condoms which is why i wear gloves when hunting for curbco specials never had luck on any real jewelry just the fake stuff but heres hoping and thanks for posting

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    What a great idea! I have a metal detector and a pin pointer as well.
    "64K should be enough for anybody." - Bill Gates 1981
    http://www.treasurecoastelectronicrecycling.com/

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    Guys, we are in the business of maximizing from primarily from what people discard, however, it comes a time when it is risk versus rewards. Leave the vacuums alone. Just like dumpster diving, is it really worth it? My answer is heck no.

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  25. #17
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    If it's not in your comfort zone don't do it, personally I have a kid and pets...I've dealt with a lot worse than the inside of a vacuum bag. LOL

    I leave the bag outside, and sweep the metal detector over it.

    If I get a hit...I use a mask (asthma), gloves if you're worried... and make a long slit down the center and two on either end, fold back the flaps and use a stick or screwdriver to poke around.

    5 seconds, flip it in the trash when your done

    I check them especially if I happen to score one from a business. Lots of change sometimes in those.

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  27. #18
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    If it's not in your comfort zone don't do it, personally I have a kid and pets...I've dealt with a lot worse than the inside of a vacuum bag. LOL

    BbbbbaaahhhhaaahhA. That's just to funny.

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    I wouldn't touch another person's house vacuum bag if you paid me. Don't know what them folks got in there. While it ain't for me, I won't look down on anyone who does, barring they use common sense. Same with diving in dumpsters. Not my cup of tea, but to each their own. I've seen folks pull some nice stuff out of them before. In person, an here on the forums. Just not my style, I'm to old an banged up to be climbing or rooting around in dumpsters.

    Again tho...each to their own. I don't judge. Kinda like dealing with TV's, not for everyone, but don't judge me cause I choose to take'm. What works for you or me, may not work for another.

    Sirscrapalot - Only one can judge me, an it ain't no one on this earth.

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