removing copper from low grade boards

**Gnraxlrose88** · 09-22-2012, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by jaydee1445

We don't like low grade that has been cleaned and broken. IMHO pulling transformers for pennies from a board that will bring dimes whole is not the best use of your time. Use your time to get more scrap; the larger volume that you do and higher quality product could help you negotiate a better price.

Wait...hold on...explain your logic. It may be too early in the morning...but let me get this straight...

Boards by me sell for .15 a pound. The flybacks alone, last time I got .20 a pound. So, how would leaving them on the board make me more money? Say the board equals 5 lbs in tact. (yes i'm exaggerating.) Now, I take off all the motors, alum, etc, and throw it in a pile on the scale...still equals 5lbs...but the transformers are .20 a lb, alum price varies if it's a sheet heatsink or extrusion, but i know their both more than .15 a pound...so, when I'm down to no large items to break down, and theres my little pile of boards...PLUS it keeps me occupied while I watch TV...bring a bucket of heatsinks in the house and clean all the junk off them while I watch a little boob tube?

It seems you are a board buyer...yes? Is that why you dislike stripped/broken boards...because in the end you're not making alot of profit off them?

And I am not a big time scrapper. Maybe for the big timers negotiating prices may be plausable, but i'm simply a little peon making a little extra change.

**billygoat** · 09-22-2012, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Gnraxlrose88

Boards by me sell for .15 a pound. The flybacks alone, last time I got .20 a pound.

I get .08/lb at my yard. The flyback transformer and the board itself are both classified as "low grade copper bearing" at the yard I go to. So don't take the flyback off. It's just as well, I hate pulling them off since they are a major PITA to take off the boards. I do pull off all the copper, aluminum, ICs, and some of the steel. The steel that I take off goes with my loose lite iron. It actually pays a little more than the boards, believe it or not.

So it depends on how each individual's yard classifies and pays for each category.

**Mechanic688** · 09-22-2012, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by billygoat

I get .08/lb at my yard. The flyback transformer and the board itself are both classified as "low grade copper bearing" at the yard I go to. So don't take the flyback off. It's just as well, I hate pulling them off since they are a major PITA to take off the boards. I do pull off all the copper, aluminum, ICs, and some of the steel. The steel that I take off goes with my loose lite iron. It actually pays a little more than the boards, believe it or not.

So it depends on how each individual's yard classifies and pays for each category.

I use a 1" steel chisel and go around the transformer at the base chipping thru the board, takes about 1 minute.

**KzScrapper** · 09-23-2012, 04:40 AM

Originally Posted by billygoat

So don't take the flyback off. It's just as well, I hate pulling them off since they are a major PITA to take off the boards.

Flybacks go in my motor bucket and fetch ~.30# and I use large channel lock pliers to twist them of the boards. They don't put up much of a fight especially the ones on the older brittle boards.

**jaydee1445** · 09-23-2012, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Gnraxlrose88

And I am not a big time scrapper. Maybe for the big timers negotiating prices may be plausable, but i'm simply a little peon making a little extra change.

Time =$$$ spend that time making pennies stripping low grade or spend it growing your business and you will get to the point you can negotiate better deals