Desktop Computer Towers & Monitors

Are these mainly aluminum or steel? There are a ton being junked nearby, but if it's steel it's likely not worth my time to go drive to pick them up. However, if it's aluminum, at around .50 / lb., it may in fact be worth my time.

The cases would be most likely steel. There will be some aluminum in there, but not a lot. I would take them even if they didn't have aluminum. Easier to get 10 pounds of steel than 1 pound of aluminum, and you would get $0.80 for the 10 pounds vs. $0.50 for 1 pound of aluminum. If you find a buyer for the boards inside, there is more money, plus you get a nice handful of insulated wire. I don't get what a lot of people get for wire but it adds up. If you strip the wire, you can get even more and it doesn't take up a lot of space.

The real money in a desktop, in my opinion, is from the high grade boards, the RAM, and the CPUs (and of course the wire). Those are the gold platinum and palladium containing parts that people want to refine, and that can be sold on ebay for $$. Really, when you pull that stuff out of there, the steel that is left is only worth maybe $.50-$1. go on ebay and check out what they are selling for!

Originally Posted by TheIrrationalist

The real money in a desktop, in my opinion, is from the high grade boards, the RAM, and the CPUs (and of course the wire). Those are the gold platinum and palladium containing parts that people want to refine, and that can be sold on ebay for $$. Really, when you pull that stuff out of there, the steel that is left is only worth maybe $.50-$1. go on ebay and check out what they are selling for!

Well these desktops are going to be fairly old, the parts likely aren't worth very much, but I'll see what I can sell those for on ebay for sure.

tj, what's the purpose of stripping the wire? Is that copper on the inside that we're all so fond of here? And is it better to strip it and keep what's inside and save it up?

Still trying to get a handle on how you guys salvage everything - it's pretty **** cool though.

Oh, and happy holidays, all!

Yes, the wires are copper wire. Soldier covered copper, if you take a file to it, you will see the true color under. And yes, if you have the time to strip it is worth it. I do it here and there. Started going in to the shed to smoke rather than stand in the snow and wind, so while I smoke I will strip a wire or 2.

Originally Posted by tjlock

Yes, the wires are copper wire. Soldier covered copper, if you take a file to it, you will see the true color under. And yes, if you have the time to strip it is worth it. I do it here and there. Started going in to the shed to smoke rather than stand in the snow and wind, so while I smoke I will strip a wire or 2.

Alright so sorry if I'm a bit ignorant here, but not all wires have copper inside, do they? Things like USB cables and computing cables?

Also, what tool is best for stripping wire? I know there are tools specifically made for stripping ends off a wire if you're splicing them (I've seen my father do it when he used to do electrical work around the house), so would you just use something like that for the entire length of it?