What Kinds of Precious Metal Scrap Can You Buy by the Bin or the Bushel?
“I just spent about $50 for an old storage bin that was full of old thermocouple wires. How much is it worth?” – J.P., Santa Fe, New Mexico
Hunting for precious metals often involves looking for small items. You get lucky when you find a gold tuxedo shirt stud in a jewelry box. Or you find a sterling silver spoon at an antique store, mixed in alongside less valuable items of tableware, and buy it for just a dollar or two.
When you are looking for precious metal items and precious metal scrap, most of the time you will come away with just one or two small items. But that isn’t always the case. Sometimes you can find bins and baskets of scrap for sale that contain silver, gold and sometimes even platinum. Most often, you will find them after buildings or factories have been demolished. But do be on the lookout for them at other times too, because the larger the quantity of scrap you are dealing with, the greater potential to make money.
And these larger quantities can sometimes be found. In the words of one precious metal prospector, “I bought more than 75 old wall thermostats in a batch after they had been removed from a building that was demolished.”
With that said, here are some forms of precious metal scrap that can be found in larger, bushel-basket-sized quantities:
Bins and baskets of thermocouple wire that has been removed from the heating or cooling systems in buildings, or from factory production lines
Bins of thermostats and other scrapped electronic components that have been removed from buildings
Piles of pipes that were used in factories where plating operations were performed
Bins of goo and sand and gunk that you collect in and around factories in drains and drainage pits
Floor and bench sweepings of powder that you collect in old jewelry-manufacturing companies
Quantities of unused brazing, welding and silver-soldering electrodes and scrap
Batches of old remotes, cellphones, and other small handheld electronics
Packets and pallets of unused photographic film and printing papers
Think Big, Make More Money in Your Recycling Activities
It doesn’t always work, but there are times when thinking larger, not smaller, can give you a bigger return. Do you have quantities of scrap that you would like to turn into bright, shiny cash? Then give our precious metal experts a call today at 800-426-2344. You will be glad you did.
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Where to Find Precious Metals in Buildings You Are Demolishing