Large Amounts of Platinum Scrap Could Be Hiding in Some Unusual Places

Platinum ScrapRecycle Refine PlatinumRecycling and Refining
Written By Barry Lenson

With platinum trading for $1,400/Troy Ounce today, it is well worth looking for it in unusual places. Even a small amount of certain kinds of platinum scrap that will fit in a shoebox or in your pocket could bring you a much bigger profit than you expected.

Here are some examples of unexpected places where smart platinum investors have found platinum scrap worth $400.00, $500.00 or more.

Platinum Embedded in Floor Pads Near Lathes, Grinders, Polishers, and Other Production Machines

Jewelry factories have long been a great source of platinum that has been left behind after manufacturing operations. 

One of our favorite stories is that more than a pound of platinum dust was found embedded in floor pads that were used on the floor near a platinum manufacturing station. The pads were there to cushion the floor because the machinist who operated the polishing and grinding machines there needed to stand on something soft and forgiving during long working days. 

When the pads were removed and burned, they were found to contain more than a half-pound of platinum dust. 

Platinum Scrap in Floor Sweepings

You might not think that you can find a lot of platinum simply by sweeping a factory floor. (After all, all you need is a broom and a dustpan to collect this kind of scrap.) But in only an hour or less of work, you can sometimes recover hundreds of dollars worth of platinum powders, dust, and machining scrap, provided you are looking for platinum in a jewelry factory.  

Platinum Embedded in Polishing Wheels

Platinum powder (as well as gold and silver powder) becomes embedded in the polishing wheels that are used to lend a bright shiny finish to pieces of jewelry after they have been made. This is one of our favorite surprise sources of more platinum than you might expect. So our advice to you is that if you find polishing wheels in jewelry manufacturers or repair shops, remove them from their polishing machines and send them to us for testing. For only a minute or two of work with a wrench, you could be rewarded with platinum that is worth much more than you expect.

Dust that Accumulates in Work Apron Pockets

Many machinists like to wear denim and even leather aprons and tunics while they are working. Why? To protect the clothing they are wearing while they are doing their work. And here’s an interesting secret for you. If those aprons have pockets, quantities of platinum dust (and silver and gold dust too) tend to accumulate in them. So if you see an old apron hanging on a nail in a workshop or factory, don’t pass it by. Put it in a plastic bag, seal it, and send it to Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners for testing.

Boxes of Welding Scrap

We must admit that it is rare to find much platinum in the little bits and scraps of welding bars and electrodes that are left over from welding and brazing operations. They are more likely to contain silver, sulfur and other materials that are worth less than platinum or gold. Yet you will find welding scrap in many factories, so don’t pass it over in your search for precious metals you can recycle profitably. 

Thermocouple Wire

When a building is being demolished, it is usually possible to retrieve thermocouple wire that was used in heating and air conditioning installations. Thermocouple wire almost always contains silver. It can also contain some gold, especially in connectors and small devices that are attached to its ends. And then we come to platinum, because certain kinds of thermocouple wire contains small quantities of platinum that we can recover for you. 

So even though thermocouple wire might look like spaghetti, it could be the most valuable kind of spaghetti you will ever find anywhere. Set it aside and call our precious metals refiners at 800-426-2344. We can test it for you, issue you a full report on how much it is worth and then – if you decide to – we can recover the platinum it contains and pay you for it at high current trading prices. 

Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners Is Your Partner in Recovering Platinum Scrap

We have been doing it and paying precious metal hunters for their discoveries for years. You can benefit from our expertise, so why not call our precious metal refiners at 800-426-2344? 

Barry Lenson
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Beyond Gold, Platinum, and Silver Wire . . . Make More Money Recycling Thermocouples