The raw value of modern electronics is next to nothing

[sherrick13]

My work always gives me the broken stuff to scrap.

This is the scrapable remnants of 3 laser jet printers. I threw two of the fans away, but this one has more copper than the others.





1 lb of wire
6 lbs of ewaste
26 lbs of steel
.75 lbs of electric motors


At the last going rate that is a whole.........$2.84.

So why do I do it?

1. I enjoy it. With a drill or electric screwdriver while watching the news or whatever isn't a chore.
2. It is fun to see how stuff works, my kids like to take stuff apart too. Family time.

3. I'm not an environmentalist, but I am a conversationalist. And it gives me a good argument if I ever have to talk to a liberal about the environment.

4. Hey, $2.84 is $2.84. That is about the price of the gas to the scrapyard at today's prices. All the other stuff I take is profit.

I have a microwave for tomorrow.

 

[WoodsCraft]

Truth everything is disposable today and not designed to repair, when I first dipped my toe in the IT pool a big part of support was servicing hardware , that has shifted substantially and now when a user's desktop or laptop goes down our field techs replace the whole thing and move on. Its cheaper and faster , a while back maybe 10 years ago we purchased a new Samsung washing machine with all the bells and whistles only to learn when it broke shortly after the warranty expired that it wasn't serviceable because the broken part in the machine was not a part which was even made or sold .

 

[TwoShoots]

That's cool as heck. I'm a something of a piddler myself. I bet the kids would love to do something like that together over a bowl of guac and sodas.

 

[XYZ]

A place I worked at about 40 or more years ago had a testing facility in the building. They would test circuit boards and after testing would just throw them away. I was working nights at the time and a buddy would collect them and bring them back to our corner of the world. During lunch break we’d scrape the gold off. You’d be surprised how much we salvaged.

 

[sherrick13]

A place I worked at about 40 or more years ago had a testing facility in the building. They would test circuit boards and after testing would just throw them away. I was working nights at the time and a buddy would collect them and bring them back to our corner of the world. During lunch break we’d scrape the gold off. You’d be surprised how much we salvaged.

There is a bit of precious metals in every circuit board. Getting it out is a bitch. I don't think you can scrapevitboff anymore