Industrial Plating companies plate many types of items:Consumer
items like holiday ornaments, (Usually gold on brass)
Electronic components have gold plated pins in their connectors (Circuit
boards and cable ends) for reliability (gold won't tarnish like brass or copper
contacts will)
Photographic labs have silver in the film and as a result of developing
the pictures the fixing and wash solutions will also contain silver.
Dental offices and labs use silver in fillings. X-ray film and developer
also contain silver. Old bridgework and some posts etc. use gold. Gold is
a non-reactive metal in the human mouth so it is a natural for use in dentistry.
Foundries and jewelry makers use precious metals like gold silver platinum
and palladium. They generate scrap through the cutting, melting and polishing
of the precious metals. These "sweeps" or "fines" can
be reprocessed to reclaim the metals and generate cash for the person savvy
to where these metals are found.
Automotive and Marine spark plugs are often tipped with Platinum.
Thermocouple wires and medical equipment use Platinum
Electrical contacts in switch gear often have silver pads for conductivity
and wear resistance
Consumers generate a vast amount of precious
metal scrap.
Lost coins and jewelry on beaches and in parks--often found by metal detector
enthusiasts.
Discarded electronics - many contain gold plated pins and circuit boards
are a good source for gold scrap.
Old silverware thrown out or from garage sales often are Sterling Silver
How do I sell my scrap gold, silver,
platinum etc.?
If you have a refiner
near you, you can simply stop by and drop off your material. However, if you
are like most of us you will need to send your material to a trustworthy refiner.
They should offer to pay for shipping
for substantial amounts of precious metal bearing materials. For smaller batches
US mail is only around $4.95 for priority shipping or call your refiner and
ask for a rough valuation over the phone to see if it is worth sending. Always
insure your package, it will insure your package is signed for. The better refiners
will send you an email confirmation when they receive your package. Always include
your contact information INSIDE the box or envelope you send. This way the refiner
will have the info he needs to contact you even if the box is roughed up during
shipping and the return address is unreadable. Make sure your email address
in in there too.
Once the material is received, the refiner
will be able to give you an idea of what it is worth. He can then process the
material to get an accurate sample. The sample is then sent to an Assayer (usually)
to get an independent and very accurate analysis of your material. This will
detail what Precious metals are present and in what quantities. Now the refiner
can give you an accurate valuation and make arrangements for payment either
in money or Precious Metal.
How do I find a refiner I can trust?
The best way to find a reliable refiner
for your precious metal scrap is a trusted recommendation or past experience.
If you have a large amount of scrap you can send a small batch to evaluate the
refiner. If you feel you have been treated fairly and you develop a sense of
trust then you know where to send the balance of your precious metal scrap.
How do I get paid for my precious metals
scrap?
Payment should be made in steps:
You should get an email confirming the receipt of your material.
Upon inspection a rough valuation can be made. The refiner may send you
an advance (partial) payment at this point depending on how complicated the
refining will be and how much of a hurry you are in. The balance is then paid
when the refining of the precious metals is completed.
Payments can be in check, or metals if you like. A good refiner will also
have precious metals like Gold, Silver and Platinum available for you to buy
as investments or for your own use in art, jewelry or even dental work.
How can I buy Precious Metals for investment or to use
in jewelry, dental work etc..?
Contact your refiner, they can often sell you precious metals
at competitive prices especially if you only require the precious metal (for
casting or working into jewelry/ art) and not in Bullion Bars or coins.
For precious metals like Gold, Silver or Platinum casting
grain or shot, wire, sheet or raw ingots try: