Can I make any money off a copper heatsink?

[bjfaia5]

This is really random but something I have been wondering about. We hear about people trying to salvage small bits of gold from CPU's and other hardware parts. I have my sisters laptop and took it apart. I was wondering if I can do anything with the heatsink? It looks to be all copper but I don't know how pure it is and how much copper is going for right now.

 

[raytseng]

google copper scrap price:

http://www.scrapmonster.com/scrap-prices/scrap-metals/-2-Copper-scraps/19/1/1
$3 / pound.

 

[rds1220]

This is really random but something I have been wondering about. We hear about people trying to salvage small bits of gold from CPU's and other hardware parts. I have my sisters laptop and took it apart. I was wondering if I can do anything with the heatsink? It looks to be all copper but I don't know how pure it is and how much copper is going for right now.

Truthfully I'm not sure. What I mean is I'm not sure how pure the copper is. I guess if it's pure copper you can try to get it sold to be smelted. I don't know the process you would go about doing that maybe someone can help you with that. Who would he have to bring the copper to, to get it sold?

 

[bjfaia5]

Don't know if that one heatsink even weighs a pound, probably not. Maybe I'll take a few more trashed laptops off peoples hands and build up a collection of copper heatsinks then get it scapped in mass.

 

[rds1220]

EDIT never mind ray got it covered. I was going to say the local scrap yard will handle it. I do agree though I would try to collect as much as possible in mass then get rid of it, especially if they have a minimum.

 

[raytseng]

you go to your scrap yard (or your local recycle station) and they take metal.
Call first, often they also require a minimum amount like 50pounds, but I suppose if you are just a kid, they may just give you the $1.50 so they don't feel like a jerk.

If you've done the math, You are better off sorting through trash and getting the bottles/cans for recycling as 20 glass bottles=1laptop heatsink. And 20beer cans/bottles are much easier to obtain then a laptop.

Or selling/donating the laptops whole (donations will give you a tax writeoff). Or selling it as-is on ebay for people who may randomly want to use yours for a project of some kind or as scrap parts.

 

[raytseng]

oh final note,
Most places will consider a computer (or other electronics) e-waste.
And charge you a fee to take it, rather then the other way around.

You cannot just throw a computer into your trashcan it is not good for the environment.

Although, there are places who will accept it for free (check your local recycling guide).

 

[4745454b]

You can also keep it. Never know when a solid chunk of copper will come in handy.

 

[rds1220]

I don't know about Best Buy but I do know if you go into the Staples Easy Tech they will slap a recycle sticker on it and take it off your hands for free.

 

[Pyree]

My local scrap depot also takes electronic for free.

 

[bjfaia5]

Best answer selected by bjfaia5.

 

[jaguarskx]

google copper scrap price:

http://www.scrapmonster.com/scrap-prices/scrap-metals/-2-Copper-scraps/19/1/1
$3 / pound.

That's what the scrapyard will get when they sell it to smelters. If you bring copper scrap to the scrapyard you can count on getting less than the spot price of $3.