Categories: Experiences and daily life; Jewelry
Word count/read time: 369 words; 1-1/2 minutes
How simple it would be to throw all metal scraps into a pile and let the recyclers sort it out.
If it wasn't for the precious metals that would be an easy choice.
But the scrap pile in a jewelry or similar shop is quite different. A handful of
dust can be worth, literally, thousands of dollars.
There are companies that will cut a check for any and all metal scrap.
Some will take just precious metals in any concentration or mixture and do the
same. The payoffs are directly proportional to the diligence that went into keeping
the various metals separate from each other. I fully recycle and refine the precious metals myself and
send the other stuff away.
Is it worth saving all metal scrap? Not from an economic standpoint because most is worthless
to the average person but it is the right thing to do regardless of
the financial gain. It doesn't cost any money and
scrappers will happily avail themselves to acquire a small hoard. For the opportunist, it doesn't have to
be owned or possessed. A fork truck can fetch $500 in scrap alone and a phone
call can reserve a flatbed to take it to a junk yard.
While I had kept the various silver alloys in separate piles, it is one giant melting pot now.
Broken, twisted, dented, obsolete, shavings, cutoffs, mistakes,
experiments...they are all there and more.
Instead the scrap is separated by worthiness, usability, desirability,
and other obscure metrics. The worthiest will be sold
and can be found in the
Last Rites List.
There are many scrap piles. Gold and the other
precious metals have one place. The unknown goes into either the gold quartering mixture or the
silver pile. Whether gold or something else, the leftovers gets passed down
the proverbial precious metal ladder. Silver is the last stop.
The scrap pile hosts some spectacular
specimens from bowls and plates to jewelry and industrial waste.
I wear a rescued JPL3 necklace as an education tool, kind of like a scarlet letter.
Despite being substandard, it's a testament to my workmanship.
Plus, it won't upset me if someone disses it because, after all, I already know
it is a reject.
Posted by M: February 19, 2018
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