About silver scrap

[texan connection]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Newport-Sterlin...073782?pt=Antiques_Silver&hash=item19c4a11676

Here is a example of about 1lb of silver on ebay Whats the deal? this should be at over 400.00 Right?

 

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[bradsguns]

"Cement filled..>Reinforced with..Other Metal" .. I guess not knowing the weight of the actual silver. Im concerned with the bottom saying "other metal" as well.
Brad

 

[texan connection]

def wieghted that would kick down the weight, But still its got to be over 3 oz real easily scraped metal

 

[trdhrdr007]

I have a notebook that I track what weighted pieces scrap out at. The last pair of Newport candlesticks I scrapped with those dimensions was just under 2 troy ounces of sterling.

 

[texan connection]

well those just went for 1/2 price then.

 

[texan connection]

http://cgi.ebay.com/DUCHIN-STERLING...=110673073782&ps=63&clkid=8518798232084846112


another. Seems profitable enough if you can get a few ounces, pretty easy money actually.

 

[texan connection]

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Sterling-silv...783032?pt=Antiques_Silver&hash=item53e70ea838

stuffs everywhere.

 

[trdhrdr007]

Sterling is supposed to be 92.5% silver. It's been my experience that it ranges anywhere from 89-92% pure....most of it running around 91%. Refiners get their cut & will only pay 90% of melt. Once you do the calculations(spotx.9x.9) you can see that when you are selling to a refiner sterling is worth about 81% of spot.

My records show the first set of candlesticks posted will scrap out at just under 2 troy oz of sterling. There's a profit there, but not as big as you would first think when you factor in the $10 shipping.

The Duchin candlesticks in that size scrap out at less than 1/2 ounce each. The bottom line is you have to know what each item scraps out at & what the refiner will pay before you buy. In general, on ebay there are buyers that either don't know what they are buying or they are willing to pay spot without taking into account that it has to be refined & that the refiner gets their cut.

 

[Silver Surfer]

I have a pair just like them.... Very little silver... Weighted with a hard clay in the whole base and body, then covered by a thin sheet of sterling... I will have to weigh the "shell" and get back to you guys on it, but I'd be surprised if the pair has an ounce of sterling in it... I'll even take a couple pic's showing how thin it is.. Stay tuned..

 

[Silver Surfer]

WOW.... even less than I first thought... just a tad over a half-oz of sterling in one candlestick holder..
Pic's are pretty self explanatory. I held up a pop tab just to show how thin the shell of the holder is. Not even half as thick as the aluminum tab..

I should have put them on epay, I would have made WAY more than what I will get for scrap.. Hope this helps someone from making a major mistake purchasing what they think is a huge chunk of silver.

 

[texan connection]

Excellent post,, Thank you for doing that, so about a ounce for 2 of them is all

 

[goldinmypan]

I let the condition dictate wether I melt or sell. Because the silver skin is so thin, they easily dent which makes them harder to get top money for. These are the ones to melt.

 

[Silver Surfer]

One of the pair I had was ever so slightly dented... Didnt think I'd get much for them, but people seem to be paying for even dented ones... Maybe they think they are really thick silver or something... Glad my post helped.

 

[trdhrdr007]

WOW.... even less than I first thought... just a tad over a half-oz of sterling in one candlestick holder..
Pic's are pretty self explanatory. I held up a pop tab just to show how thin the shell of the holder is. Not even half as thick as the aluminum tab..

I'm always looking for more data. Do you have the dimensions & manufacturer on this candlestick holder. I'm interested in the base diameter & the height if you have it.

 

[Silver Surfer]

I can try to measure the pieces I have, but the base was about 3 1/2 inches in diameter and it was about 3 inches tall.. Let me know if that is close enough, or if you want me to measure all the pieces and get more accurate measurements.

 

[trdhrdr007]

No need to get out the digital measuring devices but I am a little surprised. Most of the candlesticks I have scrapped that have the 3 to 3.5" base & 3 to 3.5" height have weighed in between .85-.95 troy ounce each. When I hear one scrapped out at .5 troy ounce I expect the dimensions to be in the 2 to 2.5" base by 2 to 2.5" height range. I've been setting my buy prices on these based on those assumptions & I'd hate to get burned. Any idea who the manufacturer is?

 

[texan connection]

heres a gorham # 661 at over 1 ounce , 3 3/4 base about 3 1/2 tall

 

[cyberdan]

I always estimate 10% of total weight is silver. But, if the seller says it weighs "so many" ounces is he talking troy or avo? there is a slight difference. If they have no idea I ask if it was weighed on a postal scale. That is avoirdupois ounce and is 28.3 grams. When you hear silver sell for so much per ounce that is troy ounce at 31.1 grams.

One other hint if you see any weighted piece with a part that can't possibly be weighted inside (perforated area or bowl) that silver will be thicker and be pure 925. If you base your bid on 10% you will come out even better on that one.