>>> Is it worth it? I’ve heard stories, but extracting that seems a little on the extensive / expensive side.
It all depends on volume and efficiency.
It also depends on what level of extraction your going for.
There are companies out there that will buy your computer scrap at rates based on content of the components you have separated.
For example... IC chips, memory, CPUs etc. sell for a LOT more per pound than the boards they came off of.
Shipping a single computer somewhere to be scrapped is hardly worth it, because the value of one computer would be lost in the shipping... but shipping 20 to 50 computers or more has “some” value.
So... if you have access to LOTS of computers, simply breaking them down and separating the components can bring you a profit at your local scrap yard for the steel, and e-waste companies that will buy the boards.
If you have the means to extract and refine the precious metals, you can make even more.
Most scrappers (like myself) are hobbyists... hoping to refine their process down to a point that makes it more lucrative.
Nothing you can get rich at... but fun to try.
If it were too easy to make a profit, everyone would be doing it.
With all that said, I can say from experience it’s far easier to find gold in e-waste than in the river.
I’ve done both... and both are fun for me.
Now see, that's where I'd like to get. I don't have any illusions of riches or anything, but as it happens I do have access to multiple junk pc's , etc.
I like the idea of selling it off as scrap without refining it myself, but think it might be kinda cool to be able to do so. Is there a big investment in equipment to smelter this stuff down?
Thanks for the well thought response, btw. Thus far, my forays into prospecting have been limited when it comes to gold, although we did find some good spots along the San Miguel here in CO. Otherwise, I do a lot of jewel prospecting.