Page 1 of 1

Scrapping PC Keyboards

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 4:53 pm
by creshka46
I just tor apart an old laptop the other night and have this keyboard that I would have just tossed except that I seem to remember someone saying that there is palladium in them. Am I remembering this right? Is it worth it to save or should I just chuck it?

Re: Scrapping PC Keyboards

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 4:56 pm
by creshka46
Actually, while I'm at it I should ask about the screen as well. Is there anything worth scrapping in a LCD screen like that on a laptop?

Re: Scrapping PC Keyboards

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 6:36 pm
by moparal7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8Y403QzUGY&feature=plcp Search his channel he scraps a lot of items.

Re: Scrapping PC Keyboards

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:34 pm
by Dr. Cadmium
Some computer keyboards have a small amount of silver in them, which is usually more trouble than it's worth. Most of the modern ones have little or no precious metals inside. A laptop keyboard can sometimes be treated as IA scrap because of the aluminum backing.

I buy scrap desktop keyboards locally for $0.05-$0.07/lb if they have the wires intact. They're hardly worth the hassle.

If the laptop screen is broken, it has minimal value. Intact laptop screens are one of the most valuable parts, but once broken they are near worthless. They also usually contain small mercury-containing backlights.

Re: Scrapping PC Keyboards

PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 12:26 am
by creshka46
Dr. Cadmium wrote:Some computer keyboards have a small amount of silver in them, which is usually more trouble than it's worth. Most of the modern ones have little or no precious metals inside. A laptop keyboard can sometimes be treated as IA scrap because of the aluminum backing.

I buy scrap desktop keyboards locally for $0.05-$0.07/lb if they have the wires intact. They're hardly worth the hassle.

If the laptop screen is broken, it has minimal value. Intact laptop screens are one of the most valuable parts, but once broken they are near worthless. They also usually contain small mercury-containing backlights.


Well shoot, the screen is broken now :oops: . Are you saying it's valuable just as a component? Where would I sell it? ebay? After watching that video I pulled the keyboard apart and did keep the aluminum backing. I also kept the mylar sheet inside, but you're saying it may not have silver in it? What does it have instead? Copper?

Also, when I tore the I found a thin sheet of what looked like aluminum foil laminated in plastic taped to the back of the screen kind of like a blanket. What is this for? What kind of metal is it?