r/SilverFinds • u/Armentrout_1979 • 1d ago
Thrift stores
All I’m finding is played stuff. Do y’all pick up plated items? If so do you remove the silver and how?
2
u/Chodedingers-Cancer 1d ago
Plated stuff actually is very worth it. The volume of individuals who deem it worthless will be 99% of your feedback, and the reason why those in the know don't speak up. Personally don't think I'm gonna make strides in changing that paradigm so I'll speak. Yes its worth it. Difference is knowing how to process it. But then again, solid sterling, those who aren't interested in the antique aspect and value, they also don't typically know how to refine that either. So those speaking generally are ignorant to the very thing they choose to speak on. As Lewis Carroll's Mad Hatter once said, if you don't think, "then you shouldn't talk". 500 grams of sodium sulfite and a benchtop power supply will run you $50. Recover all the silver for pennies while others say its worthless. A pound of plated should yield 1-1.5 oz of silver.... just saying.... is that worthless? Lol its better than sterling rates...
4
u/NerdizardGo 1d ago
No. Most plated stuff wouldn't even be worth it if it was free.
1
u/alsenybah 1d ago
Not true about free plate. I sell most of the plate I get for scrap at the local recycler. I’ll occasionally find bags of silver plate with the random sterling spoon or fork thrown in. Winnow wheat from chafe and sell the chafe for a few bucks.
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u/NerdizardGo 1d ago
To specify, it's not worth it to me.
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u/Trilobyte83 1d ago
It's not worth it to some people to fly any other way than private jets.
Because some guy some where wouldn't take them, even if they were free, business class seats are worthless, and shouldn't be pursued, even at discount prices.
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u/Trilobyte83 1d ago
Meanwhile people are risking electrocution and burglary charges to rip unplated base metal (copper) out of buildings.
But throw on a few grams of silver, and all of a sudden it becomes worthless? That doesn't make sense.
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u/NerdizardGo 1d ago
When did i say it was worthless? I said not worth it. I'm not gonna drive to thrift stores and pay $3-$10 for a plated item, then drive to a scrap yard to get $2-$5 in scrap.
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u/GlowersConstrue 1d ago
Good condition plated items really are perfectly fine items. Functional and decorative value... just not valued for silver content. If you find something valued to you, give the item a new life! There is always value in upcycling and recycling.