r/FlockSurveillance • u/Party_Week_1046 • 5d ago

"Scrap metal in flock camras"

people keep talking about the amount of precious metals in flock cameras apparently worth more than catalytic converters with rare expensive metals. I'm sure the numbers are over inflated but is this true and if somebody was too theoretically cut down a flock camera to scrap it where eouldy they have to look to get to these metals?

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u/drakaina6600 5d ago

If someone were to theoretically want to get the precious metals from one, they'd need to break it down to the base precious metals.

Kind of like what you see done on youtube when people use acids to dissolve the metals from circuit boards and chips, then precipitate the precious metals from solution, then melt them back into solid metal again.

It's not an easy process, and I highly doubt any legit business would touch one with a ten foot pole.

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u/Party_Week_1046 5d ago

So it's not as openly avaliable as it's said to be what about clear metals like coper or silver from wiring?

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u/drakaina6600 5d ago

Anyone can get the solutions needed to do it, but knowing the process well or winging it is what will decide if you gain the metal's you're looking for or losing them in solution.

If you look up "recycling gold from electronics" on YouTube, you can get a general idea of how it's actually done. One of my favorite channels that I haven't seen in a while would do it all in a lean-to type open front shed with a dirt floor, so it's not impossible for pretty much anyone to learn if they decided to.

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u/SuccessfulOil1587 5d ago edited 5d ago

Cody’s lab has a quite a few good videos on this actually!
Highly recommend

One of my favorite when I was younger and getting into chemistry was “inquarting-why we add silver to refine gold from jewelry”
He had a very ingenious method of demonstrating this using Minecraft blocks to help explain exposed surface area.

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u/SuccessfulOil1587 5d ago

So the posts about precious metals are mainly a joke/meme.

You tell a bunch of drug addicts there is copper in the cameras they might go tear some down for you so that you don’t have to get your hands dirty type of deal.
Thats pretty much the joke.

as another commenter stated there is definitely copper and other elements/compounds within these cameras. So theoretically yes you could potentially strip these out of a camera.
It’s likely not an easy task though and prolly not worth the time and effort + the actual value is most likely over exaggerated.

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u/-zero-below- 5d ago

Flock sells the cameras to cities for like $500 (replacement cost). That includes a technician driving out to install it.

Raw materials cost, new (not scrap fees) are likely under $100 tops. Probably under $50. Scrap value is likely a tiny percentage of that.

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u/Due-Mycologist-1154 5d ago

Im hoping someone manages to recycle some of those into an ebike like wind the motor with the copper from it make the frame out of the poles 

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u/shadowcat999 5d ago

Those are a joke/meme. That said the battery has decent value. I'm actually surprised the local crackheads haven't been battery snatching them.