Silver brazing wire

[niffler]

Hi, I bought some "Silvaloy" silver brazing wire at a yard sale, and weighed it out to 23.24 Troy ounces. I think it is 56% silver, based on internet research. That would make the silver content 13 Troy ounces. I emailed ARA and they said the only accept 70% or better on silver. My question is, who would buy this from me? I have it advertised locally for 80% of spot, $438, does anyone think this is fair? Thanks for any advise. BTW, I posted this in the what is it forum already. Thanks, Niffler

[jerseyben]

Why not try an acid testing kit or take it to one of the many "we buy gold" places and see if they can test it for you?

[niffler]

wow....sorry for asking.....

[blai745]

boy that looks like something that I can buy at Home Depot...but good luck if its silver...btw I pay people 70% on there sterling...

[goldsilverpro]

I also researched this and found that QQ-S-561D, as your material is marked, has nothing to do with the silver content. That is an old Federal Specification number category that includes all sorts of brazing alloys. The Class 4, as your material is also marked, under this spec would denote the exact alloy. However, that spec is so old, I was unable to find any specifics of it on the internet. That spec has been superseded by Fed. Spec. QQ-B-654A. In this chart, there is a Grade IV under this newer spec, which indicates 50% silver content. Also note that it contains 18% cadmium. Whether or not Grade IV of the new spec is the same as Class 4 under the old spec, I was unable to determine. Many of the new silver brazing materials contain no cadmium, due to its dangers when melted (especially when overheated). I would say, most probably, that your material contains large amounts of cadmium, since it was in most of the older silver solders. Many, or most all, refiners will not accept cadmium bearing materials.

http://www.aimtek.com/html/silver_alloy_table.html

[markmopar]

I emailed ARA and they said the only accept 70% or better on silver.

Odd. They will process 40% coins, so why not that stuff?

[Bigheed]

coin shops may not want to mess around with it but you may want to try directly contacting some precious metal refiners.

just do a google search for your area, they are popping up all over the country.

All the we buy gold stores and coin shops that buy junk silver sell it to these guys who operate on thin margins with high volume, you may find some luck with one of them if they have the proper facility.

good luck and hopefully you can find a way to unload it