Eletrical Contact tips

[Metalmole]

My dad works on forklifts and gets alot of electrical contacts that contain silver on the tips. Does anyone know of a good way to remove the silver from the copper? Sorry I do not have a pic right now but if you need one I will be happy to get one tomorrow.

 

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[RJGMC]

The tips you are talking about are very high in silver content. They are soldered onto the copper with silver bearing solder. I just use a propane torch. Hold the copper part with vise grips or pliers, heat the soldered joint until red, then lightly and carefully tap them onto a work bench, metal plate, cinder block, etc., the nice little silver square will come right off. They stay hotter longer than you think. Use caution when doing this. Safety glasses would be a good thing.

Save them until you get enough to mess with. There are several people here on T-NET that can recommended who to send them to. They will in turn melt them down to pure silver. Just remember, they need to make a little bit of money on their end of the deal too.

Bob

 

[Metalmole]

thank you I havent tried anything yet because I had just thought about them the other day and remembered they were silver. I will definatley try heating them and removing them thanks

 

[vabuckhunter]

i am an hvac service tech and deal with allot of contactors are all contacts silver?

 

[Metalmole]

i am an hvac service tech and deal with allot of contactors are all contacts silver?

I know a lot of them are but not all. They use the silver because it conducts better and doesnt carrode like other metals.

The ones I have will not come of with heat so I will have to try something else.

 

[clovis97]

The tips you are talking about are very high in silver content. They are soldered onto the copper with silver bearing solder. I just use a propane torch. Hold the copper part with vise grips or pliers, heat the soldered joint until red, then lightly and carefully tap them onto a work bench, metal plate, cinder block, etc., the nice little silver square will come right off. They stay hotter longer than you think. Use caution when doing this. Safety glasses would be a good thing.

Save them until you get enough to mess with. There are several people here on T-NET that can recommended who to send them to. They will in turn melt them down to pure silver. Just remember, they need to make a little bit of money on their end of the deal too.

Bob

This is how our local yard removes the silver.

Awesome advice!!!!

 

[silversaddle1]

#1 reason they use silver is because silver does not arc when the points open and close, or so I've always been told.