Author Topic: Sprue Recycling?  (Read 3869 times)

Nomad

  • CamoSpecs
  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 135
Sprue Recycling?
« on: 04 September 2018, 05:05:00 »
Apologies if this question has been asked and answered already. I was wondering if IWM or (if anyone knows) another company does any metal sprue recycling. Given how many minis I have I hate the idea of throwing away all that metal that could be reused. Would it be worth it for IWM to set up a recycling program to collect peoples’ used sprues if they were willing to send them back? Perhaps some kind of incentive/reward system for doing so? Thoughts?

worktroll

  • Ombudsman
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 25565
  • 504th "Gateway" Division
    • There are Monsters in my Sky!
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #1 on: 04 September 2018, 06:11:56 »
It would probably be a great idea for cons that IWM attends. I can't see how shipping costs would make it viable via UPS.

Mind you, it may be too much work if you have to sort the sprue to remove lead, old fishing weights, and other metal scrap. You know someone's going to try it on ...

W.
* No, FASA wasn't big on errata - ColBosch
* The Housebook series is from the 80's and is the foundation of Btech, the 80's heart wrapped in heavy metal that beats to this day - Sigma
* To sum it up: FASAnomics: By Cthulhu, for Cthulhu - Moonsword
* Because Battletech is a conspiracy by Habsburg & Bourbon pretenders - MadCapellan
* The Hellbringer is cool, either way. It's not cool because it's bad, it's cool because it's bad with balls - Nightsky
* It was a glorious time for people who felt that we didn't have enough Marauder variants - HABeas2, re "Empires Aflame"

Wrangler

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 24875
  • Dang it!
    • Battletech Fanon Wiki
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #2 on: 04 September 2018, 06:54:03 »
I'd love to have something like that, but i end up keeping the spurs using them prop my miniatures i buy if they had poses i didn't like.
Given how little metal is recycled depending on the part of world your in.  Mine ships stuff to China, right now they're on hold due to not filtering stuff.

Recycling your own way likely best way.
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
-Editor on Battletech Fanon Wiki

Weirdo

  • Painter of Borth the Magic Puma
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major General
  • *
  • Posts: 40753
  • We can do it. We have to.
    • Christina Dickinson Writes
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #3 on: 04 September 2018, 08:47:19 »
If you can ever make it to Reapercon, Reaper does do a metal trade-in thing there, and I'm moderately certain IWM is on the list of manufacturers they'll accept metal from.
My wife writes books
"Thanks to Megamek, I can finally play BattleTech the way it was meant to be played--pantsless!"   -Neko Bijin
"...finally, giant space panties don't seem so strange." - Whistler
"Damn you, Weirdo... Damn you for being right!" - Paul
"...I was this many years old when I found out that licking a touchscreen in excitement is a bad idea." - JadeHellbringer
"We are the tribal elders. Weirdo is the mushroom specialist." - Worktroll

faithless

  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1310
  • I am a meat popsicle.
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #4 on: 04 September 2018, 08:57:18 »
I have coworkers in the SCA and they cast coins, and trinkets for their events. I keep some sprues for modding, but the rest I just bag up for them.
Demo Agent #715
Game HQ Oklahoma City, OK
Carolina Comics Lawton, OK
Oklahoma Battletech Group on Facebook

Hythos

  • The Embiggened Man
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 503
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #5 on: 04 September 2018, 12:59:48 »
I had read some years ago that IWM will credit the mass of the metal you have towards the weight of mini's you'd like to have cast. (THOUGH, I have yet to actually confirm, or ask about it...)
Considering most small mini's are ~25-30g and larger, about 40-50g, one pound of sprues & scrap would equate to 9-15 mini's...
Agent 722
Salt Lake City / Utah
Have 'Mech, will travel.

Cache

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3126
    • Lords of the Battlefield
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #6 on: 04 September 2018, 16:13:11 »
Too much of my old scrap pile is lead. I'd hate to try to separate it.

Rogue Two

  • Recruit
  • *
  • Posts: 5
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #7 on: 04 September 2018, 17:37:28 »
The stuff does pile up, but I use mine for terrain. Usually just bits of rubble here and there along with cut up plastic sprues from GW boxes.

Hythos

  • The Embiggened Man
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 503
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #8 on: 05 September 2018, 10:46:10 »
Here's a place that does accept recycling:
http://www.tintech.com/materials/

Most of the recyclers that perform their own refining will pay $5-7/lb of pewter (depending on the tin %'s, of course).
Agent 722
Salt Lake City / Utah
Have 'Mech, will travel.

sadlerbw

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 1679
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #9 on: 05 September 2018, 15:46:28 »
Next time I make a pick-up order I'll have to drag in my pile of old sprues (none are lead) and see if they even want them.

JPArbiter

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3139
  • Podcasting Monkey
    • Arbitration Studios, your last word in battletech talk
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #10 on: 05 September 2018, 17:50:31 »
Heck, i refined sprues and scraps into ingots using an old cast iron pan and muffin tins wonder if those can be traded too.
Host of Arbitration, your last word in Battletech Talk

NeonKnight

  • Freelance Writer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 6324
  • Cause Them My Initials!
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #11 on: 05 September 2018, 18:58:29 »
I should find a way to get rid of my sprues and stuff

I don;t use the Aero Bases (I magnetize the mini and put on clear stands), don't use the mech 'bases' unless the foot or leg is already attached, and don't use the Hover spikes, preffering instead to just glue to the base.
AGENT #575, Vancouver Canada

Hythos

  • The Embiggened Man
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 503
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #12 on: 06 September 2018, 00:21:14 »
I should find a way to get rid of my sprues and stuff

I don;t use the Aero Bases (I magnetize the mini and put on clear stands), don't use the mech 'bases' unless the foot or leg is already attached, and don't use the Hover spikes, preffering instead to just glue to the base.
Looks like 500-600g worth of metal there.
That'd be worthwhile, if the shipping isn't $25-40 from knukleland...
Agent 722
Salt Lake City / Utah
Have 'Mech, will travel.

Nomad

  • CamoSpecs
  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 135
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #13 on: 07 September 2018, 07:25:12 »
Thanks for all the useful ideas! Hope IWM can start their own program some time in the future - I’d be willing to send the scraps back for free as long as they weren’t going to waste.

RoundTop

  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1372
  • In Takashi We Trust
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #14 on: 07 September 2018, 11:58:50 »
I should find a way to get rid of my sprues and stuff

I don;t use the Aero Bases (I magnetize the mini and put on clear stands), don't use the mech 'bases' unless the foot or leg is already attached, and don't use the Hover spikes, preffering instead to just glue to the base.

Would you mind bringing a couple of their Aero bases to the next Trumpeters? I've got a couple mechs that need bases that they would be perfect for.
No-Dachi has a counter-argument. Nothing further? Ok.
Demo team agent #772

NeonKnight

  • Freelance Writer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 6324
  • Cause Them My Initials!
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #15 on: 07 September 2018, 12:17:52 »
Would you mind bringing a couple of their Aero bases to the next Trumpeters? I've got a couple mechs that need bases that they would be perfect for.

You want actual MECH bases. I have a whole slew of pewter mech bases too.
« Last Edit: 07 September 2018, 12:55:00 by NeonKnight »
AGENT #575, Vancouver Canada

HyperionCormyr

  • Corporal
  • *
  • Posts: 85
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #16 on: 15 September 2018, 12:53:11 »
I would actually be in for being able to just send IWM my sprues and get back bases.

klarg1

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2411
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #17 on: 19 September 2018, 09:31:02 »
If you can ever make it to Reapercon, Reaper does do a metal trade-in thing there, and I'm moderately certain IWM is on the list of manufacturers they'll accept metal from.

It is.

They don't take lead sprue from the early 'Partha days, and I'm not 100% sure on Ralladium, but they'll take the IWM metal happily.

Note that Reaper does not guarantee that they'll continue the practice from one year to the next, although they haven't canceled it yet. (To my knowledge)

Xiwo Xerase

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 463
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #18 on: 19 September 2018, 10:05:42 »
They don't take lead sprue from the early 'Partha days, and I'm not 100% sure on Ralladium, but they'll take the IWM metal happily.

Note that Reaper does not guarantee that they'll continue the practice from one year to the next, although they haven't canceled it yet. (To my knowledge)
The metal trade table was there this year.  If they're going to stop doing it, I would expect them to announce it no more than a month before the next convention.

They say they accept "late production" Ral Partha.  Did Ral Partha change their metal base after Ralidium?

klarg1

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2411
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #19 on: 20 September 2018, 12:55:56 »
The metal trade table was there this year.  If they're going to stop doing it, I would expect them to announce it no more than a month before the next convention.

They say they accept "late production" Ral Partha.  Did Ral Partha change their metal base after Ralidium?

You're right; the melt table has been there continuously for years now, they regularly announce that it is not a guaranteed service, so I figured I'd drop in and try to head off the argument, should it arise next year.

Ralladium was definitely a different alloy than the pewter you see in other modern minis, and feels very different when you touch/work it. I don't remember the dates for when it faded into history, but IronWind Metals uses a conventional pewter formula for sure. I *think* RP was using more common pewter towards the end, but I am honestly not sure.

GRUD

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3002
  • Quinn's Quads - 'Mechs on the March!
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #20 on: 25 September 2018, 07:35:47 »
Ralladium was definitely a different alloy than the pewter you see in other modern minis, and feels very different when you touch/work it.
The only way I can describe it is that it feels "crinkly" when you try to bend an arm/leg.   :-\  The term "Very Different" is EXTREMELY apt!   :o
To me, Repros are 100% Wrong, and there's NO  room for me to give ground on this subject. I'm not just an Immovable Object on this, I'm THE Immovable Object. 3D Prints are just 3D Repros.

Something to bear in Mind. Defending the BT IP is Frowned upon here.

Remember: Humor is NOT Tolerated here. Have a Nice Day!

Hey! Can't a guy get any Privacy around here!

Hythos

  • The Embiggened Man
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 503
Re: Sprue Recycling?
« Reply #21 on: 25 September 2018, 16:37:16 »
The only way I can describe it is that it feels "crinkly" when you try to bend an arm/leg.   :-\  The term "Very Different" is EXTREMELY apt!   :o
I'm pretty sure their current alloy is the same... or very same-ish.
Cray could probably chime in *does rain-dance by throwing money into the sky to invoke Cray* with more betterly words than I can English together (so I won't overly-try)...

The crinkly sounds are caused by the crystalline-structure within their alloy breaking against the matrix. As a Tin/Zinc/Antimony alloy, it will be eutectic while heated, but once frozen in-place (solidifying), the Zinc is what you hear being constrained and fractured.
Agent 722
Salt Lake City / Utah
Have 'Mech, will travel.