Aluminium electrolytic capacitors

Vent score on top in a K, X, T or Y pattern, and a stripe down the sleeve marking the NEGATIVE lead — the opposite convention to tantalums.

Base aluminium can

eBay typical$0.3–1per lb

Refiner pays$0.25per lb

Metal in it$0.000per lb at 4 Aug 2026 spot

Confidencehighof the yield figures

How to spot it

Aluminium can in a coloured plastic sleeve: blue, black, brown, green, purple.

Metal content

Metal	Quantity	Notes
Base metal	aluminium can	plus paper, foil and electrolyte — all contaminants

Safe removal

Working temperature: Cold / preheat

Side cutters at the leads, or grip and twist after preheat. Most refiners pay the same with them on or off, so removing them usually wastes your time — check your buyer's spec first.

Hazards

⚡ Stored high voltage

NEVER short a large capacitor with a screwdriver. It welds the tip, blasts molten metal at your face, and can rupture the can.

💣 Electrolytic capacitor rupture

Don't heat a capacitor directly with hot air at close range.

Before you scrap it

Specific vintage audio types (Black Gate, old Sprague) have a cult following.

The common trap

Their real usefulness is as a grading signal: a board dominated by big electrolytics, transformers and heatsinks with few ICs is a low-grade board.

Questions

How much gold is in aluminium electrolytic capacitors?

There is no meaningful recoverable precious metal in this item. Their real usefulness is as a grading signal : a board dominated by big electrolytics, transformers and heatsinks with few ICs is a low-grade board.

How do you identify aluminium electrolytic capacitors?

Vent score on top in a K, X, T or Y pattern, and a stripe down the sleeve marking the NEGATIVE lead — the opposite convention to tantalums.

How do you remove aluminium electrolytic capacitors safely?

Side cutters at the leads, or grip and twist after preheat. Most refiners pay the same with them on or off, so removing them usually wastes your time — check your buyer's spec first.

Is aluminium electrolytic capacitors worth more working than as scrap?

Specific vintage audio types (Black Gate, old Sprague) have a cult following.

Related in Capacitors

MLCC — palladium-bearing (PME, pre-2000) Capacitors · $100–170/lb Pd 2.3–9 g/lbAg 4.5–23 g/lbBase Ni S Tantalum capacitors Capacitors · $18–85/lb Ta 30–40 wt% of the capAg 1–3% in some B Ceramic disc capacitors Capacitors · $20–70/lb Ag 4–10 g/lbPd 0.05–0.3 g/lb C MLCC — modern nickel (BME, post-2005) Capacitors · $20–55/lb Pd 0.2–0.7 g/lbAg 1.4–2.7 g/lbBase Ni 5–20% C Silver mica capacitors Capacitors · $80–500/lb Ag 10–20 g/lbCu ~60 g/lb C Film capacitors (polyester / polypropylene) Capacitors · $10–40/lb Cu ~20 g/lb D

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