Anyone need 240lbs of Vanadium?

[azasadny]

My father has 4 60lb ingots of Vanadium that he wants to sell. A truck carrying the Vanadium to a local steel company back in the 70's lost part of their load and my father was a cop and found 4 ingots in the ditch. The trucking company said "throw them away, we don't need them" and my father used them as weights all of these years. I'm trying to sell them for him and thought I'd try here on the off-chance that someone here would have a need for Vanadium.

I'm calling local scrap companies, but so far, nobody buys Vanadium...

Thanks!

[craigster59]

No, but I could use a few pounds of Kryptonite. I'm planning a big crime wave in Metropolis this weekend.

[304065]

Hmm, I found a (probably old) spot price of $34,000 per ton which would imply that yours is worth about $4,000. Back in 2006 the spot price was around $18 per pound.

Call a Steel company, they use it as an alloying element. Probably a few of those in the rust belt.

[azasadny]

John,
Thanks! I'm going to call Great Lakes Steel tomorrow.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by craigster59

No, but I could use a few pounds of Kryptonite. I'm planning a big crime wave in Metropolis this weekend.

...And in your line of work, you can't jut rent a few pounds? Or does prop Kryptonite not work as well?

[old man neri]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanadium

If you read under the 'precautions' at the bottom of the article it mentions that it can be quite toxic. I would be careful in your handling of the ingots.

[David]

Any foundry should do. I was at a pump casting shop a while back and was really surprised by their material supply room. It's exactly what you'd expect, but it seemed weird. Everything you'd need was there. Bins of pure copper, nickel, molydoneum, chromium, vanadium, aluminum, carbon, titanium, etc, etc. They should have a lab on site to check the purity of the vanadium.

[David]

Originally Posted by old man neri

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanadium

If you read under the 'precautions' at the bottom of the article it mentions that it can be quite toxic. I would be careful in your handling of the ingots.

Many of these heavy metals are hazardous, but apparently it's much worse if you're in California

Solid ingots shouldn't be too hazardous, just wash your hands before putting them in your mouth.

[cashflyer]

...vanadium compounds are reproductive toxins...

So don't be walking around with those ingots in your trousers.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by slodave

...And in your line of work, you can't jut rent a few pounds? Or does prop Kryptonite not work as well?

Usually they tell you to get kryptonite, which you get, but the Director hates the color, (but loves the color of vanadium, don't worry the audience will never know the difference). The Safety Officer (HughR) tells you that you can't use vanadium, too toxic, but you can use platinum. The Producer says there's no money in the budget for platinum use tin instead.

So you use tin, they shoot it, look at it in editing, turn to you and say "Hey, how come this looks like $hit?"

[Zeke]

"Anyone need 240lbs of Vanadium?"

No, but 240 lbs of Valium will work.

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by craigster59

The Safety Officer (HughR) tells you that you can't use vanadium, too toxic, but you can use platinum. The Producer says there's no money in the budget for platinum use tin instead.

So you use tin, they shoot it, look at it in editing, turn to you and say "Hey, how come this looks like $hit?"

[azasadny]

I just wish it was 240lbs of gold~!!

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by 125shifter

Many of these heavy metals are hazardous, but apparently it's much worse if you're in California

Solid ingots shouldn't be too hazardous, just wash your hands before putting them in your mouth.

I'd think placing a 60 pound ingot of anything in your mouth could be hazardous.

[Jim Sims]

These days, a guy "off the street" trying to sell 240 lbs of vanadium to a scrap or metal dealer will likely be suspected of being a thief. The buyers of metals and scrap around here report attempts to sell unusual metals or metals in unusual forms to the authorities. If you succeed in selling it, the police may pay you a visit - better have "some paper" or witnesses ready.

[Arizona_928]

i'll take one, how's a 1$ a pound.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by milt

"Anyone need 240lbs of Vanadium?"

No, but 240 lbs of Valium will work.

that is 864,000 10 mg valiums, that ought to do it

[adrian jaye]

your hands or the ingots ?

Originally Posted by 125shifter

Solid ingots shouldn't be too hazardous, just wash your hands before putting them in your mouth.

[3.2 CAB]

I will take one and will offer the same as, AZ_porschekid offered. I don't have a clue just what I would be able to use it for, other than a very heavy paperweight. I just like the name. Tony.

[azasadny]

Sold!!!! A scrap metal guy offered me $5.25 a lb for the Vanadium today, so it's sold for $1260. I'll drop the Vanadium off this week. We're very happy as we have been trying to unload, I mean "sell" this stuff since 8/2008.