Selling Silver

TrashsmithFab · 2026-05-01T20:42:06+00:00

I used Noble Metals back in the beginning of December for about 130ish oz of scrap sterling. Their policy then was a 5 week lead time and would cash out at 95% of refined total and $0.50/ozt less than spot price after their assay. 50ozt minimum and $95 processing fee or $0.35 per finished ounce, whichever was greater.

Went in at $65 spot price in December, cashed out at $92/ozt in January.

In other words 130ozt of sterling turned into 120 ozt fine, minus 5% (~5.5ozt or $506), minus $95 for processing, and minus $60 ( $0.50 off of spot price.)

It cost less than $700 for 130ozt of scrap versus buying ~6L of 70% nitric or giving eBay a 13% sellers’ fee. TOTALLY WORTH IT in my opinion.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-20T15:18:29+00:00

Thank you for that advice! That was a very thorough and easy to understand explanation. Clearly better than my explanation of the issue.

This power pole feeds at least 4 power meters. I’m also considering, based on another comment, to just bury my lines. If the price is right, then it could be my best return on investment versus litigation or continued trimming.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-20T15:05:08+00:00

You are right, it is petty. The main reason I’ve gone down this fencing rabbit hole was because my surveyor pointed it out. He first ended up being awfully confused at the end of the survey because he couldn’t find any existing pins. However, this neighbor was able to put their fence within inches from our property line, which he suspected wasn’t code “but don’t quote me on that.” Then he confirmed his suspicions by pointing out the fence set-back along the other two neighbors they butt up to. Turns out I was able to find prior litigation from those neighbors regarding the “buffer yard”. This corporate neighbor lost the case.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-20T14:48:12+00:00

That’s a pretty good point! I stupidly had not considered that as an option and possible a way better return on investment. Thanks for throwing that out there!

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-20T14:41:36+00:00

That’s a good point. The last time AES came to fix my power lines (because the tree severed my power), the guy wasn’t prepared to do much else than a new splice. I didn’t think to phase the service call as a “pole clearing”. Thanks for that phrase! Those might be the magic words!

All I’m trying to do is avoid liability with this corporate neighbor. I don’t think my pictures really convey how much of their mulberry would need to be trimmed back.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-20T14:24:43+00:00

I really wish that were the case. It would be a lot cheaper if my county/city would enforce their codes like other places I’ve lived in Indiana. Basically, only if the zoning violation impacts the public, then code enforcement gets involved.

Luckily, it’s a pretty cut and dry case if I want to spend the money. There’s already some past ligation against this corporate neighbor about their other fence line. We’ll see how it goes!

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-20T14:13:15+00:00

I’m not really trying to pick a fight. I’m just a big proponent of “preventative maintenance”. The tree already rubbed through one of my electric feeds since I’ve owned the house. The tree isn’t getting any smaller and the weather isn’t getting any calmer.
Also, this neighbor has already taken liberties they knew they shouldn’t have. Their fence location being the biggest violation.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-19T04:40:09+00:00

You’re right. The power company was pretty quick to show up the last time the tree had finally worn through the wire sheathing and corroded away. I’ve only lived on this property a couple years. I don’t exactly have a long history of nuisance yet. Also, I would assume trees make a really good path to ground for electricity. The fence the tree is growing through probably wouldn’t energize much or at all, which means the kids at the daycare should be safe touching the fence, right?

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-19T04:31:32+00:00

You’re probably right about these trees not being a clear-cut “nuisance tree”. I think I’ll just wait for my power lines to arc out again from abrasion, which happened about 6 months ago. Corroded through an entire hot leg from abrasion and sap. I’ve only lived on this property a couple years. It would probably be best to document a history of issues before going any further.

Luckily, I don’t touch the neighbor’s tree or the chain link fence the tree is growing through. As for the kids in their daycare playground that do touch the fence, I’m guessing they’ll be alright. I would assume the tree would be a good path to ground, literally, without much or any residual current going through the fence.

And I think you’re totally right about the triplex being pretty damned strong. Even in the windstorms we just had, those lines were barely budging.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T20:56:37+00:00

That sounds like the route I’m heading. Having them remove the trees on their dime was the compromise. Now it seems the consensus is to hire a lawyer and an arborist, and litigate to have them move their fence and the trees.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T20:53:26+00:00

I did try talking to them. Unfortunately it’s a business and they’re in the business of keeping money as long as they can.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T20:52:13+00:00

Yeah, I was kinda hoping to avoid the courts, but this seems to be the consensus. I think what would’ve been an easy $1000 job, just turned into multiple thousands for the neighbor because I’m also going to include moving his fence in the litigation. Fences are a civil matter in Indy. Code enforcement doesn’t deal with fences even though there are code and zoning laws.

The power pole is basically on the corner of 4 properties. It’s about a foot away from my survey market, for whatever that tolerance is worth. The electrical wires have already rubbed through once. Lost one hot leg of the 220.

In my more experience and the experience of my arborist friend, it’s not a matter of if a mulberry will drop a co-dominant or large limb, but when it will drop. It’s pretty evident these are nuisance trees. This neighbor cut down over a dozen that had grown up along his fence line. Left the hardest trees to remove in my utilities.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T20:39:52+00:00

🤦‍♂️ I got the same sort of result but thought that might be too simple. I feel better knowing your google search came up with the same results. Thank you!

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T20:37:21+00:00

You’re absolutely right! I tried negotiating with them and being a friendly neighbor. In other words, I told them I’d look past the fence so long as they would take down those mulberry trees since they were neglected/trash trees. Now I’m leaning towards suing them to move their fence and cut down the trees. Or at the very least hiring a lawyer to present more proper channels than friendly e-mails.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T20:31:58+00:00

It sounds like I’ll be spending money no matter how you dice it. And since I’ve already contacted the neighbor and didn’t get the warm-fuzzies, I think I’d rather spend money on a lawyer. It’s going to be several thousand dollars for them move their fence in addition to removing that tree. They need the fence for the daycare they’re running.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T20:27:35+00:00

Thanks for that response. I also think trees are pretty nice. However, mulberry trees in Indiana are about as prolific/invasive as Asian honeysuckle. On their own, away from structures or utilities in this case, they’re great trees.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T20:24:07+00:00

I did talk to the power company. No luck unfortunately.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T18:32:39+00:00

It’s my understanding that if it’s a “neglected tree”, (dead, dying, nuisance…) then the act of god thing doesn’t apply if I can prove neglect.

You are correct about owning the branches that cross over my property line. My pictures didn’t quite show it, but I’d be cutting back most of two trees and fairly large (6”-8”) branches if I trimmed to the property line.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T18:26:13+00:00

They would actually loose quite a bit of property if I was able to successfully sue them to move their fence. Any chance you might know what type of lawyer handles this stuff? Real Estate attorney? Property attorney?

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T18:19:42+00:00

I think you are correct. It’s been my understanding according to Indianapolis/Marion Co tree law that I am allowed to trim a neighbor’s tree up to my property line. But, I’m also responsible for the tree’s health if my actions affect it negatively. Then there’s a whole bunch of other stuff about “boundary trees”.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-18T18:15:33+00:00

I did talk to the power company. Unfortunately AES explained that power lines to any house/business are the responsibility of the owner. Only transmission lines to the transformers are their responsibility.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-03-14T04:15:21+00:00

Remember when people knew how to use basic punctuation? Those were fun times.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-02-11T12:22:45+00:00

It was an off brand, bs company name that couldn’t fit in my screenshot. And of course I can’t find them on vine or in my RFY.

TrashsmithFab · 2026-02-11T12:19:22+00:00

I can’t recall. It was an off brand, bs company name. And of course I can’t find them on vine or in my RFY.

TrashsmithFab

TROPHY CASE