RF power transistors ☣

Gold-plated flange + gold ribbon leads + a white or pink ceramic cap. That combination is simultaneously the highest-value transistor package and a beryllium oxide hazard. Motorola/Freescale MRF series, Toshiba, Philips BLF, stud-mount and flange types.

Au 0.5–2 g/lbBase Kovar

eBay typical$60–200per lb

Refiner pays$40per lb

Metal in it$157per lb at 4 Aug 2026 spot

Confidencelowof the yield figures

How to spot it

Flanged RF packages from broadcast, radar, cellular base stations and amateur amplifiers. Also microwave stripline and 'gemini' packages.

Metal content

Metal	Quantity	Notes
Gold	0.5–2 g/lb	gold flange, gold ribbon leads, gold bond wire
Base metal	Kovar, Cu, BeO ceramic

At 4 Aug 2026 spot prices that works out to $157 per pound of contained metal — Gold 1.2 g = $157. A refiner paying $40 returns about 26% of that, which is normal: refining costs money and the buyer takes a margin.

Safe removal

Working temperature: Iron 350–400 °C

Through-hole: desolder at 350–400 °C with wick, or preheat and pull. Never file, grind, saw, sandblast, crush or incinerate one.

Hazards

☣ Beryllium oxide (BeO)

NEVER grind, sand, file, saw, drill, abrasive-cut, sandblast, hammer, crush, shred, torch, melt or incinerate anything that might contain BeO. Sell or dispose of suspect parts intact. Broken beryllium parts are worth nothing; your lungs are worth everything.

Before you scrap it

Almost always worth far more intact to ham radio, broadcast and repair buyers than as scrap. Sell them; do not process them.

Questions

How much gold is in rf power transistors ☣?

Gold: 0.5–2 g/lb. At current spot that is about $157 of contained metal per pound.

How do you identify rf power transistors ☣?

Gold-plated flange + gold ribbon leads + a white or pink ceramic cap. That combination is simultaneously the highest-value transistor package and a beryllium oxide hazard. Motorola/Freescale MRF series, Toshiba, Philips BLF, stud-mount and flange types.

How do you remove rf power transistors ☣ safely?

Through-hole: desolder at 350–400 °C with wick, or preheat and pull. Never file, grind, saw, sandblast, crush or incinerate one.

Is rf power transistors ☣ worth more working than as scrap?

Almost always worth far more intact to ham radio, broadcast and repair buyers than as scrap. Sell them; do not process them.

Related in RF, power & vintage

Gold-plated hermetic transistors (TO-3/TO-5/TO-18) RF, power & vintage · $40–120/lb Au 0.5–2 g/lbBase Kovar B Klystrons & Travelling-Wave Tubes RF, power & vintage · $3–40/lb Cu ~250 g/lb (0.35–0.75 lb Cu per lb of tube)Au ~0.5–4 g per tubeAg 2–30 g per tube C Vacuum tubes RF, power & vintage · $5–20/lb Au 0.1–0.5 g/lb (gold-pin types)Ag traceBase nickel plates C Chip antennas (LTCC ceramic) RF, power & vintage · $20–120/lb Ag 6–18 g/lb D CRT flyback transformers & deflection yokes ☠ RF, power & vintage · $0.5–1.5/lb Cu 150–400 g per yokeBase ferrite core D Magnetron ☣☣ RF, power & vintage · $1–4/lb Ag 0.5–2 g per magnetronCu 200–400 g per unitBase ferrite magnets D

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