Meltdown S0105-E12 (2013)

Across America a new breed of urban treasure hunter is making his mark. These profiteers search for precious metals in unlikely places hoping to turn junk into gold. Today the struggling economy has turned the melting of precious metals into a billion dollar industry. The search takes them from back alleys to the world of high technology. It’s a high stakes game where one false move could spell disaster. But these melters risk everything to seek their fortune.

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Season 1, Episode 5 - “Coffin Up Cash”
Rich buys broken solar panels for the silver inside, but learns it’s nearly impossible to get the silver out by himself. He pays a professional to do the job — a big gamble. Dave is playing it safe, making no initial investment in the dental X-ray fixer solution he’s gathering up from local dentists. Used to develop X-rays, fixer removes the silver from the film and contains silver residue. Meanwhile, Diego’s made an investment of $450 to buy a casket for the gold letters engraved on it.

Season 1, Episode 6 - “Platinum Payday”
Diego uncovers a giant score in platinum, but to come up with the cash to make the deal happen, he has to not only liquidate his entire bank account, but also pawn his beloved motorcycle. Elsewhere, Rich’s hunt for precious metals leads him to a recording studio, where a rapper is trying to sell a bunch of bling. Meanwhile, Dave uncovers an old cell tower console that is loaded with gold.

Season 1, Episode 7 - “Cash in the Chem Lab”
Across America a new breed of urban treasure hunter is making his mark. These profiteers search for precious metals in unlikely places hoping to turn junk into gold. Today the struggling economy has turned the melting of precious metals into a billion dollar industry. The search takes them from back alleys to the world of high technology. It’s a high stakes game where one false move could spell disaster. But these melters risk everything to seek their fortune.

Season 1, Episode 8 - “Fight or Flight”
Diego finds an old plane being sold for parts and makes a deal that he can keep whatever he can pull out. Dave wants to help an elderly couple raise money for moving expenses by going through their possessions and determining what has value, but the couple has trouble giving up their sentimental attachments. Rich goes to a music store in search of a good deal on a flute made of silver, but then he’s offered a thousand cell phones from the attic of the store, and that gives him an idea.

Season 1, Episode 9 - “ Silver Sword Golden”
Diego explores the martial arts world in search of weapons that might be made with precious metals. He hits a dead end with a master sensei, but the sensei refers him to an ancient weapons dealer. Knowing that marine testing equipment was made with precious metals in order to withstand saltwater corrosion, Rich visits a warehouse that turns out to be a treasure trove of old test equipment. And Dave visits a gold mine in search of crystalized gold, one of the rarest forms of gold on the planet.

Season 1, Episode 10 - “No Country for Gold Men”
Dave hits pay dirt when he gets access to an old stamp mill, a device used to crush rocks into powder to get the gold out. Diego heads to a racetrack because he thinks he might find old silver horseshoes, but when a trainer suggests he might find silver and platinum at the nearby horse hospital, he goes there instead. Meanwhile, Rich heads out to a Wild West-themed ranch used for movie shoots and weddings hoping to find precious metal antiques.

Season 1, Episode 11 - “Newcomers”
Three urban treasure hunters battle the market and fierce competition as they seek out precious metals in unorthodox places and melt them down for cash. Russell visits an aerospace shop to scope out airplane parts. He puts big money into a massive engine that could contain precious metals — a risky gamble that he hopes will pay off. Looking to score big on gold teeth, Ron and Melanie strike a deal with a dentist. Meanwhile, Joe visits a medical supply warehouse in search of silver.

Season 1, Episode 12 - “Newbies Dash for Cash”
Russell and Terence take a trip to an estate sale and meet Retro Robin. Russell quickly surmises that there’s not a lot of precious metal valuables, except for a sterling silver tea set. They use an acid test and discover it’s real, but now they have to haggle with the tough negotiator Robin if they hope to turn a profit. Meanwhile, Ron and Melanie go to an auction house to bid on silver items. Ron gets carried away and overpays on a bunch of silver pieces.