Components are a commodity in Rust, used to craft items or recycled for resources.
If you break a few barrels, you’ll have a bunch of different components in your inventory.
After a few supply runs, you’ll start getting a lot of different varieties in your loot boxes.
Eventually your boxes will burst and it will be time to recycle them.
At this point, many players get rid of the components they should be keeping, looking for the resources you get by recycling them.
It’s always good to recycle a certain amount of most components, but there are a few that should never leave their respective loot box, unless you’re using them to craft something.
To help you understand more, here are the top 10 components in Rust.
By referring to this list, you will know exactly how to manage the components in your storage boxes.
10. Sheet metal
recycle in:
- 2 scrap
- 15 metal shards
Providing few resources, metal blades are one of the most common components and can be spared quite easily.
5 piles will amount to 200 scrap and 1500 metal fragments.
Since they are mainly used for tools, you will always have enough to spare.
9. Traffic signs
recycle in:
- 5 Scrap
- 1 high quality metal.
Used almost exclusively for road sign shielding, this component is easy to bulk acquire and can be recycled for a decent amount of resources.
Found in crates and barrels, you can also hit traffic signs on the side of the road to get this component.
8. Tech junk
recycle in:
- 20 scrap
- 1 high quality metal.
Tech Trash is the rarest component on this list, used specifically for higher level placeables like the Computer Station and Auto Turret.
Recycling for 20 Scrap is its primary use for newer players, or those who have just joined a server.
7. Metal spring
recycle in:
- 10 scrap
- 1 high quality metal.
Used to craft Tier 2 and higher weapons, Metal Springs are much needed once you get a few blueprints.
No matter how good you are at PvP, weapons don’t come cheap, so recycling metal springs is a complete waste at that stage, unless you already have dozens of weapons.
6. Semi-automatic body
recycle in:
- 15 scrap
- 75 metal shards
- 2 high quality metals
Useful for all types, whether recycling or crafting semi-automatic pistols/rifles.
Pretty much the holy grail of the early game, you’ll want a lot of scrap and metal shards to get a decent base with a workbench 2 and metal doors.
5. Empty propane tank
recycle in:
- 1 scrap
- 50 metal shards
Great for acquiring metal shards, empty propane tanks are used to craft flamethrowers/flame turrets, but can otherwise be scrapped.
1000 metal shards per stack is pretty crazy, especially since you’ll save a lot since you don’t use them to craft anything.
4. Metallic pipe
recycle in:
- 5 Scrap
- 1 high quality metal.
Loved by clans, as rockets consume many metal tubes per ship.
Otherwise, use it to craft weapons or sell a full stack for 100 scrap.
3. Sewing kit
recycle in:
Sewing Kits are a notable source of cloth early in the game, with many players taking all the hemp plants in most areas.
Finding plenty of sewing kits will give you enough fabric for a sleeping bag, burlap clothing, and enough rope for a crossbow.
Towards the middle of the late game, they are used to craft high-tier armor.
You tend to save a lot of sewing kit stacks, so feel free to recycle bonus stacks.
2. Sheet metal
recycle in:
- 8 scrap
- 100 metal shards
- 1 high quality metal.
Another rare component, its main use is to make wind turbines to provide power to large bases.
If you play alone or in a small group, you will probably never need to create anything with this component.
It’s best to recycle them, as 100 metal shards is awesome, especially early on.
1. Gears
recycle in:
- 10 scrap
- 13 metal shards
It is used in a wide variety of defensive items, including trapdoors, garage doors, stairwell hatches, and vending machines.
No other component offers as much ease of use as a gear set, often being the most sought after component in the game.
Such versatility is offset by a pitiful 1% chance of getting 2 gears out of a barrel.
Never recycle gears!