You're staring at your Lavatory level 2 upgrade requirements or maybe trying to craft some grenades, and there it is. The gear icon. You need metal spare parts tarkov players have been hunting since they were introduced back in the 12.12 patch. It’s frustrating. You check the flea market and the price is sky-high, or maybe you’re playing on a fresh wipe and the flea isn't even an option yet.
Finding these things feels like a chore because they don't just sit on shelves like a can of Tushonka. They’re heavy. They’re awkward. And honestly, if you aren't looking in the exact right corners of Lighthouse or Reserve, you’re basically just walking past them.
What exactly are we looking for?
Basically, metal spare parts are a functional item used primarily for Hideout upgrades and high-end crafting. They aren't "junk" in the traditional sense. You need them for the Defective Wall, the Air Filtering Unit, and even the Gym. If you want to get your Strength up, you need these parts.
They look like a small pile of gears and mechanical bits. In your inventory, they take up a 1x1 slot, which is great for efficiency but makes them incredibly easy to miss when they’re tucked under a desk or hidden inside a wooden crate. Unlike a car battery that screams "pick me up," these things blend into the industrial grime of the Tarkov world.
The Best Places to Loot Metal Spare Parts Tarkov Has to Offer
If you want to find these reliably, you have to stop looting Filing Cabinets and start looking at loose industrial spawns.
Lighthouse: The Gold Mine
Lighthouse is, without a doubt, the king of industrial loot. If you scav into Lighthouse, head straight for the industrial zone near the water treatment plant or the village area.
Specifically, look at the "construction" areas. There are several wooden crates and open-air shelves near the train yard. I've found metal spare parts tarkov spawns sitting right on top of blue technical crates more times than I can count. The shoreline near the southern landslide also has scattered industrial loot that people often ignore because they’re too busy rushing the Rogue camp.
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Reserve: The Technical King
Reserve is the old reliable. You want to hit the "Black Bishop" and "White Bishop" buildings, but specifically the basements. The technical supply crates (the big tan ones) have a high drop rate for mechanical items.
Don't just look in crates.
Check the floor. Seriously. In the underground bunker area where the D-2 extract is located, check the rooms with the server racks and workbenches. These parts often spawn as "loose loot" on the bottom shelf of those metal racks. People run right past them because they’re looking for high-value electronics like military cables or AESA sensors.
Streets of Tarkov: The Chaos Method
Streets is overwhelming. We all know it. But the sheer volume of technical crates in the Concordia basement and the construction site near the Lexos dealership is insane.
If you have the Iron Gate key or any of the industrial keys for the mall area, you’re going to find them. The "Small Iron Pipe" area and the various workshops scattered around the map are littered with technical spawns. It’s risky, though. You’re likely to get sniped by a guy sitting in a window with a Vudu, so move fast.
Why Is the Price So Volatile?
Have you noticed how the price of metal spare parts swings wildly? One day they’re 40k, the next they’re 150k.
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It’s all about the Hideout progression curve.
Early in a wipe, everyone needs them at the same time. The demand creates a massive bottleneck. Later in the wipe, the price usually stabilizes, but then it spikes again whenever Battlestate Games (BSG) drops an event that requires technical items for a trade.
Honestly, if you find them early on, do not sell them. You will regret it when you're staring at a 24-hour timer on your Lavatory upgrade and you’re broke. Keep at least 10 in your Junk Box. Trust me.
Crafting and Barters
You can’t actually craft metal spare parts. This is a common misconception. You use them to craft other things, like the Toolkit or certain types of grenades in the Workbench.
As for barters, Mechanic occasionally has trades that involve technical parts, but they aren't always worth it. You’re better off using them for your own progression. If you’re desperate, keep an eye on Fence. Sometimes, players who don't know better will sell their technical loot to him, and you can snag them for a "reasonable" (read: slightly overpriced) price.
Survival Strategies for Technical Looting
Looting for metal spare parts tarkov requires a specific mindset. You aren't hunting PMCs; you're a scavenger.
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- Bring a big backpack. Technical loot is often heavy. While the parts themselves are only 1x1, you’ll likely find car batteries, motors, and pressure gauges while looking for them.
- Night raids are your friend. If you’re just trying to get your Hideout sorted, go to Interchange or Lighthouse at night. Use a cheap set of NVGs or just crank your gamma (we all do it, don't lie).
- The "Scav Secret." On Interchange, don't just go inside the mall. The back hallways—the "long hallway" behind Goshan, OLI, and IDEA—are lined with toolboxes and technical crates. Most PMCs rush the tech stores like Texho or Techlight. The back hallways are usually ghost towns and they are packed with industrial loot.
The Misconception About Toolboxes
A lot of players think Toolboxes are the best way to find metal spare parts.
Actually, they aren't.
While you can find them in toolboxes, the loot pool for those containers is massive. You’re competing with screwdrivers, wrenches, tape, and a dozen other low-value items. The most reliable way to find metal spare parts tarkov is through "Technical Supply Crates" and "Loose Industrial Spawns."
Loose loot is king in Tarkov 12.12 and beyond. The game rewards players who actually look at the environment rather than just clicking "Search" on a box. Look on top of barrels. Look inside the back of broken-down pickup trucks on Customs.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Raid
Stop wandering aimlessly. If you need these parts right now, follow this exact plan.
- Select Lighthouse as a Scav. It’s the lowest risk for the highest technical reward.
- Head to the Industrial Zone. This is the area between the Lighthouse peninsula and the Water Treatment plant.
- Check the Blue Technical Crates. There are at least four of them in that small cluster of buildings.
- Look at the shelves. Don't just look in the crates; look at the wooden pallets and the metal shelving units.
- Check the "Hidden" Stashes. While less reliable for specific items, ground stashes on the way to the "Path to Shoreline" extract often contain high-tier technical loot.
- Hoard them. If you have space in your stash, keep every single one you find until your Hideout is maxed. You will need them for the Gym, and you will need them for the Air Filter.
The reality of Tarkov is that the "rare" items aren't always the ones that cost a million rubles. Sometimes, the rarest items are the ones you need to simply make your base functional so you can finally stop dying of dehydration or start leveling your skills faster. Grab those gears. Get out alive.