Electric Motors

[Old_Okie]

What do you folks do with electric motors? Is there a relatively simple way to separate the windings from the case, or do you sell them intact?

I really like this forum.


7/9/07

Thanks for all of the input!

 

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[whitesid]

I'm sure theres a better way. but i just hit it with a sledge hammer until i can pick the copper out.

 

[Talos]

I sell them intact. They pay by the pound.

 

[silverhunter/dowser]

How much per pound
silverhunter

 

[hyderconsulting]

Electric motors are sometimes called copper breakage by the scrapyards. Figure 10 to 12 cents per pound for them, maybe a little more since copper is staying up there in price. I try to wait until I've got about 500 lbs. of them before taking them to the scrap yard because the heavier load may bring in an extra penny a pound. Be sure to check with all the scrap yards in your area for with this type of scrap you can see some variances in price. I don't strip out the copper on my motors but it can be done. I have some access to some larger electric motors weighing in at a minimum of 50 lbs. apiece whenever I can find the time to take them on and I will strip them out of the copper for sure. Regards, Chris Hyder.

 

[pepperpump]

Welcome aboard first off Okie!

Next thing, I have never dealt with motors but I have seen quite abit on it lately here on the site so maybe I will start saving them too. Keep us posted on your totals and good luck!
Pepperpump 8)

 

[Talos]

For electric motors, they pay around 8 to 15 cents/lb. around here. I never get enough of them to really worry about it, though. It's tantalizing to see all that coiled copper in there and try to retrieve it. I tried it once, and that was it for me. It's like trying to deconstruct one of those aluminum lawn chairs with no tools. I still do the lawn chairs, but I hate those damn things. Able to bend aluminum with his bare hands! Look, up in the sky...!

 

[snake35]

Here in Ohio they pay .13 a pound for electric motors. You can make more if you have the time to strip the copper out. Good Luck.

 

[Talos]

Electric motors are now 17 cents a pound here. Found some nice copper wire yesterday -- fairly thick stuff. It looked like it came out of the Eisenhower era. Stripped it with a knife and have several callouses for my effort.

"You have city hands, Mister Hooper," Robert Shaw tells Richard Dreyfuss in Jaws. It will be about a week before my city hands return.

 

[BCR]

For electric motors, they pay around 8 to 15 cents/lb. around here. I never get enough of them to really worry about it, though. It's tantalizing to see all that coiled copper in there and try to retrieve it. I tried it once, and that was it for me. It's like trying to deconstruct one of those aluminum lawn chairs with no tools. I still do the lawn chairs, but I hate those damn things. Able to bend aluminum with his bare hands! Look, up in the sky...!

Had to laugh when I read your comment about aluminum lawn chairs lol, I bought a grinder to cut the steel rods off of them and to shave all the rivets out, I use a prybar to yank out the clips that hold the nylon ribbing.

I saved some a month ago and put them in a white bucket... the stuff is so light it's not funny.. only got about $6.00 for my efforts.

 

[Talos]

Yeah, BCR, I hear you. No one is going to get rich off those AL lawn chairs. They look easy to take apart -- at least that's what I originally thought. I was out there slamming the thing against a dumpster, trying to pull it apart like Superman on red kryptonite, tearing at the nylon ribbings, and even hitting the damn thing with a hatchet. Thankfully, no one saw me! You have the right idea with your grinder.

 

[BCR]

Thanks... that grinder has been my saviour! Comes in handy when you are dismantling BBQ's as well. I also use it to cut aluminum handles off as well as cutting handles off stainless steel pots etc etc.

Best $30 investment I ever made.

Next thing on my list is a bench polisher/grinder for copper and computer hard drives.

 

[snake35]

I use a DeWalt right angle grinder and a DeWalt reciprocating saw. I use them for other work to. Defiantly good investments for the pro/semi pro scrappers.