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Cutting power supply wires

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    Riverside started this thread.
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    Cutting power supply wires

    I was looking for a tool to cut power supply wires without spending a lot of money.
    Here is what I found:
    Finger Release Ratcheting PVC Cutter



    It does not always cut all the way thru due to it's design but a few twists usually seems to cut the stragglers.


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    BRASSCATCHER's Avatar
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    Straight tin snips are ok, two snips and its off. I also use a small set of cable cutters which are really good.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=klei...22799152420380
    The high leverag ones for $26
    Last edited by BRASSCATCHER; 09-13-2014 at 04:39 PM.
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    AuburnEwaste's Avatar
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    Cutting power supply wires

    Everyone should do a cost/benefit analysis on cutting the wires off. It sounds crazy, but you are loosing money cutting them.

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    Mechanic688's Avatar
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    When I was doing a bunch at a time I used a limb trimmer or lopper as their also called. Very quick to lop all wires at once.

    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

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    Yes the high leverage cutters are a good investment. I've had the same ones for almost 20 years and they work as well now as when I bought them.

    Cutting power supply wires
    Everyone should do a cost/benefit analysis on cutting the wires off. It sounds crazy, but you are loosing money cutting them.

    Full article at Scrap Metal Forum: http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/compu...#ixzz3DEpSSdjB
    That might be true for you but it's not for everybody. Power supplies here sell for 10 cents a pound with or without wire. Same as shred, motors and transformers. Same as the low grade board inside them. Sucks. I process a lot of PC's and I don't have the time to remove the power supplies and process them. I don't even remove the power supplies anymore. Cut the wires, remove the mother board and gold finger boards, fill the PC case with any scrap metal I have, put the cover back on and move on to the next one.

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    Quote Originally Posted by AuburnEwaste View Post
    Everyone should do a cost/benefit analysis on cutting the wires off. It sounds crazy, but you are loosing money cutting them.
    Depends on what you get for wire. Ps without wire i get .20#. The wire I sell at romex pricing1.25-1,30#

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    The best tool for cutting PS wires I have found so far is one of these:

    https://www.google.com/search?q=repl...2F%3B550%3B411

    I don't have one of those exactly, but a home depot husky brand one. Blade lasts a long time if you're just cutting PS wire. Slices through it like it was butter, and can easily handle the base of the bundle in one clip.

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    Angle grinder is what I have used in the past. Its quick and easy. Mike
    "Profit begins when you buy NOT when you sell." {quote passed down to me from a wise man}

    Now go beat the copper out of something, Miked

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    Definitely losing money cutting them

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    The wire portion weighs so little that the extra money you get from the wire is not enough to cover what you loose from not having the wire attached. In the case where the local yard only pays 10 cents per pound, you may come out a little bit ahead. You still have to account for the labor involved.

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    At 1.40# there's not much to lose especially if you wait till you have a nice gaylord full and do them all at once.

    Here is a quick breakdown of 5 random power supply's I cut the wires from. I'm not the best at math late at night so I might be off a little.


    Ps #1- 10.4 oz

    Ps#2- 6.6 oz

    Ps#3- 7.0 oz

    Ps#4- 5.4oz

    Ps#5- 8.2oz

    Total weight 2.35#. I'm rounding down so at $1.40#. That is $2.80. For 5 random ps. I did those 5 in 1 min which is not very fast. But say you do 5 a minute for an hr you will have done 300 ps

    Now 300 divided by 5 is 60 times $2.80 is $168.00 an hr and that's rounding down.

    Now let's say you only get half which is 0.70# you still make $84.00 an hr

    I don't know about you but i sure wouldn't mind making that an hr.

    Oh and at $1.40# with 300 I could pay someone to help and still make money.

    And yes it would be hard to do 300 hr anyways you get my point for me it's well worth cutting the wires off.
    Last edited by unitsngold; 09-13-2014 at 11:40 PM.

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    I keep my power supplies for when I have slow days. But I break them all the way down.

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    I am currently getting .16/lb locally and that price has fallen from .20/lb in the last two years over time.......THey don't care if I cut the wire they pay the same.......They don't do a lot of ewaste anymore at this company so I'm glad they are still giving me a little better than shred for these........They are paying .11/lb for shred so I just include a couple of totes of these everytime I go dump shred......Makes it worth the 20 mile round trip as there is a yard a lot closer but they don't buy the power supplies..........And yes I try to cut the majority of the wire off and am getting .80/lb for that so it is worth it to me

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    It all depends on where you live and how much your yard is paying.

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  23. #15
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    I use bolt cutters for mine, can cut through all the wires in one cut

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    Well this is a important question for me as I am getting a lot of power supply's, it's Sunday and I am home so I can't do the numbers, but like a few guys say you are losing money cutting the wires and I believe them to be right, Now for the guys that sell to a yard that does not pay you more for the wires on or off same price, it's just common sense to snip the wires basically because the value of the wire is more that the power supply, but has any one done a comparison of getting 20 assorted power supply's weighing them with the wire on and then cut the wire off and done the numbers, I will do this tomorrow just for my own knowledge, you have to use twenty to get a true a picture.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ResourcefulRecycling View Post
    Definitely losing money cutting them
    Not true, as was stated numerous times it all depends on what pricing you are getting. Anything over $1 a pound for the wire makes it worth it to take 30 seconds to cut the wire. It is on a rare occasion when I am backed up with other things that I sell them with the wire for a nickle more per pound.

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    I use 12" or 18" bolt cutters...kinda awkward at first but it gets pretty smooth going before long

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    The yard I take mine to buys them as steel-cased batteries (Yes, that was my reaction too) with or without the wires so I snip them. I haven’t brought in the computer wire to a yard yet but I may throw them in with my next batch of low-grade wire. I don’t think the place I bring my insulated COPPER wire will take it but I’ll have to see.

    The power supply wire is usually not copper, correct? Or am I confusing myself?
    "Don't try to be a great man, just be a man. Let history make its own judgments"

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    Cutting power supply wires

    power supply wire is generally tin coated copper. easily confused with aluminum if you are not looking closely. if you strip it, it should be #2 copper.
    Currently looking for a job in or related to scrap/recycling. Relocation is possible for the right offer.

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