Things to consider when breaking items down

Hello,

We break down items to increase profit but, there are couple of different outcomes when we separate two or more items that were once connected by screws, welds, glue, etc. Here are those outcomes:

1. Metal A appreciates and metal B stays the same. (ex taking brass fittings off of a water heater: metal A (Brass) appreciates in value and metal B (tin) stays the same)
2. Metal A appreciates and metal B depreciates. (ex. taking copper wire out of a transformer: metal A (copper) appreciates in value and metal B (steel) depreciates.

The one I want to focus on and want people to keep in mind the most is outcome #2. I forget about this sometimes when I am breaking down but, lately I am trying to be more aware of it. Most people including myself look at the expensive metal in the item and think "look how much more I am getting for this copper" but, dont realize that the other metal (the metal that weighs much more) is going down in value. Lets use the transformer example:

-Transformer example: I am just going to make up some weights and numbers for the example. Lets say you can recycle a transformer that weighs 7lbs for $.25/lb not broken down = $1.75. If you break it down you get .5 lbs copper @2.30=$1.15 and 6.5 lbs#1HMS @.10 lb= .65 a total of $1.85. In this example there is only a $.10 increase in profit if you break it down. A lot of us are thinking "if I take the copper out, instead of .25/lb I will get 2.30/lb!" But, many times we dont realize the steal part of the transformer (the part that weighs way more) has decreased in value by .15/lb! So instead of thinking "I am getting 2.30/lb instead of .25/lb for copper", now I think "I am getting .25/lb instead of .10/lb for my steel" Plus you dont have to do the labor of breaking it down

-Another example is when you clean up metal attached to rubber, wood, plastic, or other trash. Let say you are breaking down a steel treadmill. I feel it is ok to take the motor out but, I no longer break down the tread mill and clean up the steal. If I break it down I increase the value of the steel by .04-.05 cents but, I no longer get payed .04/lb for the wood and plastic I take off of the treadmill. Not only that, I have to get rid of the trash that is left over and maybe ever have to pay to dump it eventually.



-I recently stopped clipping cable ends for this reason. For clean #2 insulated wire I would get .85/lb and for contaminated I get .45/lb. I get about double the price if i clip the cable but, after I minus the weight of the plug end and my labor it just doesnt seem to be worth it. So, if i leave the cable ends on I get .45/lb instead of .13/lb for the cable ends.

In Summary, most of the time when one metal appreciates and the other depreciates, for me it isnt worth it. By not breaking down as much stuff this helps me to focus on picking stuff up, plus I just got a new puppy who loves to chew on cut off cable ends. So with breaking down transformers, cutting cable ends, and other situations like this you can make a little more but, for me after I factor in the depreciation of the other metal and my labor it just doesnt seem to be worth it. Hope this helps

true
but sometimes we just dont even think about it
it would be nice if we could all do the maths & decide about every item we strip
would save time, injuries & earn more money

which is what were doing it for after all

I only clean degaussing wire that's thick . I lose weight in plastic, I'm with you about selling transformers and electric motors whole . Maybe a large compressor but then like you said the steel would not lose after removing the copper . Sometimes I clean a big aluminum heat sink. I agree with your logic , I would rather be cutting rads or dismantling ewaste then doing electric motors or transformers . Come to think of it could prob do a computer faster than a large transformer . But that's just me .

Being very new to this I probably clean more things than I should. I appreciate these kind of post to point out the differences. I am falling victim to 2 things here... I have a need to find out "what's inside" and I also find the disassemble/destruction therapeutic. Luckily this is just a part time thing for me but I expect to grow out of the exploratory stage eventually!

Very important tips that you brought up, I would like to add one. We do a lot of a/c units the electric motors in them are a perfect example of your post, if you take the motor out of the bird cage it weighs 11-14 lbs if you leave it in and sell it dirty it weighs around 25-28 lbs so if you sell it dirty at let's say .22 and clean at .29 where do you do better. Less work more money, all items are not created equal put this is a great example of when to clean and when to sell it dirty.

I see what you're saying about transformers but that doesn't apply to everyone. Take me for example. I have a load of transformers I've been breaking down. Each one weighs 7lbs 12oz. Local yards here only pay .10 cents a pound for them which really sucks. It takes me 5 minutes to break down each one and they are the kind where all of the E's are pointing in the same direction and the I's are on the end. Hope that makes sense. Also there is no weld. The mounting brackets and varnish hold everything together. So here is the breakdown. I'm not going to complete the math because my brain is tired.

Complete transformer 7lbs 12oz @ .10 cents a pound

Metal from transformer 6lbs 2oz @ .10 cents a pound

#2 copper from transformer 1lb 10oz @ $2.55 a pound

Keep in mind, this doesn't apply to all transformers. Some are a real PITA to take apart but you can still make good money.

should have read this sooner, just got done breaking down 15 3.5" floppy drives... pretty sure the motors weren't worth the effort and time and mess..

Originally Posted by Metalbestos

I only clean degaussing wire that's thick . I lose weight in plastic, I'm with you about selling transformers and electric motors whole . Maybe a large compressor but then like you said the steel would not lose after removing the copper . Sometimes I clean a big aluminum heat sink. I agree with your logic , I would rather be cutting rads or dismantling ewaste then doing electric motors or transformers . Come to think of it could prob do a computer faster than a large transformer . But that's just me .

I think I get about $1.65 for the degaussing wire, I used to strip it but, for the same reason above I stopped. My yard does the #2 insulated wire on percentages so degaussing cable it pretty good because there isnt much insulation.

Originally Posted by jimicrk

I see what you're saying about transformers but that doesn't apply to everyone. Take me for example. I have a load of transformers I've been breaking down. Each one weighs 7lbs 12oz. Local yards here only pay .10 cents a pound for them which really sucks. It takes me 5 minutes to break down each one and they are the kind where all of the E's are pointing in the same direction and the I's are on the end. Hope that makes sense. Also there is no weld. The mounting brackets and varnish hold everything together. So here is the breakdown. I'm not going to complete the math because my brain is tired.

Complete transformer 7lbs 12oz @ .10 cents a pound

Metal from transformer 6lbs 2oz @ .10 cents a pound

#2 copper from transformer 1lb 10oz @ $2.55 a pound

Keep in mind, this doesn't apply to all transformers. Some are a real PITA to take apart but you can still make good money.

So this would be an outcome number 1 which is a little more worth it not an outcome number two.

Thanks I broke down few power supplies today and have bunch of transformers I was thinking of breaking down think I'll wait till next time

Wow, all of you put my simple analysis/decision making to shame! Nevertheless, I like reading about what goes into your decisions and am learning from each post!

Not fancy, but here are the factors influence my decsions:

time and space (if I need the space in the garage immediately)
mood (if I am sick of the clutter and just need to make a clean sweep!!) and if it's worth the struggle to breakdown
education (from SMF about what's inside & weight of what's inside different items)
money (weighed against all the above, most of the time)

If this doesnt make sense, blame the hot weather and a broken AC!!

As of now for small electric motors/transformers, I am not breaking them down. Leaving the weight of the adjoined metals on with the copper or whatever wire.

Like has been said before on SMF, scrapping is different for everyone.

For some reason I really enjoy breaking down hard drives and dvd/cd drives . I can do them rather fast and I feel accomplished if I get a couple rows of them done . I like to get about 25 or so before I do them . .

Originally Posted by smashing

Being very new to this I probably clean more things than I should. I appreciate these kind of post to point out the differences. I am falling victim to 2 things here... I have a need to find out "what's inside" and I also find the disassemble/destruction therapeutic. Luckily this is just a part time thing for me but I expect to grow out of the exploratory stage eventually!

Ya when I started I remember I broke down everything even the little tiny copper coils. Then I would pickup any of the little tiny copper threads I dropped on the ground. In a way I do feel it is necessary to break things down to get knowledge, its fun, and interesting. When you look inside something, you get a lot of questions and it is a good way to learn. Eventually you will figure out what is profitable for yourself.

I used to think that if I have time I will go ahead and break everything down to the last little piece. But now, I have decided that instead of using that free time to break down, I will use it to market, advertise and get more clients. Staying connected with the clients is the best and the more you do it the better you get at it.

Originally Posted by smashing

Being very new to this I probably clean more things than I should. I appreciate these kind of post to point out the differences. I am falling victim to 2 things here... I have a need to find out "what's inside" and I also find the disassemble/destruction therapeutic. Luckily this is just a part time thing for me but I expect to grow out of the exploratory stage eventually!

As a beginner breaking things down and learning 1st hand for yourself if it is worth it to you is the best way to learn, other than the old threads on SMF .

Yeah, nothing wrong with breaking things down to learn, knowledge is money, too! I made the mistake of only looking for copper in computers at first…that's all I knew of!!!
If I had found this forum earlier, then I would have still broken down but Saved pieces for identification. Would have kept money from going in the trash!

This is why I so appreciate everyone taking the time to post your findings/info., etc. I learned about beryllium (dangerous!!) in microwaves here. So SMF scrappers saved me from a potentially dangerous mistake. The posts not only help scrappers make more money, but stay safe! ~

So, as others have said, read and save what you take apart and identify before tossing. At least this way you stand a better chance of making an educated decision...

You and me both!

*edit* this was in reply to KZ referencing how many times after the fact I have realized I would have been better off NOT breaking down

Originally Posted by mrsamsonite

I think I get about $1.65 for the degaussing wire, I used to strip it but, for the same reason above I stopped. My yard does the #2 insulated wire on percentages so degaussing cable it pretty good because there isnt much insulation.

Trust me it's worth stripping degaussing wire , this came from a beast of a sony