Motors, Worth the effort? - Page 2

Hang in their dude, been down that road myself when I came down ill. Running a little better now, If it would just quit raining for awhile.

Yes, sirs. Thought that bit of history might explain why I do a few things a little screwy. Scrapping is what provided the 50% down payment on this home, the nice car I got the wife right before all this went down, and the afore mentioned savings. In time, I am sure it will get us there again. That time just seems kinda unrealistically "out there" at the moment. In the mean time, I have to shoot myself in the foot every few days to get cash now. Like I said....no sympathy. There are folks out there that have it alot worse than me....probably right here on this forum. Medical and other bills are stacked up to my eyeballs, but if I can stay afloat just a few more months, that upcoming payday should help put a little order back in my chaos. Just keep the good tips rolling.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

Hang in their dude, been down that road myself when I came down ill. Running a little better now, If it would just quit raining for awhile.

Man, you ain't kidding! I can't get anything done!

Originally Posted by Hypoman

Man, you ain't kidding! I can't get anything done!

AMen to that.......I am so tired of rain....

you guys just about had me crying.........thank you for sharing with us c4.......for trusting us with your story. And sympathy is okay....pity is not....we sympathize and care. You and your family will be in my prayers.

C4, I understand more than enough on living day to day and wondering when the ceiling will open up so that I can climb out. It does get better eventually, but never feels that it will happen. My wife went into hospital with blood clots a few years back with no insurance. Crappy place I worked didn't offer it. Son went into hospital before we got him on medical card. I had surgery 2 years ago on an eye with insurance that didn't pay squat. Last year we got hit by a twister and was in between switching out insurance on the house and trying to save up money before we had another bill to pay. Didn't do that soon enough.

After the tornado I got into scrapping so that my real job money could remain going to bills and scrap money could go towards fixing up house. Doesn't always happen that way, cause the scrap funds for the first year went towards bills.

The plus side is that after 4 years, my wife has a job and all scrap money can finally go towards the house repairs.

As far as the motors go, I just take grinder and slice the outer casing and then the windings on 1 side. I have a screw driver that I cut back a bit so that the tip was thicker and I punch it through each channel where the wire runs and it comes out fairly quick. If nothing else. Just copper salvage an hour here and there and sit on it if you can afford to and it will build up and then you could run to a place that pays better than where you are at.

Thanks guys. Life happens. Gotta keep pluggin away.

Mick, after seeing the picture of your home, I don't doubt that logging is a huge industry around you. The ariel of my place is kinda like that, with dirt instead of trees. My daughter had an exchange student in her class this year from the Ukraine. A city girl. She referred to our little slice of Heaven as a desert with cows. I was felling a tree that had been twisted & mangled by a small twister. It fell wrong & took me for quite a ride.

Dee, it's all good.

KZ, I couldn't have put it better myself.

tj, sounds like you have a fair idea where I'm sittin'.

A local business with 35 employees recently got closed as the result of corporate downsizing. In a county with a total population of 2500, that is a huge chunk of jobs gone, so the wife is having a tough time finding work again. I have no doubt that it will eventually come back together. One day, when I can afford to hoard the copper again, I may very well go back to tearing down the motors.

I remember once Mick wrote on another thread about this, that it's all about speed!! (pretty sure it was Mick) I keep telling myself that if I worked as fast every day as I do on the days I'm taking a load in, I'd do much better ! The motors are the best example though...I remember spending HOURS on one motor when I had no clue !!! But from reading different approaches, my time is now down to minutes.....but still too many minutes.....there is always room for improvement and I always appreciate other viewpoints. I'm so thankful for all of you. And for all of you who served in the military.....a special thanks to you today.

I have a simular story, but I am determined to come back oz by oz pound by pound. the day you give up is the day you may as well give up you lisense to exist.

hey guys i might be a little late lol but i just saw this thread. im rather new but so far ive kept the motors intact simply because im backed up with the things i have to break down when i get a break i might take one apart and see if its worth it,, and old dude and c4 jus keep ya heads up man things happen i dont believe too much in god but i believe if your honestly a good person and you do things by what you believe is right then good things will come.

Injunjoe, didn't your condenser motor have aluminum end caps on it?

Rural Colorado is having a tough time, scrap is the only decent source of income for many. I have had a tough run myself,lost family,illness,D.O.T. harassment (to the point that I am scared to be on the road with a load). I kept at it and worked my out of the "tight spot". Hang tough their C4

Hey there, first-time poster, been scrapping a few years though.

About HVAC motors: how cheaply can something be made really cold? Seems if you could get the steel shell cold--and britlle--enough to yeild to the subtle persuasion of a BFH, it would speed up copper recovery.

I've tried a few, but I burn through cutting wheels at a rate to me this uneconomical...much rather swing a sledge or pick-axe.