Breaking down an electric motor for copper - Page 2

The motors I have pulled apart are from pool pumps. The weird thing was that the copper windings were not copper. It looked like an aluminum winding with a varnish on it. I am still a noob, but I take it is not the same thing right?

Originally Posted by miked

I think I figured out how to post pictures. Here is my break down of the four smaller motors.



Here is a link of the break down of the motors above, Mike.

http://s597.photobucket.com/albums/t...medium%20mtrs/

Miked, Great idea of using a chisel on those newer style motors. I have a few i was putting off cause i didnt want to unwind them. Ganna give it a try!!!

Yes very informational thanks. I have been tearing up appliances lately for the moters. (one of them being a thrift store heater I got for Christmas.) I turned it on for the first time went to sleep and felt for some reason to wake up and saw it was on fire.) And it is suprising how many things have moters.

I have found that it is not profitable enough to break down motors and such for copper, based on return. I do not even separate motors out. I’m small scale so others may have different options/opinions. Shred price vs motor price vs copper price vs time........only you can decide . And learn.

I want to update the pricing as follows:

Price from the original post -

So it started out at 27.8 LBS at $.41/lb = $11.40
Broke down we had 3.5 lbs of copper at $3.50/lb = $12.25
.25 lbs of cast alliminum at $.52 = $.13
24 lbs of steel at $.10/lbs = $2.40
Total after tear down is $14.78 for a difference of $3.38

Price today - (actually price is from a few months ago, and may vary by location)

So it started out at 27.8 LBS at $.12/lb = $3.33
Broke down we had 3.5 lbs of copper at $1.90/lb = $6.65
.25 lbs of cast aluminum at $.12 = $.03
24 lbs of steel at $.0365/lbs = $.87
Total after tear down is $7.55 for a difference of $4.22

Big difference between the two percentage wise. You can more than double your money now. (correct my math if I am wrong anywhere)

Then:

Total after teardown : 14.78 $

Now:

Total after teardown: 7.55 $

It's the same amount of work for half the pay. Thanks for the update N.P.