Metals in a washing machine

I recently picked up 3 washing machines from a contact but the thing is that im not too educated on how to tell steel from aluminum parts or stainless steel from steel. Is there anyone who can help me maybe figure out what types of metals there are so I can break it down. I know the basics like the motor and the wires. I need to know what the shell is made of and the supports inside. There is a panel in the back that covers the board that i think might be alu.The model is speed queen Model# awm573w2. Thanks guys for any help.

On Speed Queens, check to see if the inner tub is non-magnetic stainless. Pull the motor and wiring harness. Check the faceplate (where the timer is) to see if it's sheet aluminum and throw the rest in your shred pile.

Take a magnet to the metal parts, if it sticks its steel, if not its most likely aluminum. if you cant tell by looking at it then tap it with an angle grinder, if it doesn't throw any sparks its aluminum.

I've found stainless doors on some (the door you dump the soap in, not the one you put the clothes in) also the plate under the knobs (with the numbers/selections printed on it) to be stainless

thanks guys

Magnet, magnet, magnet-#1 tool of a scraper, you should always have one with you, in your truck/car,your work bench,your pocket. If the magnet sticks it is steel/iron if not than it is a more valuable metal. A grinder is my #2 tool, if the magnet doesn't stick then hit it with the grinder,if it sparks it is ss,if no sparks and looks like steel it's aluminum, brass has a yellow color, copper has a more reddish color. Hope this helps.

make sure to strip the motor and put it in a separate pile to sell whole or to cut and pull the copper.

So is the wire in washing machine motors sometimes aluminum? I have cut two open so far and neither one look like copper.

Do these motors just get thrown in the motor pile?

Originally Posted by jmurrow3

Do these motors just get thrown in the motor pile?

if it has AL wire in motor, my favorite yard calls them Breakage(dirty cast AL). Every place has their own way/rules. Whenever I am unsure about something I keep it separate and ask whoever is working the scale.

Theres silver or silver/copper contacts in the switches, timer module & actually on the motor, which I can't find out if its copper or ali windings.

I like those motors though, Its a Aluminium housing glued (Glued!!!) to the iron core.
Use safety specs, gloves, earmuffs & a large hammer & the Ali housing breaks up into the Ali & the Iron core with the windings attached.

Cut the wire loops off one end (after you have checked to see if its Copper or Ali. If its Ali, don't bother pulling it apart any more, sell it as 'motors')
& pull the rest of the windings out, remove any insulation & string & add it to the rest of your bare Copper wire.

Yah might get 2Lbs of copper #2.
Although those motors come in a few different lengths, which affects the amount of copper in them a lot.

The Ali castings have to have all other metal removed from them before selling, ie remove any screws & bearings etc.

Thanks for the useful information!!! I will take that info and run with it.

FYI. (Or maybe everyone already knows) I discovered attached to the plastic valve assembly these cylindrical plastic things with electric contacts. I cut one open out of curiosity and BOOM. Full of copper!