New Record For Transformer Size--for me :)

The pic above wont post and the lighting is bad, but you should be able to click on it and see that it weighs 42pounds! I recently did a scrap cleanout for my local Kmart. Not bad. About 2000pounds of shred, 3 huge cash registers, some TV's, lots of wire and 8 old UPS's. Each one of these old UPS has a 20 pound transformer in it, but this one had a 42 pound. Insane how heavy these things were!

I'm thinking about a 1/5 copper to heavy melt ratio. What do you think?

My record still stands at around 80,000 lbs. I don't really remember it other then it was big and used to power a melt shop for melting steel. It was big and bulky and a pain to process.

Originally Posted by PistoneScrapProcessing

My record still stands at around 80,000 lbs. I don't really remember it other then it was big and used to power a melt shop for melting steel. It was big and bulky and a pain to process.

WoW! Did you sell as-is or break down? What was the final payout?

It wasnt 80,000 lbs but I had one that we could barley move with a 5000 lb fork truck. It was all in the frame work though. Ended up being aluminum wrapped.

I broke it down to number one copper, steel exterior was heavy I think 50,000 lbs of the total weight the rest was silicone steel it filled up two 20 yard luggers if I can remember correctly but there were two of them total. Exact same I think. This was when copper was around a dollar a pound.

Oh geez, I thought the 10lb transformer I had the other day was pretty amazing, I'm small potatoes compared to you all!!!

Considering it was in 2003 I can't remember what I made I worked for my dad then before I ventured on my own I would imagine he made a pretty penny taking in a gaylord or two full of copper every day for a week or two. Remember it was a dollar back then not anything like the insane prices of today. Newattitude I did this when I still lived in Ohio the job was in Cleveland ohio at a place that fixed, bought and sold foundry equipment. They were shutting down and everything had to go including the two transformers.

Quick question. What is the easy way to break these transformers down. They came from UPS power supplies. I've looked online, and watched a few videos, but none of the methods work. As you can see from the one on the left. I've tried to cut the steel and copper. Thanks.

Transformers are a pain in the butt to break down. Anything under 10 lbs. I personally wouldn't break down, but to each his own. Try taking a sledge hammer to it.

There are a couple of good video's on here but use a chisel instead of a hatchet.

Thanks wdaddy. I've tried it all, but didn't want to try to burn them. Microwave transformers are easy compared to these, and they are about 20 IB. If they are not broke down, does the yard just pay shred price. Here it is 13.50 every 100Ib. Which these have large copper coils. So, I know I'll lose, but the time I have invested in them does not add up. I'm checking out the above vidoes, now. Thanks again.

use an angle grinder cut the copper off one side, then punch the remaining copper out of the frame.

Thanks Olddude, going to try that in a few. Took my load of mb's, ram, cpu's, wire, powersupplies, hard driveboards, and other computer printer scrap to my buyer yesterday. So, just messing with leftover, and going to run my scrap off later, as well. Got to clean-up my garage for my next load, tomorrow. These tranformers have inner woven steal. Really piss me off. I've got about 7 of them. (:
My load of scrap metal. Not much, but look at all the computer towers.

The other side is piled worse.

Call anytime Mike. It was good talking with you last week. By the way, I sold a lot of printer cart. to several different places the other day. They do add up. Not too mention, my shred. No where near as much as I got for the goodies, but a lot more then I thought. Hope you guy's are good up East.