new again scrapper..plasma for compressor?

Really I'm looking for a guy i use to talk to on this forum.
He was cutting open compressors with a plasma cutter.
If i could find any one on here to help me out with any i fo on this topic i would very much appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Mrbrown

Really I'm looking for a guy i use to talk to on this forum.
He was cutting open compressors with a plasma cutter.
If i could find any one on here to help me out with any i fo on this topic i would very much appreciate it.

Could have been me under a different nic, what would you like to know.

Another might be freonjoe? IIRC Alloy2 turned me onto the idea of plasma. Freonjoe showed me in person what a wonderful world plasma cutting really is.

Thanx guys. My father and i have a yard we get lots of compressors.i usually use a cutt off wheel but we all know that too costly.
Can i use a plasma cutter to cut open the compressors without blowing my self up.
Witch plasma cutter should i get to get started.

Thanks idaho. Were neighbors are you close to spokane at all. Thers gotta be a way into them eggs without buying a big machine.

I think Spokane is about 7 hours out.

I started out with a Chinese unit. $525 to my door. Couldn't find anything it couldn't cut, however it stopped working just inside of warranty. After some run around I finally got them to send a RMA so I could return. They weren't able to fix it so they sent a new unit. That lasted just outside of warranty. I ended up selling it for parts. I went with Hypertherm and have been really happy with it. With the Chinese unit, the torch had a sloppy/cheap feel, plus if I lost the arc, I couldn't restrike until postflow stopped. With the Hypertherm I can restrike immediately. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but for me, having used both, I find it to be a time saver. At least less aggravation.

Hypertherm was about 3 times the price over the Chinese machine. But I have a feeling it will last a long time. Also consumable life is ridiculous. I was eating them with the old machine. Hypertherm lasts forever it seems. On 2nd set now and I bought it in April. I'd venture to guess I've cut up around 300 compressors with the Hypertherm, plus misc scrap, a few cars/trucks, etc. I am set up to go mobile so I recently used it to torch I-beams down to size.

I got the PowerMax 45. IIRC I paid $1,650. Then strapped it to the Harbor Freight welder cart.

Oh, also I didn't like the short torch lead the Chinese machine had, it was 12' if I remember. Hypertherm is 20'. It makes a big difference.

Did not see the answer to his question. Is it a risk to use the plasma cutter on a sealed unit full of oil. Even if it is only mineral oil in the compressor being a sealed enclosed housing one would think it would be risky introducing a flame source to it.

There's not much oil in them.

I haven't had any problems. It isn't volatile like gasoline. I have set a few wire harnesses on fire though. Also, I recommend setting up a fan to blow the smoke away.

I can back that up. All I've run into is plastic and insulated wire catching on fire. Having a fan is very useful.

I thought I'd add a little bit more. I have a Chinese unit like IdahoScrapper said he had. It works and cuts fine, but I do go through consumables like crazy! I would say I've cut about 10 tons of compressors with it...and it hasn't broken yet. If this is going to be a regular thing for you, I'd suggest getting a quality machine.

Next, each type of compressor has a different percentage of copper. So it might not even be worth it. Here is what I found off the top of my head (I don't have the exact numbers here in front of me)

1. Reciprocating from AC units 6%
2. Scroll 6%
3 Reciprocating from refrigerators 8.5%
4. Rotary 11.5%

The easiest to do are the reciprocating. Scroll aren't even worth doing for me at all because they require more cuts and are hard to handle. Rotary aren't usually very heavy and require a lot of cuts as well...plus the windings get hit and makes it difficult to pull them from the stator.

thanx guys...that didnt take long at all.
im glad to be back. i dont mean to bother any body but i will be asking questions in the future.

i think it was freonjoe too. thanx

Originally Posted by Mrbrown

Thanx guys. My father and i have a yard we get lots of compressors.i usually use a cutt off wheel but we all know that too costly.
Can i use a plasma cutter to cut open the compressors without blowing my self up.
Witch plasma cutter should i get to get started.

Not sure why you say too costly. I can cut open 30 refrigerator compressors with one stack of 10 wheels from Harbor Freight, and we know those are not the worlds best cutoff wheels, but they do the job.

Originally Posted by wayne1956

not sure why you say too costly. I can cut open 30 refrigerator compressors with one stack of 10 wheels from harbor freight, and we know those are not the worlds best cutoff wheels, but they do the job.

and free stuff!