Originally Posted by
HipoGear
I've only scrapped one
microwave. Surprised to hear you favor them. Wondering if you would share a little more about your payout. I just had two of them that I gave away. If you can help me understand the value that would be great. Thanks!
Older microwaves, anything that's got the 'woodgrain style' and up to year 2000 normally has a Copper wire coiled transformer in it.
They are about 2lbs - 1Kg of Copper in each one and they can be taken apart with a small axe or a hammer.
Because the transformers Iron core is 'Stacked' not 'Interlaced', the whole transformer will break into two parts and then you can bash the two Copper coils out of the 'E' stack.
That's the quick money.... Undo 8 screws, cut a few wires and drop the transformer out and scrap it.
Or, there's clean Copper wire in the fan and in the turntable motor underneath the microwave as well.
There's also a small transformer on the electric board, a Silver mylar, a Silver/Copper contacts in a relay.
Go further and there's two nice very strong magnets and some Aluminium and some Copper wire in the magnetron, but don't break the pink or white ceramic on the actual magnetron, its often got Beryllium in it and its dangerous, best to consider that's its all got the Beryllium and simply don't bother with it.
Its dangerous when its broken and the dust is inhaled, its like asbestos where it takes 10-20 years and then suddenly it roots you for life.
If you have access to a metal lathe its possible to cut the end caps of the magnetron off for the 80grams of Solid Copper in each one, its best to just put them aside and do 100 at a time.
So, you can get differing amounts depending on how much work you put into it.
There's also the safety switches that you can possibly sell here on SMF to a buyer.
And the plastic coated Copper wire, that adds up.
The magnets can be sold too,
eBay I guess, very strong magnets, very handy.
Disclaimer.....
Newer microwaves often have a double Aluminium coil, or one Aluminium/one Copper coil in the main transformer.
A microwave with a 'Griller element' will only have Aluminium transformers in it.
A 'Invertor microwave' has no transformer and has only 100grams of Copper wire in the invertor.
Non disclaimer,
Some microwaves still work.... Because someone overcooked popcorn in it and its reeks.. And chucked it.
Some microwaves only need the safety switches and the main fuses replaced to get it going again, they weld shut when the doors opened while its working and that blows the main fuse.
Some Arc at the !title window inside, often its just a fat/oil buildup, clean the mica window and see if that stops it, possibly have to replace the mica window with a new uncarbonised one.
Platters and bearing rings and drive cogs can possibly be sold on eBay too.
Some people get attached to a certain model of microwave, because they know how to work it, or its the right size for their kitchen, or such. They will pay good money on eBay for that certain one.
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