I have been looking all over for a straight answer and I have not found one regarding whether copper transformers are worth scrapping:
I have ones ranging from smaller than my pinky nail to pretty large 5 pound ones. My yard takes them at $0.25/lbs. with my motors. The ferrite around them (especially the big ones) I imagine make up most of the weight. Is the copper + ferrite worth more at $0.25/lbs. than only copper at $1.29 (both will rise when copper rises. I'm hoarding till then) and shred at $0.06? If the majority of the weight is shred, the yard is paying me 3 to 4 times for the ferrite than if I separated it. Is the seperated copper enough to make up the difference and then some?
I've searched around and I've only heard that its worth it because the copper is worth more. But if you are removing 75% of the weight by sorting out the copper, is it really? A 5 pound transformer will need a full pound of copper just to break even. Most definitely not worth the work. And of course when the price of copper goes up, so will the price for motors. But the price of steel will not fluctuate quite as much making the ferrite and plastic all the more valuable when copper goes back on the rise. And when you factor in the plastic spool (that the yard pays $0.25 per pound for when sold as a motor), breaking apart the transformer looks less and less attractive.
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