Industrial 3 phase electrical motor ???

I had a guy contact me on my ad. He found someone who was paying 35c lb for motors. ANd I worded my ad I would be any written price by a nickel. So anyway this guy contacts me. He has 3 big industrial motors. The lightest one is 900 lbs, others are like 1200 and some change. Before I start dropping 400 usd on a motor, what can I expect for copper yield? Hopefully someone here has cut one open and can shed some light. Copper #2 is 2.60 per lb. So I would need at least 200 lbs copper to make any kid of profit. Will I be able to?

After logging in and introducing myself, I have been doing a lot of reading on this site. Thanks everyone. Now it's my turn to help a little. I have scrapped a few big motors (3 phase is all I have seen over 10 HP). When you get to the big motors 100 HP- 400 HP you can expect approximately 2/3 of the HP in pounds of copper. Example a 300 HP motor will yield about 200 pounds of copper. There are some variables that must be considered...1. Motor lead (wires to the motor) length. 2. Voltage, a dual voltage motor (230/460) tends to have more copper than a pure 460 motor. The ease with which you get your copper out depends on the frame. Drip proof motors are no match for a sledge hammer. On the other hand you and your sledge hammer are no match for a totally enclosed fan cooled motor. A TEFC motor casing must be cut in half to extract the copper even remotely easily.

Not sure about your profit to be made, but you'll probably want to change that ad. Soon.

Just make sure they are copper and not aluminum wound

Because I really was looking for smaller motors like fridge compressors or blower motors, etc. I was offerign 25c lb and willing to beat anyone by a nickle if they found a higher price. Thats how I got into this mess...lol. I have cut many a motor apart latelyy and have down to a science. It's just this one I have no clue. Normal scrappers like myself dont usually get them.

Anyway thanks Mr Happy. So I wasnt far off on copper yield and I do have all tools needed including torches, it probaly would be profitable even at 40c a lb, but I dont feel like gambling this week. So gonna pass....thanks for the info though.

Was that someone that just told you that he found a buyer, or were you able to confirm that. I had a guy call and tell me that he had someone paying him $10. ea for dead flatscreen monitors. I told him to sell them all and he say's "I can't, their out of business". LOL I wonder why???

Be creative, just pay 5 cents more TOTAL....If you're competitor offers $2.50 for a 10lb motor, you pay 2.55....see how that works? ;)
And its still true to your ad LOL

Nope it was confirmed. And I know who the other guy that is offering the higher price. So I just let it go. Lol pirate like ya thinking just like how my yard does it..lol.