Results 1 to 14 of 14

Getting ready for my first scrap run

| Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
  1. #1
    smashing started this thread.
    smashing's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    142
    Thanks
    52
    Thanked 131 Times in 61 Posts

    Getting ready for my first scrap run

    Like the title says..... I tore into a nice heavy front load washer, got excited about the nice shiny drum - till my magnet stuck to it. Is magnetic stainless worth the trouble? I went through pulled the motor and wiring harness then I read here that it was probably al wire in both - checked my stuff and yup - aluminum. looks like no point in breaking down the motor but what should I do with the wire harness? I did score a beefy cast al door hinge off of though. Anything else I should pull from this thing?

    Also, are the circuit boards worth putting aside?


  2. The Following User Says Thank You to smashing for This Post:



  3. #2
    MattyNoNeck's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2014
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    345
    Thanks
    140
    Thanked 476 Times in 176 Posts
    Most yards will have a separate category for electric motors and/or copper-bearing materials.

    As for the circuit boards, it depends! Call around to your local yards and see if they deal in e-waste and specifically, low/mid-grade circuit boards. If nobody local deals with that stuff, there are a few buyers here on SMF that you can ship that stuff to

    Good luck and welcome to the awesome world of scrapping!
    "Don't try to be a great man, just be a man. Let history make its own judgments"

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to MattyNoNeck for This Post:


  5. #3
    Swampy's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Apr 2013
    Location
    North Georgia, USA
    Posts
    258
    Thanks
    543
    Thanked 223 Times in 124 Posts
    Let us know how it turned out for you.

  6. #4
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Most yards won't recognize the magnetic SS. I know mine won't.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

  7. #5
    british's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2013
    Location
    ENGLAND UK
    Posts
    105
    Thanks
    236
    Thanked 110 Times in 55 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by smashing View Post
    Like the title says..... I tore into a nice heavy front load washer, got excited about the nice shiny drum - till my magnet stuck to it. Is magnetic stainless worth the trouble? I went through pulled the motor and wiring harness then I read here that it was probably al wire in both - checked my stuff and yup - aluminum. looks like no point in breaking down the motor but what should I do with the wire harness? I did score a beefy cast al door hinge off of though. Anything else I should pull from this thing?

    Also, are the circuit boards worth putting aside?
    The outer drum caseing at the back of the drum (and flywheel ... the belt runs around maybe cast ali/zinc).I find that the 'pump' motor winding is 50/50 to be copper .
    The power lead will be copper bearing , maybe worth trying to sell detergent drawer/front glass or the 'stainless' drum as a planter ETC.
    Best of luck and live learn and ENJOY.

  8. #6
    smashing started this thread.
    smashing's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    142
    Thanks
    52
    Thanked 131 Times in 61 Posts
    Thanks for the thoughts!

    Quote Originally Posted by Mechanic688 View Post
    Most yards won't recognize the magnetic SS. I know mine won't.
    What do you mean? Do they just take it as regular stainless?

    Quote Originally Posted by british View Post
    The outer drum caseing at the back of the drum (and flywheel ... the belt runs around maybe cast ali/zinc).I find that the 'pump' motor winding is 50/50 to be copper .
    The power lead will be copper bearing , maybe worth trying to sell detergent drawer/front glass or the 'stainless' drum as a planter ETC.
    Best of luck and live learn and ENJOY.
    I did pull the flywheel - looks to be cast al but I don't know what zinc looks like.
    What is the power lead? I did pull a solenoid and it was full of copper, now to check the pump!

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to smashing for This Post:


  10. #7
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Most yards won't recognize the magnetic SS. I know mine won't.

    What do you mean? Do they just take it as regular stainless?

    They'll buy it as regular ole steel/tin.

    The power lead will be copper bearing , maybe worth trying to sell detergent drawer/front glass or the 'stainless' drum as a planter ETC.
    That's the main power cord.

  11. The Following User Says Thank You to Mechanic688 for This Post:


  12. #8
    smashing started this thread.
    smashing's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    142
    Thanks
    52
    Thanked 131 Times in 61 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Mechanic688 View Post
    [/B]
    They'll buy it as regular ole steel/tin.



    That's the main power cord.

    Hahaha I actually knew that but the phrase "copper bearing" threw me.

    How about the al wire harness? Just throw it back in or shove it in my insul copper bin?

    Thanks for all your help!

  13. #9
    british's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2013
    Location
    ENGLAND UK
    Posts
    105
    Thanks
    236
    Thanked 110 Times in 55 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by smashing View Post
    Hahaha I actually knew that but the phrase "copper bearing" threw me.

    How about the al wire harness? Just throw it back in or shove it in my insul copper bin?

    Thanks for all your help!
    In UK the wire harness (the cable inside is always 'copper bearing' ). All domestic wire is copper (UK), only HV cable is aluminium (newer type).
    The wire inside (at least here ...if nothing else to do) is worth stripping for 'bright'.

  14. #10
    happyscraper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    spring hill,fl
    Posts
    2,864
    Thanks
    350
    Thanked 1,371 Times in 847 Posts
    The wire harness is insulated copper not aluminum.

  15. #11
    wayne1956's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Cleburne, TX
    Posts
    705
    Thanks
    195
    Thanked 754 Times in 293 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by smashing View Post
    Hahaha I actually knew that but the phrase "copper bearing" threw me.

    How about the al wire harness? Just throw it back in or shove it in my insul copper bin?

    Thanks for all your help!
    Normally the wiring harness is number 2 insulated copper. Definitely worth keeping separate. Most places prefer you remove any extra plastic or tape that normally binds the wires together.

  16. #12
    smashing started this thread.
    smashing's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    142
    Thanks
    52
    Thanked 131 Times in 61 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by wayne1956 View Post
    Normally the wiring harness is number 2 insulated copper. Definitely worth keeping separate. Most places prefer you remove any extra plastic or tape that normally binds the wires together.
    That's awesome advise and something I was wondering.
    When collecting insul wire should I sort it by guage or does it all count the same?

  17. #13
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by smashing View Post
    That's awesome advise and something I was wondering.
    When collecting insul wire should I sort it by guage or does it all count the same?
    The yards seem to be doing things different when it comes down to wire sizes. 12 ga and up usually are #1 and 16 ga and smaller is usually #2.
    Communication wire and Christmas light wire usually is #3. But your yard may vary.

  18. #14
    smashing started this thread.
    smashing's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    142
    Thanks
    52
    Thanked 131 Times in 61 Posts
    Picked up my first fridge and tore into it. I pulled the compressor and wiring harness then I noticed the ice maker looked like metal so I dug some more. It is indeed metal - cast al I think, and I also pulled the 2 al sheets of the back of the freezer, the fan motor and the radiator which looks to be all al.
    http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...pshy8kfr0y.jpg

    Does all the al just get thrown in together or does it need to be sorted?

    While I have your attention...

    Are all wire connectors like these brass?
    http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...psokqqflov.jpg

    I figure I can save all of the different "whatever you call thems" in a bin and work on them over the winter or while watching tv if it's worth it. Some are silver in color and others are brass
    Thanks for everything!


  19. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. whats the most youve made in one scrap run.
      By vamped400 in forum Misc. Metal Recycling
      Replies: 130
      Last Post: 09-18-2020, 06:37 PM
    2. Making a scrap run video
      By Russell in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 10-22-2013, 10:56 PM
    3. Quick Run To The Scrap Yard (looking back)
      By Tincankeith in forum Scrap Metal Videos
      Replies: 13
      Last Post: 06-25-2013, 07:28 PM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 2 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 2 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook