compressors from AC units

My brother and I got a hold of a couple AC units this week and we broke them down. When we went to our local scrap yard they say there is no special price for the Compressors. Should we Save them or throw them in with the rest of the Scrap?

thought maybe could get someone to buy them that could re use them or something that could bring a little more money than just scrap prices

Ac compressors should bring .10/lb more than your light steel price.

If you want to expend the effort (and I would), cut them open and get the copper out.

You better have the world's most kick arse saw or grinder. The housing for the compressor goes as short steel. Inside is the electric motor, which is all the weight. I get $10 per motor at my yard. You can try to cut the copper out but what you're going to find is you go through more blades and wheels and the price of those isn't worth the labor hours and material costs at the end of the day.

If there are any other yards you can go to I would ask them. I got paid 30 cents a pound just last week and they categorize them as "sealed units".

thats why I love this site! thanks to everyone who replied! I will add this knowledge to my tool box. I think we will at least hold them for now!

Yep I say screw it as well. They are full of lube oil which you have to drain out, and sometimes has nasty toxic crap in it. If the yd gives you no special price let their shredder take care of it. I made the mistake of trying to sell mine as motors once but CT Scrap put them on seperately and gave me a measly 6 cents/lbs.

If I come across an old air conditioner, do I need a special license to dismantle it and take out the compressor or other components? Or can anybody do this?

By me steel is .09 a pound and sealed units / compressors are .10 a lb.

My yard listed them as white metal goods @ .15 a lb.

It's always shocking to see the differences at all the yards....... some pay really well for certain things and really crappy for others. It would be interesting to get in the mindset of the different yards.

"Lets give those peddlers the lowest price we can and play upon their ignorance, then sell for the highest price we can get".
My guess as to whats going on in their minds. There are some fair scrapyard owners, but as an industry in general I feel it attracts shyster operators for some reason.
Lots of Mob ties to yards around here.

Wow. They dont even buy compressors here unless you have a license to drain the freon, then they have to be stickered, and they STILL dont pay for em. I just crack em open, sell the electric motor (or take the copper out), and scrap the rest. But it cant be a whole unit.

I am lisenced but my yard didnt require it today. I apologize for all the questions in all the other threads about compressors. I realize now why i didnt get a response. I really thought i looked in all the threads but i just discovered this one. I will do better in the future. I got .12/lb listed only as compressor. lol These yards and all their different terminologies. Im sure the rules vary simply cause state laws vary but im no expert obviously.