Electric motors and transformers

**coomman** · 10-04-2010, 12:06 AM

Hello all. Just was curious if anyone separates their motors apart from copper coils and transformers, or just throw it all in one container. I didn't know if some yards will pay more if they're separated. Thanks

**Mick** · 10-04-2010, 06:53 AM

There's a BIG price difference from copper and electric motors (like $3.25 and $0.25 a pound). If thrown together, you get the lower price for the whole bunch - so you'd get $0.25 times the total weight and lose $3 for each pound of copper. They won't even take transformers.

**tristatescrap** · 10-04-2010, 06:53 AM

I have found that to break down the motors and transformers is a lot of work for the copper. I take them in as is for $0.15 a pound.

**Mick** · 10-04-2010, 07:56 AM

I think I misunderstood the question. I was taking it as as each being separate - electric motors, coils of copper wire and those transformers like on telephone lines. If you're talking about the copper in electric motors, then I'd agree with tristatescrap - not worth the effort. I did the "taking apart motors and alternators" thing when I started. Many hours of work to separate the copper wiring (some actually use aluminum wiring) and clean the cast aluminum for about $100 from maybe 100 alternators/starters. Time better spent finding new markets.

**tjlock** · 10-04-2010, 04:30 PM

I normally take motors in as is. Although I have a few that don't look like they are gonna be to hard to get the copper out, but never know until you start it. If all else fails, we are gonna use a dremel and hack it up. lol

**azgard** · 11-02-2010, 01:17 AM

if you got bigger transformers like 50+lbs you can get a decent amount of copper from them. i tore up a 200lb transformer and got 70lb of copper. i found the best way for the small medium sized ones like 20-50lb is removed anything you can like if it has the side metal plates so its just the bare steel and copper. make a fire and put the transformers over the fire on a grill or grate not direcly in the fire. get them nice and hot but dont let them burn up then toss them in a bucket of cold water. once there cool you an knock the metal plates out pretty easily then your left with a copper core. sometimes theres multiple windings wrapped in apper just unwind it and roll into bundles. another way is find a good solid hard surface and bash them with a sledge hammer then pull off any plates you can with pliers then smash it some more. if you got a source of heavy industrial transfomers then you can get alot of copper out of them.