Question about vacuum cleaners HELP!

I have about 10 of them are they worth breaking down or just clip to cord?

Vacuums do have motors inside of them if thats any help...

Ok thank you, electric motors are going for 18 cents per pound at the local yard. I have around 10-15 motors from various things, microwaves, heaters, ect...

Good to store them till you have enough to sell and profit

I did one about a week ago. The motor and the looooooong cord about all that's worth it. But it's really easy to get at both. I unscrewed it all to see what was inside, so took about 30 mins total. But clip the cord, break the base (where the motor is) with a sledge, and bing-bang-boom...done in no time flat!

I heard they suck!...lol

The one I did was almost entirely plastic. Very little metal at all except for the cords, the motor, and the wheels. Almost all the rest was plastic. Thankfully, there's a plastic recycling center that just got approval to build a new plant not more than 2 miles from my house. Looking forward to that!

Originally Posted by Saroro

The one I did was almost entirely plastic. Very little metal at all except for the cords, the motor, and the wheels. Almost all the rest was plastic. Thankfully, there's a plastic recycling center that just got approval to build a new plant not more than 2 miles from my house. Looking forward to that!

Hey, I am right down 17 in Jamestown. I cover Chautauqua the best I can. Will this plastic recycling place pay you for the plastic?

I used to break them down, but getting other peoples dust etc. started grossing me out. If I come across one, I now just cut the cord and move on. It is the only thing I just cut the cord on though.

The motors are easy to break open. And I've yet to see an aluminum wire motor (i.e. the modern washing machine type)

Check eBay for the model that you have. Often the hoses, cords (without nicks or cuts), brushes (clean) and various container parts will be worth to list.

I break them all down. Even strip the wire.
This is easily done. Less than 2.5 hours to get all of the parts disassembled, cleaned. Check eBay first then strip the motors. You'll end up with a decent amount of salvageable parts, cu, al, and bits of shred. (Perhaps even steel if the steel-to-shred price spread is worth it.)

I cut the cord then sell the whole thing to my yard as mixed metal. They buy them, and I'm pretty sure I get more money then if I were to break them apart for the motor.

I don't mess with too many vacuums. Usually just clip the cord, unless it's an older vac made with a lot more metals than plastic.

I've scrapped one vacuum so far. I stuffed a dishwasher with the plastics. I figure it's all going to a shredder and getting separated anyways.

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

I've scrapped one vacuum so far. I stuffed a dishwasher with the plastics. I figure it's all going to a shredder and getting separated anyways.

Not a good practice. My scrap yard guys are pretty good to me. I can't see screwing them like that. I take in a box of donuts once a while. Goes a long toward getting top rate, and the benefit of the doubt when it comes to mixed loads. Plus, I sleep better at night!

I just did 8 vacuums/carpet cleaners two days ago. Like someone else said use a sledge hammer.....it took about ten minutes for me to do all 8 and cut the cords. Over 24 pounds of motors isn't bad for ten easy minutes. The only thing that sucks is the clean up

Originally Posted by Hypoman

I just did 8 vacuums/carpet cleaners two days ago. Like someone else said use a sledge hammer.....it took about ten minutes for me to do all 8 and cut the cords. Over 24 pounds of motors isn't bad for ten easy minutes. The only thing that sucks is the clean up

Save a vacuum, use it to clean up, then break it with the next batch. :-D