By the Numbers

I remember when I first started out I was always curious as to what the benefit of breaking something all the way down versus selling as is to scrap yard. it was brought to my attention I can be a little "blunt" ( the real word used was not appropriate) towards newcomers.

So in the spirit of giving back I thought I would start a thread that explains the numbers of breakdown vs non breakdown.

The first up is transformers.



Starting items and weight.
5 transformers
4@ 93 lbs each
1@ 118 lbs
Total weight 490 lbs
Current price per lb for me .12
Total value $58.80

Each 93 lb had 18 lbs #2 copper
The 118 lb had 23 lbs #2 copper
( These are pretty old so I think they are a higher yield than newer ones )

Total yield
395 lbs steel @ .06 lb = $23.70
95 lbs #2 copper @ 2.45 lb = 232.75
Total Weight 490 lbs
Total Value $256.45

Now it seems a no-brainer would be to tear it apart. When you look a little closer it might change your mind.

Breakdown Value $256.45
Investment for Items $14.50
Gas and time for pick up $27.75
Payroll for breakdown $58.80
Gas and time for yard run $ 39.90
Total expense $170.95

Profit = $ 115.50

Profit pays insurance, future vehicle repair cost, health insurance ( thanks O Care ), keeping lights on, and quite a few other things.

With this I have gathered it makes total sense to break it down if you are a one man show, but it makes sense to leave as is if you have to figure in payroll and the myriad of other expenses.

The next installment will be on power supplies!

Everyone has their own method I guess the point of this thread is to show the profit potential of a breakdown vs leaving as is...

Of course it is all about the time it takes you to break it down and what your time is worth.

It took my employee two hoursish to break down these 5 transformers

My point being if you are a one man show those 2 hours could yield you an extra $200 thus giving you $100 per hour wage not too shabby

None taken at all I am in the same boat the wear and tear is brutal hence the payroll portion of expense hahaha... I was just trying to show some numbers for the new comers is all. I'm a numbers person and I know when I started I always questioned if I was wasting my time breaking things all the way down

I have found transformers to be one of the easiest things to breakdown. In my case it would not be cost effective not to break them down.
That guy in that video needs to quit while he still has all of his fingers.

You can always do what the old timers do, burn them. Perfectly legal since all your doing is burning the varnish off and a tiny bit of plastic. Not like burning insulated wire which is illegal with the toxic fumes from the insulation. Then when they are hot, drench them in cold water...boom nice and clean. They will literally fall apart in your hand and done. I need a better system, but I used a propane blow torch that you use for heating tar buckets and melting ice off of sidewalks. I cut a hole in a 55 gallon drum, rubber banded the throttle to on, and let them cook. It actually burns very very clean and pure. Then grab them with tongs, throw them in ice water which purifies it, then throw them on the ground. Normally they fall right apart and copper is free. Plus if you get grills and tanks all the time, the fuel is essentially free.

I actually got this idea from a guy that I cleaned up his yard for. He ran a animal shelter / crematorium for the cats/dogs. He literally inverted a big propane tank, like a 100 gallon. Cut holes in it and had three of the blow torches in a circle to cremate the deceased animals. Hence where the idea came from.

In my opinion this is perfectly legal, because all there is on a transformer is varnish and a tiny bit of plastic holding the copper in. Some paper too. Not like burning wire, which I dont condone.

The old timers did this for a 100 years in the electrical motor building shops which is a dying breed now. Dont see 1 if any anymore. This also works with stators from motors

Also a interesting tidbit. After the copper is purified by fire, the yard will buy it as number 1 all day long. Interesting how they are condoning burning wire and even told me to burn my insulated before I bring it down. Which I wont lol.

Law isn't a matter of opinion- I would check out what the laws are in your area, im no enviornmental freak so I won't attack you but know so laws so all those transformers arent paying for a ticket. I myself grind one end off and hammer the other through, 3 minutes yeilds a few lbs of copper.

There is a post today titled " A better way to cut windings" this cat was using a HF table saw and now that I have read this one I dont think its an accident. I think you could take his Idea and apply it to transformers also. With a sled design you could blow through these things and giving a buddy some beer money or a cut to knock the windings out well that would be beer well spent.
Im gonna have to hit the next sale and find a crap saw. Ill post it when it's done. Thanks again to the SMF community for inspiring another mad build.

Originally Posted by ozzy214

You can always do what the old timers do, burn them. Perfectly legal since all your doing is burning the varnish off and a tiny bit of plastic. Not like burning insulated wire which is illegal with the toxic fumes from the insulation. Then when they are hot, drench them in cold water...boom nice and clean. They will literally fall apart in your hand and done. I need a better system, but I used a propane blow torch that you use for heating tar buckets and melting ice off of sidewalks. I cut a hole in a 55 gallon drum, rubber banded the throttle to on, and let them cook. It actually burns very very clean and pure. Then grab them with tongs, throw them in ice water which purifies it, then throw them on the ground. Normally they fall right apart and copper is free. Plus if you get grills and tanks all the time, the fuel is essentially free.

I actually got this idea from a guy that I cleaned up his yard for. He ran a animal shelter / crematorium for the cats/dogs. He literally inverted a big propane tank, like a 100 gallon. Cut holes in it and had three of the blow torches in a circle to cremate the deceased animals. Hence where the idea came from.

In my opinion this is perfectly legal, because all there is on a transformer is varnish and a tiny bit of plastic holding the copper in. Some paper too. Not like burning wire, which I dont condone.

The old timers did this for a 100 years in the electrical motor building shops which is a dying breed now. Dont see 1 if any anymore. This also works with stators from motors

Also a interesting tidbit. After the copper is purified by fire, the yard will buy it as number 1 all day long. Interesting how they are condoning burning wire and even told me to burn my insulated before I bring it down. Which I wont lol.

I would do a little research before you assume something is perfectly legal. I would also research what you just throwing into the fire and just assuming its safe. A quick internet search shows that a lot of the types of materials used to make varnishes on copper wire are pretty toxic when burned; Magnet wire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Following the links of the different types of materials varnishes can be made from states that they are toxic when they undergoe combustion and possible pose an explosion hazard.