Don't remove copper tubes from Al/cu radiators

I was reading an article about scrapping AC's. In the following thread people were
asking if it was worth it to remove the copper tubing from an aluminum copper radiator
to make more money. The answer, if any of you haven't figured it out by now, is no.
first the remaining aluminum fins you get (if you manage to separate them) wont be
Taken by the scrap yard because aluminum that thin just flashes off in the furnace, so it
isn't worth anything. Second on lets say a 30 pound radiator, only 3 pounds of it (if your lucky)
will be copper either #1 or #2 copper depending on the yard and if it has any soder. At $.90/lb
for Al cu rads you'll get $27. For 3 pounds of #2 copper, you'll get a measly $4.50. So why
Would you throw away $22.50?

I have put some thought into the topic as I have sold off some of my copper, brass & aluminum scrap over the last couple years or so.

Never thought about the thinness of the aluminum fins and it not being easy to process into new metals.
What about aluminum cans? they seem about the same thickness as the aluminum fins around/on the copper tubes.

I have read that aluminum foil is not a popular scrap item because they say that it just mostly burns away in the furnace.
Must have something to do with the processing of the materials before they are fed into the melt.

I have noticed that most of the aluminum fins that I have ended up with that are separated from the copper do smash a bit differently then cans when you step on a pile with your feet to compact it. But then it was bent and crumpled sheet v.s. cylinders with ends and a air release hole.

Must be more expensive and require more steps and processes for foil and thin fins then aluminum cans that have been sorted, cleaned and compacted or such?

I have read that aluminum cat food cans are another item along with used cooking foil that many yards don't want to MESS with. But it seems that it is the MESS that they want to avoid as aluminum foil is most times very dirty. As for cat food cans, not just sure what the problem is there beyond being dirty with paper labels and such. Are they a different aluminum or thickness then soda and beer cans are made of? It's all such a puzzle.

I will cut the magnetic metals away or out of these type items. And I will most times cut the easy to get at extra copper or such off for a better overall return.

I have been getting a very nice pile of old copper/aluminum bearing items together as I find them around the yard. Still have many items to move later that I can see but not easily get at until I clear the areas around them better.

Seems that more research is required on the differences in aluminum materials that cans, foil and thin sheet are made from and what must be done to process into a final product.

Where is Mister Rogers and Picture Picture when you need them?

Originally Posted by scrapdaddyj

I was reading an article about scrapping AC's. In the following thread people were
asking if it was worth it to remove the copper tubing from an aluminum copper radiator
to make more money. The answer, if any of you haven't figured it out by now, is no.
first the remaining aluminum fins you get (if you manage to separate them) wont be
Taken by the scrap yard because aluminum that thin just flashes off in the furnace, so it
isn't worth anything. Second on lets say a 30 pound radiator, only 3 pounds of it (if your lucky)
will be copper either #1 or #2 copper depending on the yard and if it has any soder. At $.90/lb
for Al cu rads you'll get $27. For 3 pounds of #2 copper, you'll get a measly $4.50. So why
Would you throw away $22.50?

Let me start by saying that I haven't broken down any of copper aluminum A/C fins recently, so I can't confirm or prove wrong your numbers.

That being said, I strongly disagree that on a 30 pound copper aluminum A/C fin that you would only get 3 pounds of copper. My gut feeling is that if the steel ends are taken off, that you should have at least 15 to 18 pounds. Now let's get to the aluminum, I have never been told by any of my yards that the won't take that aluminum. I think you need to do some research. Find a video showing a shredder shredding these and then separating them. All that aluminum is sold to aluminum smelter.

Let's go back to your scenario. A scrap yard just paid you $27.00 for 30 pounds of copper aluminum radiator. Are they going to throw out the aluminum and be left with 3 pounds of copper. They would have to be able to sell it for $9 per pound to break even and that doesn't take into account labor, or overhead. If yards could sell #2 copper for $9 per pound, I would have quite my day job by now and owned one.

I have broken down many-a fins. The copper and aluminum is about 50-50 in weight, not including the iron ends. The yard I use buys the alum as clean and copper as #2. It is labor/time intensive. Like anything, the more you do the quicker it gets. But it is a bee with an itch.

Why are the coils worth so much more whole than the sum of their parts?

the aluminum from coils is 1100 finstock if you have it in quantity and clean you can get a nice price for it. of course no one has it in any real quantity so everyone is pretty happy with old sheet price, but if you can get it in quantity you can get terse price at a large yard

foil allows 5% organic residue Cans allow 0, and normally 2% moisture... Cans are cleaner then foil!

pet foot cans are line with plastic pray for old sheet, expect breakage

the can spec(UBC) for cans "talc" requires . "The material is to be free of other scrap metals, foil, tin cans, plastic bottles, paper, glass, and other non-metallic items"
otherwise its not cans better yards will warn you they don't want cans in the old sheet too many cans in the old sheet make it breakage.

if a yard is giving you #1 Cu for rad tubes you should be happy as a lark, they are number 2 unless they are cleaned. that white residue is aluminum oxide, and it plays hell with copper in very, very small amounts. be leery of any yard giving you #1Cu they are underpaying, or some day they will suddenly change their tune.

V/r