Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 21

A/C radiators Seperate or turn in whole?

| Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
  1. #1
    MrMetal started this thread.
    MrMetal's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    87
    Thanks
    36
    Thanked 27 Times in 17 Posts

    A/C radiators Seperate or turn in whole?

    I have 4-5 rads would you strip them out or just sell them whole with the steel cut off?.. Looke to be a little time concuming to stip them out just wondering if its worthwhile?

    Last edited by MrMetal; 07-15-2011 at 02:43 PM.


  2. #2
    Rich's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Royersford Pa
    Posts
    69
    Thanks
    46
    Thanked 10 Times in 7 Posts
    Some are easier than others to separate the fins from the copper tubes. I get 1.70 lb. for cleaning them, so I end up doing that most of the time.

  3. #3
    rca987's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    938
    Thanks
    46
    Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Kris Kringle View Post
    I cut the steel ends off and take the tubes {Copper} from the steel. and I turn the rest in as is.
    By copper tubes, he means those "u" shaped ends attached to the steel after cutting it off the side... not the copper tubes inside the reefer.

  4. #4
    Mick's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Palermo, Me
    Posts
    3,405
    Thanks
    363
    Thanked 3,086 Times in 1,326 Posts
    I use a grinder to run along the copper tubes and cut the aluminum fins from the tubes.
    People may laugh at me, but that's ok. I laugh all the way to the bank.

  5. #5
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2011
    Location
    E.Wakefield, NH
    Posts
    28
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
    I just turned in a bunch of these the other day. Not knowing any better I got $1 a lb as they were and thought I was doing ok. I asked the guy what he did with them and he said he took a sawzall and cut just behind the metal band or strip behind the copper tube ends. Then he separated the copper, tossed the metal and got more money for the radiator plus the tube copper he got off it. He said "ya know you can do the same thing and get alot more money" In the future I will!

  6. #6
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Central FL
    Posts
    70
    Thanks
    23
    Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Kris Kringle View Post
    I cut the steel ends off and take the tubes {Copper} from the steel. and I turn the rest in as is.
    That's how I do it. I've stripped them completely before and found it took me too much time and made a big mess.

  7. #7
    injunjoe's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Central, FL
    Posts
    1,309
    Thanks
    1,249
    Thanked 1,194 Times in 594 Posts
    Bandsaw experiment

    Here you will find some answers.

    I found the gain made by separation was not worth the effort put forth.
    When the white man discovered this country Indians were running it
    no taxes, no debt, women did all the work.
    White man thought he could improve on a system like this. - Old Cherokee saying

    I did not surrender, they took my horse and made him surrender. - Lone Watie

  8. #8
    EcoSafe's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    May 2011
    Posts
    3,705
    Thanks
    3,713
    Thanked 6,807 Times in 1,954 Posts
    for me I have found it is quicker to cut infront of the metal instead of behind, then wack the band with a hammer and it comes right off, when I cut behind the band I have to some times spend time getting the copper ends pryed out of the metal. just my >02

  9. #9
    eesakiwi's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Dec 2010
    Location
    NZ
    Posts
    2,531
    Thanks
    2,909
    Thanked 2,556 Times in 1,227 Posts
    Same story here,They are normally ali fins & very thin copper tube.
    I just cut the copper tube loop ends off with a cut off disc
    & the rest goes in with the Ali.

    The mixed Ali/copper is the same price as Ali, coppers heavy so I still get a better price in the end. I tell the guy & he removes the mixed Cu/Ali after weighing & chucks it in the correct bin.

  10. #10
    injunjoe's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Central, FL
    Posts
    1,309
    Thanks
    1,249
    Thanked 1,194 Times in 594 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by eesakiwi View Post
    Same story here,They are normally ali fins & very thin copper tube.
    I just cut the copper tube loop ends off with a cut off disc
    & the rest goes in with the Ali.

    The mixed Ali/copper is the same price as Ali, coppers heavy so I still get a better price in the end. I tell the guy & he removes the mixed Cu/Ali after weighing & chucks it in the correct bin.
    Sounds like you are getting ripped off. Aluminum for example goes for around $0.65 and ACR coil goes for around $1.75.

  11. #11
    injunjoe's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Central, FL
    Posts
    1,309
    Thanks
    1,249
    Thanked 1,194 Times in 594 Posts
    Oops another double post.
    Last edited by injunjoe; 09-24-2011 at 10:18 AM.

  12. #12
    GeorgeB's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Manassas Park, VA
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks
    462
    Thanked 639 Times in 432 Posts
    Copper ones, always cut the steel off. If it is aluminum, don't worry about it. At least here where I am, that is how it is.

    Also, for the side pieces that you do cut off, here is 2 ways of doing it.

    1. Before you cut the ends off, or even after, knock all the copper windings off. Turn them in as clean #2.

    2. Turn them in with the metal still attached. Sometimes they will knock a little off and pay you for dirty #2, and other times, they wont.
    George Beale - Founder & President - info@viprecyclingjunkremoval.com
    VIP Recycling Junk Removal LLC - Premier Scrap Metal, Junk, & Electronic Recyclers!
    http://www.viprecyclingjunkremoval.com

  13. #13
    Rich's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Royersford Pa
    Posts
    69
    Thanks
    46
    Thanked 10 Times in 7 Posts
    You can say that again Joe.. That sounds like someone is getting a fast one pulled on them.

  14. #14
    injunjoe's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Central, FL
    Posts
    1,309
    Thanks
    1,249
    Thanked 1,194 Times in 594 Posts
    George I have a receipt here in front of me from a friend. He did what you said there and turned in the ACR ends with the copper still in the steel. They payed him $0.12 a pound. The steel would have payed $0.10 alone and the copper loops would have payed him $3.55 a pound. He was to lazy to pull them out and cost himself a good amount of easy cash. He had 82 pounds of them. Now I get all of his scrap AC units for free. Now that's a good friend

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to injunjoe for This Post:


  16. #15
    GeorgeB's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Manassas Park, VA
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks
    462
    Thanked 639 Times in 432 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by injunjoe View Post
    George I have a receipt here in front of me from a friend. He did what you said there and turned in the ACR ends with the copper still in the steel. They payed him $0.12 a pound. The steel would have payed $0.10 alone and the copper loops would have payed him $3.55 a pound. He was to lazy to pull them out and cost himself a good amount of easy cash. He had 82 pounds of them. Now I get all of his scrap AC units for free. Now that's a good friend

    True. I was just stating how it can be done. Me personally, I always knock them off. I never turn in the copper endings with the steel still attached. To much money down the drain for me.

  17. #16
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Oops another double post.
    Joe, to delete your double post, go to your post, and at the bottom click on the edit button. When that opens go to the 3rd button on the right at the bottom, that's the delete button, hit that and it'll be like your post never existed.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

  18. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by Mechanic688:


  19. #17
    injunjoe's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Central, FL
    Posts
    1,309
    Thanks
    1,249
    Thanked 1,194 Times in 594 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Mechanic688 View Post
    Joe, to delete your double post, go to your post, and at the bottom click on the edit button. When that opens go to the 3rd button on the right at the bottom, that's the delete button, hit that and it'll be like your post never existed.
    Hey thanks bro! I have taken note that you are a very helpful member here!

    I also like the fact you use the thank you button, seems like there is a large percentage of members that can't seem to find it!

  20. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by injunjoe:


  21. #18
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    seems like there is a large percentage of members that can't seem to find it!
    It's lost on those people just like in person, sometimes.

  22. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by Mechanic688:


  23. #19
    Filthy's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Northern New Jersey
    Posts
    780
    Thanks
    850
    Thanked 372 Times in 202 Posts
    i also tend to use it as a "like" button, similar to facebook... i should know better

  24. The Following User Says Thank You to Filthy for This Post:


  25. #20
    injunjoe's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Central, FL
    Posts
    1,309
    Thanks
    1,249
    Thanked 1,194 Times in 594 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Filthy View Post
    i also tend to use it as a "like" button, similar to facebook... i should know better
    No my friend I do the same, a thank you is just like saying " I like what was said"

    Funny it don't cost anything yet some just can't find it in there heart to give one or two up!

  26. The Following User Says Thank You to injunjoe for This Post:



  27. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. How do you seperate yourself
      By Libertytow in forum General - Let's talk business
      Replies: 1
      Last Post: 09-12-2012, 02:39 PM
    2. Aluminum Vs. Copper in Radiators
      By opala in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 09-03-2012, 02:53 AM
    3. Now its my turn.... What do i do with these?
      By Scrapcrazy in forum General Electronics Recycling
      Replies: 15
      Last Post: 08-05-2012, 04:15 PM
    4. Radiators!
      By asandahl in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 01-16-2012, 10:50 PM
    5. radiators from AC unit
      By ilyaz in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 12-03-2010, 01:51 AM

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook