condensder coils.....

**G_P** · 10-15-2011, 02:07 AM

I recently broke down an old window AC unit and an old Dehumidifier. Both got me some nice condensers. Problem is they have copper tubes running through them but the bulk of them are aluminum fins. I cannot find an economical way to strip them. I used a recip saw to chop off the steel ends and then ripped the copper "U" tubes out of the steel but now I am left with mixed AL/CU. I know the yard wont give me anything worthwile since it is mixed metal.... Is there an easy way to get the copper tubes out of the AL radiator? or should I just take it in as is?

**Torker Man** · 10-15-2011, 02:28 AM

search!!

Filthy made a vid..

**parrothead** · 10-15-2011, 06:35 AM

You can still get a good price for copper/al mix. Last time I took some in it was $1.45 a pound, but that was a few months ago before the big price drop.

**PartTimeScrapper** · 10-15-2011, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Torker Man

search!!

Filthy made a vid..

Was a good video too. I use that method all the time now.

**parrothead** · 10-15-2011, 11:16 AM

yeah. I am going to have to watch that again. Then I will do one and see what the price break down is.

**Torker Man** · 10-15-2011, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by PartTimeScrapper

Was a good video too. I use that method all the time now.

I agree! Great vid, and opened my eyes to a new way of doing things, I had previously never attempted to get the copper tubes out of the fin..

the only critique I would have is with that band saw in the shop, why not use it to remove the tube ends? saves mess and increased safety risk of the grinder...

That is what I would do

(if I had a band saw LOL)

**hobo finds** · 10-15-2011, 10:13 PM

I got $1.55 a lb for them but that was June. And #2 copper was $3.30 lb

**newattitude** · 10-15-2011, 10:28 PM

for me it depends. If they are small radiators I turn them in whole because that copper tubing is so lightweight I get more by turning in whole than breaking down.

**Torker Man** · 10-15-2011, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by newattitude

for me it depends. If they are small radiators I turn them in whole because that copper tubing is so lightweight I get more by turning in whole than breaking down.

Another good point to remember ^^^^^

Most tubes I have seen are very thin, and quite alot lighter than standard plumbing copper...

**injunjoe** · 10-16-2011, 08:17 AM

Here is my experiment on coils. I am currently holding about a thousand pounds of them.

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/showt...hlight=bandsaw

**newattitude** · 10-16-2011, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by Torker Man

Another good point to remember ^^^^^

Most tubes I have seen are very thin, and quite alot lighter than standard plumbing copper...

I know, its crazy! Lol, first time I broke one down I couldn't even feel the weight of the copper in my hand so I looked at the other half of the radiator and went, ''Pffffft, its going whole!!''

**eesakiwi** · 10-16-2011, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by newattitude

I know, its crazy! Lol, first time I broke one down I couldn't even feel the weight of the copper in my hand so I looked at the other half of the radiator and went, ''Pffffft, its going whole!!''

I just cut the copper ends (the loop bit) off with a cutoff disc & put the rest thru as Ali & tell them.
They then put it in a separate bin just for a Ali/Cu mix.

I end up getting the Ali price for the Copper but by the time I'd take out the Cu tubes (I have done it before, no $$ at the time)
& the fact the Cu weighs a lot more than Ali
& the Ali would get a lower price as its real real thin
& the Cu tubes are normally real thin too & keep breaking
& I don't have a bandsaw
& I'd loose Ali as dust
& I don't get much of it (2 at the moment)
& it stacks well with the ends cut off
I don't bother.

**Torker Man** · 10-17-2011, 10:26 AM

same, same. Just got 2 a/c units tonight, they both have a 4 row condensor, and a 5 row evap. Snip the loops, and in they will go

Cu/Al Rad's are getting about $1.40 a kg near me, and a 5 row core weighs about 8 KG..

**eesakiwi** · 10-24-2011, 11:40 PM

Well, I gotta say, I had a second look at the Ali/Cu radiators & decided to scrap them down.
Using the knife method worked well, better than I thought.
The Cu tubes were heaver than I thought & I just jammed a phillips screwdriver in one end & levered the end of the tube out, then pulled it out.

By the time I had finished I had a bunch of copper tubes that weighed almost as much as the whole radiator
& a huge ball of real light Ali foil.

Since I was going to get the Ali price for the 'whole lot' & now I get the copper price for 'almost the whole lot', I defiantly made extra money out of it.

I will scrap them down from now on. Thanks Filthy/e