when smashing stuff

I apologize if this isn't the right sub-forum for this, but I thought it may be since it's kind of tool related.

I have a ton of wound copper wire on TV ceramics or plastic; about 6 of them. Rather than cut through it all, I've come to realize that just smashing the ceramics with a hammer and ripping it out is faster.

For those of you do this, how do you prevent the ceramics or plastic from exploding all over your garage? I was thinking of smashing it inside of a utility tote, but with it getting cold, I know it's going to just break on me as well.

I do it inside a steel 30 gallon drum. I throw about 3-5 of them in at a time and go to town on them then pour it into a 5 gallon bucket I cut in half high wise and set it on my work bench to sort through the mess

That's actually a great idea. My dad gave me a few burlap sacks the other day. I'll toss them all in and smack them on the barn floor a few times. Caveman smash!

I just wrap them in an old towel and bash them with a hammer on my vice.

Originally Posted by AdmiralAluminum

Others have suggested, and it's what I do now. using a burlap sack or tarp folded over (I do this) to prevent pieces from flying around. Also makes it real easy to dump into a bin as shred after picking out all the goodies.

I use shop towels.

I use a burlap sack or a heavy duty trash bag will work too. and a large hammer of course

actually im doing this right now as we speak. i am clearing out my container full of yolks. cement ground. old towell an 3lb short handle sledge works great. you dont have to smash to much it will all break apart but not turn the round ferrite to dust.

I do what TRG does.

Hammer

Hard surface

Pillow case/towel/something for smashing in

Pluck out your copper, dump the ferrite into your container/storage, clean up left over mess.

Works quite well.

Sirscrapalot - Simplicity in most cases beats out complex.

I use a pair of Copper wire cutters, they are very similar to Garden loppers, they have two curled 'beak' like jaws that over lap.
I posted a pic of then yesterday. 'Marvel' brand though.
Two chops and the wire falls off almost. The Ferrite does crack a bit, but that makes it easyer to slip the Copper wire off.
Once that's done, I can dust off the ferrite dust, then pick out all the loose Copper wire and what's left is the Copper wire that's stuck together with any varnish that was on the wire.
I can then cut around that varnish with tinsnips to get the clean wire off.
The patch of varnish with one layer of wire gets put into the 'plastic coated Copper wire' bin.

I don't end up with ferrite crumbs in the wire and almost no varnish either.

Wait, is that ferrite actually worth something? I've been tossing it.

Originally Posted by malignity

Wait, is that ferrite actually worth something? I've been tossing it.

All metal is money!

I thought it was ceramic. No idea it was magnetic. It must be metal flakes mixed with ceramic or something? Just wondering why it's so brittle. I can pick it out of the garbage (and will do so) since that stuff is heavy. I probably have 30lbs in there. Almost $3! lol.