Electric Motors

If you guys see my introduction post, you will see that we are pretty new to the business. I always pick up stuff for the motors, vacuums, dishwashers, fans, and stuff like that. I know the copper windings are worth $2 some a pound? I know my local scrap yard offers $0.85 per lb for the whole motor and with that said, how do you tell if it's worth it to remove the windings or not? But a better question would be, how in the holy hell do you remove those windings? Spent over an hour on a sump pump motor painstakinly cutting those little buggers. Any tips? LOL

There's quite a bit on motor break downs in older posts. People use all sorts of tricks/gadjits, from a chop saw, to a grinder to a chisel, to a hatchet. If you're getting .95 for El motors, you're sure getting a lot more than me (.20-.25)

Try using the advanced search up there for electric motor

At that price I would turn them in whole. Spend your time on something more profitable or finding more

Def. Turn them in whole at that price. I get .25 lb for motors.

I would not waste my time cleaning motors they only recover 12% and if they are paying that much I would try to find more with my time

Where are you getting $0.85 for motors? I think the most I have ever got was around $0.37. and thats a maybe!

I got .43 once but that was for 20 ton of motors

@ $.85 a lb you'd loose money breaking them down.

$.85 10 lb motor is $ 8.50
Broken down 9 lbs steel @ $.10 $.90+ 1 lb copper @ $3.00 lb. For $3.90 total

you'd loose $.75 a pound for 9 pounds and you'd gain $2.15 on the motor to copper difference. You'd loose $6.75 on the 9 pounds of motor to steel conversion. -$6.75+$2.15 a loss of $4.60 per 10 lb motor broken down.

Motors @ $.25 a lb would be $2.50 per 10 lb motor broken down 9 pounds of steel 1 pound copper. 9 pounds @$.10 1 pound @$3.00. 9 lb difference $.25-$.10 lb loss of $.15 lb for 9 pounds loss of $1.35 motor to steel conversion. 1 lb of copper gains $3.00- $.25 = $2.75. Copper gain - motor to steel conversion of $1.35. $2.75-$1.35 gain of $1.40 per 10 lb motor broken down.

Some people choose to break motors down. I do not. I find it only useful to seperate motors from steel.

Originally Posted by BRASSCATCHER

If your getting .85 for mtrs would you be interested in buying some? You cover shipping and I'll send you a load once a month at .45#.

ditto, i think i can get about 60 pounds in a flat rate box, could send you a few boxes a year

You arnt getting .85 per lb unless your buyer is a dumbass. I get .25 and dont break them down.

Have to wonder if he meant .085 or 8 and half cents, but that doesn't make sense either. Unless his yard is screwing him and yards never do that?

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Have to wonder if he meant .085 or 8 and half cents, but that doesn't make sense either. Unless his yard is screwing him and yards never do that?

lol yea just like gas stations charging 1/10 of a penny less so the price looks lower than what it really is

Stripping motors is fun for me. Some easy and some are a challenge. Always love adding to the copper heap.