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Industrial 3 phase electrical motor ???

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  1. #1
    ozzy214 started this thread.
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    Industrial 3 phase electrical motor ???

    I had a guy contact me on my ad. He found someone who was paying 35c lb for motors. ANd I worded my ad I would be any written price by a nickel. So anyway this guy contacts me. He has 3 big industrial motors. The lightest one is 900 lbs, others are like 1200 and some change. Before I start dropping 400 usd on a motor, what can I expect for copper yield? Hopefully someone here has cut one open and can shed some light. Copper #2 is 2.60 per lb. So I would need at least 200 lbs copper to make any kid of profit. Will I be able to?



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    Scraphappypappy's Avatar
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    After logging in and introducing myself, I have been doing a lot of reading on this site. Thanks everyone. Now it's my turn to help a little. I have scrapped a few big motors (3 phase is all I have seen over 10 HP). When you get to the big motors 100 HP- 400 HP you can expect approximately 2/3 of the HP in pounds of copper. Example a 300 HP motor will yield about 200 pounds of copper. There are some variables that must be considered...1. Motor lead (wires to the motor) length. 2. Voltage, a dual voltage motor (230/460) tends to have more copper than a pure 460 motor. The ease with which you get your copper out depends on the frame. Drip proof motors are no match for a sledge hammer. On the other hand you and your sledge hammer are no match for a totally enclosed fan cooled motor. A TEFC motor casing must be cut in half to extract the copper even remotely easily.

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    skylinejack's Avatar
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    Not sure about your profit to be made, but you'll probably want to change that ad. Soon.
    AMERICAN BORN, AMERICAN BRED! AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!

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    sjones99's Avatar
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    Just make sure they are copper and not aluminum wound

  6. #5
    ozzy214 started this thread.
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    Because I really was looking for smaller motors like fridge compressors or blower motors, etc. I was offerign 25c lb and willing to beat anyone by a nickle if they found a higher price. Thats how I got into this mess...lol. I have cut many a motor apart latelyy and have down to a science. It's just this one I have no clue. Normal scrappers like myself dont usually get them.

    Anyway thanks Mr Happy. So I wasnt far off on copper yield and I do have all tools needed including torches, it probaly would be profitable even at 40c a lb, but I dont feel like gambling this week. So gonna pass....thanks for the info though.

  7. #6
    Mechanic688's Avatar
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    Was that someone that just told you that he found a buyer, or were you able to confirm that. I had a guy call and tell me that he had someone paying him $10. ea for dead flatscreen monitors. I told him to sell them all and he say's "I can't, their out of business". LOL I wonder why???
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    Be creative, just pay 5 cents more TOTAL....If you're competitor offers $2.50 for a 10lb motor, you pay 2.55....see how that works?
    And its still true to your ad LOL

  9. #8
    ozzy214 started this thread.
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    Nope it was confirmed. And I know who the other guy that is offering the higher price. So I just let it go. Lol pirate like ya thinking just like how my yard does it..lol.


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