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Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but if not, can you please steer me in the right direction? What is the fastest and easiest way to strip copper off a washing machine motor please?
I'd post a picture up but it won't let me yet.
Basically, it is the type where there is copper wound around each individual rotor finger if that makes sense?
The way I was doing it, I managed to give myself some nice infected cuts on my fingers from repetitively winding it off. :(
Thanks. :)
watch a few you tube videos....all EM are pretty much the same. 90% of the windings in appliances we scrap are aluminum.
i use a grinder and a punch them out with a punch/hamer or pry them out with a screw driver
i usually strip the stators and leave the rotors as-is
i use a 6" angle grinder with cutoff wheel, cut the copper off one end then use a hammer and punch to drive the rest out the other side
this video shows the same technique
Scroll Compressors End - Stator Scrapping - YouTube
I found a rotor from an oscillating fan(with the longer shaft) works perfect for driving it through there
thats the video i was looking for, just couldnt find it
It was right down below in that other recommended thread by geravega77.Quote:
Originally Posted by jghilino
I'm not that good, can't read your mind yet,,,:rolleyes:
Thanks for the info.. but I don't mean that type of washing machine rotor.. I mean one that looks like this please..
If you type in "washing machine wind turbine" into google images.. I'm trying to strip copper off the ones that look like that in the second image. Can someone who is allowed to post up links and pictures place a link to that image please? :P
Thanks again.
my post it links aren't showing http://hackedgadgets.com/wp-content/...e-wiring_2.JPG
I'd remove the blue part and put the rest in whole elec motors
http://hackedgadgets.com/wp-content/...e-wiring_2.JPG
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bear
And if I wanted to strip it.. what is the best way please?
Anyone please? :P
There is no best way. I just throw those with copper-bearing.
ok, here's what you'll get out of it http://hackedgadgets.com/wp-content/..._re-wiring.jpg and the best way i could see would likely be to use a small angle grinder with a cutting wheel and cut through the top of each winding, then remove the copper from the other side
take a razor knife or a dremel with cut off wheel, and cut across the windings length wise, at that point the copper should come out easily
What a time waster.
Yeah, they take me 20 mins to unwind by hand...Quote:
Originally Posted by Mechanic688
I unwind the 3 wires at the same time & the wire keeps getting caught at the ends of each winding, so some unwind at that point & some don't. Then I have to unwind by hand individually the caught wires, then off to unwinding 3 wires at a time again.
I have cut thru the sides of the windings with a grinder, but the plastic gets warm & soft & catches the wire when it gets cold, you end up pulling some plastic off at the same time & the wire looks bad with it on it.
I tried burning the plastic off to get to the wire, but thats not a time saver either.
I tried cutting thru the windings with a cold chisle, takes a lot of time & it gets messy with the loose loops flying off everywhere.
No real simple way to do it, except for unwinding them by hand.
The motors with a dark purple wire on them are made of Ali wire too. Only the motors with the thickest wire is any good for generating power from the units.
Or a Skil Saw with and angle grinder wheel, I think that's what he's using.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvTAo9a-HE8
Watching him throw sparks at a $30,000 classic car to recover $4 worth of copper, priceless
It takes me a few hours to do it by unwinding it haha. And I end up getting cuts on my index and middle finger from doing so. Last time I managed to get that cut infected from either dirty stuff that was on the copper from the washing machine or from the spark plugs I was playing with a week later as the cut wasn't heeling. :(
So yeah, trying to find a quicker and better way!