Microwave Ovens More Than Just Scrap Value

Microwave Ovens More Than Just Scrap Value
There are many threads covering scrapping of microwaves, the how to’s and the scrap values. There are blips here and there about selling complete and not a lot on selling parts pulled from working microwaves.
In this thread I’m going to pass on some of my thoughts and experiences of stripping microwaves, some parts for resale others for scrap. Feel free to add your comments but try to keep your posts on the original subject. Too many threads get unintentionally hi-jacked.
Two years ago before I found this forum my scrapping consisted mainly of metal, aluminum, copper, brass and an occasional vehicle. Scrapping appliances, computers, electronics and yes microwaves were the farthest from my mind. Since then I have scrapped dozens of microwaves and until about 6 months ago that’s what I did with them. Because of the knowledge shared here on this forum I did some research and some test selling of recovered/used microwave parts.
What’s a microwave worth in scrap value $4.00-$7.00, maybe more, maybe less depending on how you break things down and your yard prices. From past experience and research selling the used parts puts an old microwave in the 20.00-150.00 range. Of the 5 that I scrapped and sold parts from a few months back I was in the 40.00- 70.00 range per unit selling 2-4 pieces from each. This range did not include the items that did get scrapped (i.e. case, wiring, misc metal etc.), a bit of a difference from scrap value by my calculator.
Here are some price range examples in dollars, again some ranges from past experience, some from research.
Magnetron 10-75
Transformers 10-75
Turntables/glass trays 5-30
Turntable roller rings 4-15
Turntable drive couplers 3-10
Turntable drive motors 3-20
Shelf brackets 3-10
Cooling fans 5-20
Vent fans 10-40
Capacitors 5-25
Diodes 3-10
Fuse holders 2-6
Keypad/circuit boards 10-100
Thermal fuses 3-12
Just some examples, your mileage may vary depending on your efforts. Hope this helps a few forum members out there; at least maybe it will make you go hmmmmmm.
How, why, more details? Stay tuned for more in a future episode.

Thanks. That's some helpful info for me to know.

Post came just in time. Picking up a lot tuesday and have a few laying around

My eyes lit up intill i saw "working" microwaves, im trying to get into used appliance parts . Been selling alot of dishwasher racks

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Originally Posted by redcrossnj

My eyes lit up intill i saw "working" microwaves, im trying to get into used appliance parts . Been selling alot of dishwasher racks

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I'm fairly certain a great majority of the time they stop working due to the simplest parts, such as the fuse, or a door switch, and aren't difficult to test or repair. I've done so with several of mine. The one I'm using now is 14 years old, and the only time it died, about 5 years ago, was just a fuse. There's a good thread here too somewhere, about the door switches

Great info thx

Do you sell your parts on eBay? Auction or "fixed price + best offer + run until cancelled"?

And do you tend to sell individual parts to different buyers, or did you find someone fixing appliances who buys a lot of your parts?

Ilyas ive always done ebay

Microswitches 3.99-9.99 maybe more. Usually 3-4 switches

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Originally Posted by ilyaz

Great info thx

Do you sell your parts on eBay? Auction or "fixed price + best offer + run until cancelled"?

And do you tend to sell individual parts to different buyers, or did you find someone fixing appliances who buys a lot of your parts?

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I sell my parts on eBay, fixed price with best offer on a 30 day listing. Most of the time with free shipping so I price accordingly factoring that in. Most of the time it's individual buyers and those fixing there own microwaves. Do like when more than one item is sold to a buyer, makes it more profitable and quicker to pack and ship.

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Originally Posted by redcrossnj

My eyes lit up intill i saw "working" microwaves, im trying to get into used appliance parts . Been selling alot of dishwasher racks

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Like Bear said most non-working microwaves are an easy fix. Biggest thing that kills a microwave is opening the door with it running, fries one or more of the door interlock switches or blows the power fuse. Ssshhh here's a secret. That envelope or folded up paper you find taped inside some microwaves. Diagnostic & test procedures, wiring schematics and sometime a parts list. Useful information that can be hard to find sometimes and its free with your purchase.

Just wanted to mention that for bad switches, just hard wire around them. Just be careful that you are otherwise using the microwave correctly to test (ie. close the door) when operating.

i run a power cord to my truck and if something works, i snap a pic n throw it up on craigslist for a price dependant on how clean it looks. thats about as far as i go.

This is an informative thread!