Question on copiers

I have an opportunity to pick up 4 or 5 large copiers. I don't have the specs on them, but they were water damaged during the freezing temps we had recently in our area. (These are at a bank, pipe busted). One of them is at another location and I gather it is not damaged in any way, just doesn't work.

The lady who called said they are very heavy and that when they are delivered the companies generally use a vehicle with a liftgate (which I don't have). She went on to say that they probably weigh 500+ lbs, which could be an exaggeration, but I am sure heavy duty copiers like those in banks, etc. aren't light. I am a one man show, so ...

If anyone has fooled with these, I'd be interested in your advice. I don't really want to pass, but I doubt they're going to let me breakdown on site (though I could ask). The single one that is not water damaged is relatively close to me. The 3 or 4 water damaged are not that close, but I can work some other business into the trip to justify it, plus, I want to stay on their call list when they get stuff.

Can the "good stuff" be easily enough accessed that I could do a quick strip on site and then let them dispose of the rest? That may be pushing it, but I figure I'm not costing them anything, so any money they spend on what's left is money they would have spent anyway, so ...

Thanks for any advice.

Yes they can and will be quite heavy.

Large ones I've had loaded in a cargo van with a fork lift. Medium and smaller I've parked next to a curb and been able to tip and push in.

Be careful of the Ink/Toner cartridge it will make a mess if disturbed in the wrong way.

Some boards, motors and wires etc... in them but mostly shred if your yard allows.

IMHO...don't cherry pic and leave the rest...do the job or not at all.

yea either haul it all or not at all..........my yard will take them If I break them down a little (pull plastic off outside).............Good scrap in my opinion as I actually pay $5 each for the big heavy duty ones

I've got one of those that has been waiting a year so far for me to tear down. From just looking it over, I haven't found an easy way to start. I don't think it's 500 pounds - maybe 3-400. We had to use the school's tractor/fork lift to load it and mine to unload/move. I manage to find other things that need doing so it just sits there... waiting for me. I keep thinking there should be some RAM and hard drive in there. When I get rambunctious, I'll probably put my 40# sledge hammer to use (after I find the toner cartridge).

Yes, they normally weigh 250-350lbs each. I would *not* ask if you can break them down on the premises...IMO very unprofessional. Also, I agree no cherry picking. Take all or nothing.

Sounds like we're on the same page. I've got a couple of days to let them know, so may ponder ideas. If I can't work it out, maybe I can refer to someone on SMF so they don't just get dumped.

Thanks for feedback.

Once again I'm embarrassed ... posted without looking first (cardinal sin). Found some good related info in the old threads .... my apologies, but thanks for all info.

Heavy!!!! And I have found RAM in them as well. Also lots of good copy paper!

Some of the big ones also have hard drives, if you have access to an engine hoist you can lift it into your vehicle with that. That is how I loaded my lowgrade boards the last time I sold them.

rent a trailer with a ramp gate and use a dolly. we use this method and goes fairly quick. most main boards can be accessed fairly easy so they get pulled while on the trailer and off to the yard they go.

its funny with the large non working ones at the auction I go to everyweek I and the people there wait for them to go down to 25cents which is the lowest they go before the company with the contract for all the excess items picks them up. I use ramps on my truck I build myself that fold out for these types of things so I have a longer easier incline to get it into but glad they have a dock so I can just push it in to start and unloading is fun as I just let it go by itself down the ramps so if it breaks it saves some work.
my yard does buy them whole so I strip off some goodies and plastic shell ink is a bit tricky at times cause it can be powdered all over inside and if anything is not easy I take out the easy sledge and make it so. every now and then I will be able to sell parts or whole for parts locally but it all varies so much I would guess an average scrap value of about $8 if that helps but that's just here in iowa

Yes they can be over 500 lbs especially the older ones. Most are not that heavy, it depends on what they are used for. The sorters and paper trays can generally be detached ; good luck all models are different. I have been moving them for 19 years for the moving company I work for and have junked a few through my junk removal company.

I picked up 5 today and they were 400 or 500 pounders took 3 of us to ramp them because I didn't have a lift gate. BTW do you have commercial liability insurance to do removals out of establishments? Good luck if you jamb a door up or something without insurance.

Good point on insurance ... one minor update on this, I will be picking up a couple of faxes, printers, monitors, and a box of phones from these folks while I ponder how to work the copier issue. A friend of mine has a trailer he said he would loan me, so looking more feasible. Good thing on the pickup today is that these items are less than a 1/4 mile from me, so not a lot of value, but it's not out of my way at all.

If anybody is in or near Roswell, GA, I may be able to get you set up to collect 2 or 3 of these copiers. I think I'm going to have to pass. PM me if interested.

In my experience they break down . Look for retaining screws or just push over and crack. I muscle all machines on truck just like cast Radiators. Protect your back. 1scrap

Seems to late to reply. But I will anyways. I delivered copiers at my last job. Small and big ones. The big ones were HEAVY! The small were not light. But 2 people could pick them. I had an awesome stair climbing dolly that helped with steps and of course stairs. But even going up and especially down those stairs was a lil scary from time to time. I actually need to contact the company. Because before I knew about scrap like I do now. They sold quite a few to a guy who came in a bob truck to pick them up.