Copper cylinders on refrigerators and A/X units

On A/C units there is a sealed copper cylinder that is attached to the compressor, and on the refrigerators it is at the end of some of the tubing with a wire coming out of one end (on the fridge they are about 3/4 inch in diameter and about 4 inches long). They are mostly copper, but do have some steel in them as one end is slightly magnetic. I have kept these separate and was wondering if anyone has any special way they process theirs, and if not what does their yards consider them. I have taken my angle grinder and cut open the larger ones from the A/C units and separated the the steel end off, but the smaller ones from the fridge is a pain but definitely do not want to toss them in the mixed pile.

I have several of those set aside I will cut one open today to find out what it is and if it is worth the effort.

oops looks like you have already done that soooo what was your question ?

I was wondering what the yards consider these cylinders (if they are not broken down)?

not sure but probably dirty copper

That is what I figured myself, just wanted to see if anyone had sold any and what their yards treated it as. I will have to remember to take one with me on my next run and see what the yard says. Might not be a bad thread to start, one where scrap is identified and labeled. Example: Aluminum with steel - dirty aluminum, brass items with steel attached - dirty brass, aluminum running boards from trucks - extruded aluminum, etc.

I cut all of mine open, dump the beads and remove the steel screens. If there is a steel soldered connection, I either heat it up and pull it apart, or cut it off so I have clean copper.

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Originally Posted by wayne1956

That is what I figured myself, just wanted to see if anyone had sold any and what their yards treated it as. I will have to remember to take one with me on my next run and see what the yard says. Might not be a bad thread to start, one where scrap is identified and labeled. Example: Aluminum with steel - dirty aluminum, brass items with steel attached - dirty brass, aluminum running boards from trucks - extruded aluminum, etc.

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Do It!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoqDYcCDOTg

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Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

I cut all of mine open, dump the beads and remove the steel screens. If there is a steel soldered connection, I either heat it up and pull it apart, or cut it off so I have clean copper.

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I see you are talking about the inline dryer, I find most of them are steel with copper fittings on the ends.

At first I thought Wayne was talking about the reversing valves. These have three copper lines coming in and a solenoid coil on them. These are pretty heavy with just steel pistons in them. The body of this valve is brass and like I say heavy.

For these I cut in half after smashing the steel bracket that holds the little electric coil on the side. I put in my vise and whack the crap out of it with a beveled hammer, it's held on to the brass like a monkey clinging to a banana! After it is off I cut in half in the middle, then I reach in with needle nose pliers and pull out the pistons from each end. I say "pistons" for lack of a better word. They slide together too and fro, to reverse the freon direction. ( Sorry for the unnecessary information there) .

The coil that was on there is full of copper, but it is a pain to get out, yes even I hesitate when it comes to cleaning them. I've got a big bucket of just them :o Should I need money real bad that will be there. :rolleyes: