frustrating search for transformer questions

Ok, a lot of people take grief for posting questions on here that can(???) be found by searching. I hate to ask myself, but its so much easier to ask again then spend 10-15 minutes searching for an answer and not finding one. So if anyone is feeling charitable, i would love to find a link here on how to best get clean copper off of a transformer covered in glue and paper. My guess is that scrap yards dont take it as #1 with all the stuff on it, and i'm hoping there is an easy solution for de-gunking it.

By the way, i've typed in almost every option of transformer + paper + glue + cleaning ++++++++++ that i could think of....

Thanks in advance!

Im sure ill get flamed for this.
Burn it.
I personally sell transformers whole.
Take the time that you are breaking them down and spend that looking for more buisness.

LOL...ok, i wont flame you, but burning it isnt an option for me. I hear you on the selling it part...you are selling it as mixed at $??? I have a little time on my hands plus educating myself as this is the first one i've done so it might be worth my time if someone has a helpful trick.

leave it outside to get weathered. Glue and paper will fall off.

I am Currently getting .40/lb for quanities over 2,000lbs.

Good idea copycat! I suppose up there in coal country the acid rain does a nice job :)

Also...I have another large one in a case that looks like a electric disconnect box. Took the top cover off and it looks as though they covered the whole thing in some type of solid gel/glue type material. Any suggestions on that one?

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Originally Posted by ResourcefulRecycling

I am Currently getting .40/lb for quanities over 2,000lbs.

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well, i'm 1/400th of the way there!

Go get some vinegar. Put in bucket with part. Leave in bucket for short times. Pull part out and use a old brush to clean then put back in bucket. Repeat process until clean. Even if vinegar is dirty it can still be used to clean other parts. Be careful it can eat brass and copper very quickly. Do this outside and wear gloves, it stinks! I've cleaned many old tools this way and it eats the rust right off to the metal. When done vinegar is not harmful to the environment, pour outside. Another idea is if you have access to paint thinner. It would work too.

No easy answer for glue. Try soaking in toilet bowl cleaner, then drawing use a brush. Wear plastic gloves and DO NOT touch the cleaner. I've tried that and it works. Just not worth the effort for the increase in value.

It's not glue and paper. It's tape. I can only say that if you do enough of them, you'll figure it out. At least that was my method of learning how to get the copper out of them. My yard will accept the copper as #2 and they don't seem to mind if there is a little residue on the wires. The ferrite goes in the coffee can with my screws.

I'm currently saving up the little transformers from electronics to do a little "research" on the best method of dealing with them. I started to wonder if there was really enough copper on those things to make it worth it to strip them down, or if I'd be better off tossing them in with my motors. When time permits (and I get enough weight) I'll pull them apart and see what I get relating to the copper and ferrite. The inductors and such get stripped down, since they are easy enough to do.

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Originally Posted by shendog

Ok, a lot of people take grief for posting questions on here that can(???) be found by searching. I hate to ask myself, but its so much easier to ask again then spend 10-15 minutes searching for an answer and not finding one. So if anyone is feeling charitable, i would love to find a link here on how to best get clean copper off of a transformer covered in glue and paper. My guess is that scrap yards dont take it as #1 with all the stuff on it, and i'm hoping there is an easy solution for de-gunking it.

By the way, i've typed in almost every option of transformer + paper + glue + cleaning ++++++++++ that i could think of....

Thanks in advance!

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I toss 'em in with motors. Seems to work okay, it's still $.35/lb and a lot less frustration.

If I get a bigger transformer such as one from a microwave I use the jackschmuc approach and go after it with a hatchet and a hammer right on the weld. That works good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cPLEK8hfNM

Do you have a grinder and thin cut off wheel? Slice down one side and pull out the other side with a large flat head screw driver. I use to snip a few wires with side cutters then pull off wire, snip and pull, snip and pull.... ughghgh I also used to sit here and use a razor blade to slice down the middle of the smaller ones with the fine hairs and then pull them out. Needless to say once I got a scale and weighed and started weighing everything and calculating what I make I no longer do any small ones, they go in the motor bucket. I do however do the microwave size ones if they're copper.

I have some of the smaller ones i dont mess with. However, i know a guy that does a lot of machinery and electrical stuff and i get some of the big boys. I had 2 that were encased in some type of fiberglass material that weighed about 75lbs each. Couldnt ever get into the middle...went through all types of blades/wheels. Figured i broke even with those! Most i get are 5-20 lbs so worth it to open up i guess.

Just throw them in the copper bearing bucket and move on to next item. I guess I just got to much work to bother with those little transformers. Not worth my time.

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Originally Posted by ggariepy

I toss 'em in with motors. Seems to work okay, it's still $.35/lb and a lot less frustration.

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man I wish, I got paid $.12lb for motors this week?! =(

Around Philadelphia whole transformers we are getting .25 - .30. lb. Never tore one apart , but always thought about it.

The ones in my avatar pictures we get .35 a lb. so about 200$ per transformer rack ( 3 transformers ) Thats whole unstripped.

its still not # 1 after the paper is off because it has a varnish coating on it

i've used a wood chisel, a miter saw with a metal blade, and grinder with cutoff blade, all work to some extent in getting the job done. Once I have the copper out i just tug and pry till most of the paper and tape are gone, but small ones just definitely aren't worth the time involved, unless they're ferrite, then just smash it up with a hammer and pull the copper off, and that's even questionable as for the time

Personally Im gonna get flamed....donning my flame suit now. But...the best way is stick them in a deep fryer basket and cook in a wood fire. Then they come right part. personally dont feel this is illegal like burning wire. Cause the only stuff on the transformer is paper and varnish...non hazardous fumes.

Hell my buddy has run a salvage yard for 25 years, now retiring on the place. Offered to sell it to me on one condition, that nothing will be there ecexpt a house and grass.

But he use a turkey fryer. Just the burner. Fires it up, holds the basket, and COOKs the money free. Then dumps in a ice bath. The copper and metal just falls right apart. Quickest 50 a hour you can make.

I actually got my batch right out the door in a 5 gallon bucket. Just need a new basket. Note only a fry basket will hold up to the propane jet. Regular dishwasher basket wont. Oh and cook long enough to free copper, too much, and ya burnt ya profits.

NOTE I do not recommend burning pcb wire...only the varnish on transformers....

I hit em with the old dewalt chop saw and completely cut that dam mess in half and then from there it's all gravy baby