Printable View
How much copper is in an average vacuum cleaner moter?I always grab a vacuum off of the curb cut the electrical cord for 1 a lb.Take the motor out then cut the rest if the wire out.But now I'm thinking after scrapping a 100 or so how much money did I cost myself not taking copper out of the motor ?
I pull the moters out of every vacuum I can get. Some I sell the moter whole and some I take the copper out of. I have not wieghed the copper but I would think it would be about a 1/4 pound.
Do you ever get older ones that you thought to sell or they are just scrap?
The rollers are aluminum too
That's good to know but some motors the copper looks pretty thick still might be worth the time.
The round fan blade on the front of the motor is also aluminum. Also, the stator laminations are all steel. Toss those right into your shred barrel once you have removed the copper windings.
pretty much all the cheap vacuums i take the sledge to, now if i find a kirby or dyson on the curb that would be a whole different deal. I just toss the whole motor with the blade on it into the copper motor/transformer pile.
Lately I've been tossing the moters in the moter/transformer bin because 1 I don't get as many vacs. as I used to and 2 I would rather spend the time braking down e-waste.
victim : dirtdevil bagless 12amp upright
net yields : all numbers in ounces
0.72 brass from motor brush holders and plug
4.02 copper from motor
.99 copper from armature
1.36 aluminum from motor
15.85 from wires
36.75 shred from motor, shafts, screws etc.
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...-breakdown.jpg
your mileage may vary
i love vacuums sure theres alot of trash if like me theres no plastic buyer near or recycler but there easy and fun just cut smash and grab i have yet to tear into my motors i am waiting for alot to build first but cords are juicey and some of the professional ones i buy at auctions for $1 or less are great cause they replace with 25ft medium ext. cords and have 2 motors big inside and medium in the head plus belts to resell and brand new bags sometimes also well working ones can be a quick $5-10 sell on the cheaper ones.
i had a dyson last year that what was wrong i seen right away the cord on the outside was broke on one side like it was hit on a corner or something and i cut it wired nutted it and taped it to make sure it was secure. then sold it on creigs list as it was full disclosure so that they knew what i did but presto $90 they offered from $125 i had on it and sure i could have hagled with them more but $90 for maybe 25cents in parts and 20min of my time was a good deal lol
read 2nd line againQuote:
Originally Posted by jghilino
net yields : all numbers in ounces
jghilino, who said anything about getting 35.00 in shred from a vacuum? I would like to know where you sell your scrap, I have broke down 100's of vacuums and never get more than 4.00-5.00.
roger that, ounces. I thoughy he was listing prices of the stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by oldtoothlessbassmaster
That was an error, i thought he was listing prices not weights. my badQuote:
Originally Posted by happyscraper
Im seeing a 5 pound motor $2 (split the aluminum blade off for clean aluminum). 20 pounds of shred (vacuum carcass) $2. I dont remember the weight of the wiring but i think its about 3 pounds of number 2 insulated so $4. Misc brass and other stuff like switches/boards. 50 cents. So thats around $8 total or am i completely off?
Personally i dont scrap the vacuum cleaner cords. I put a replacement cord end on the other end and make them into extension cords.
0.72 oz brass from motor brush holders and plug
brass @ $1.65 pound or 0.103125 cents per ounce
0.72 x 0.103125 = 0.07425 cents round up to .08 cents
4.02 oz copper from motor
#2 copper @ $2.55 pound or 0.159375 cents per ounce
4.02 x 0.159375 = 0.6406875 cents round up to .65 cents
.99 oz copper from armature
.99 x 0.159375 = 0.1577812 cents round up to .16 cents
1.36 oz aluminum from motor
sheet alum @ .47 pound or 0.029375 cents per ounce
1.36 x 0.029375 = 0.03995 cents round up to .04 cents
15.85 oz from wires
insulated copper wire @ .97 pound or 0.060625 cents per ounce
15.85 x 0.060625 = 0.9609062 cents round up to .97 cents
36.75 oz shred from motor, shafts, screws etc.
shred @ .07 pound or 0.004375 cents per ounce
36.75 x 0.004375 = 0.1607812 cents round up to .17 cents
recap :
.08
.65
.16
.04
.97
.17
===
$2.07 total
I'm impressed with the detail of your analysis. Did you weigh the plastic? I'm thinking that if someone had a buyer, that's where the easier money would be.
thanksQuote:
Originally Posted by Otto
to keep the thread on topic i just listed the breakdown of the motor and other metals found.
the plastic "bagless" section was missing on this unit so an actual total weight would be off.
Unfortunately, that would round off to 7 cents, not 8. If the number after the "7" is 5 or higher, round up. 4 or lower, round down. So the total would be $2.00. Still, great job on breaking everything down for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by oldtoothlessbassmaster
still would be worth it just to see the look on the scale dudes face when you put this load of brass on that floor scale :cool:
Check with a magnet but the rectangular looking things don't look like brass to me. Looks like tin.Quote:
Originally Posted by oldtoothlessbassmaster
hard drive magnet test : no attractionQuote:
Originally Posted by Mechanic688
deep file scratch test : solid yellow golden color observed
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...cratchtest.jpg
conclusion : non-ferrous paydirt:cool:
You should be getting paid for the plastic also, it goes as shred. Cut the cord, take the sledge to it to get the motor out then throw the carcass in the shred pile. You wont get the most out of it but there quick to process that way. how much does one weigh with no cord or motor 10-20 pounds of shred?
it's all just plastic if you take the motor out so it's not steel shred, I guess you could toss 'em in
but it's no different to hiding a block of wood, a brick or filling up freezers with water, turning them on
to freeze the water into a block of ice and selling as shred, no real difference.
Ive come across those brass pieces and some are tin and some are brass. Some motors are alum windings to, Total bummer after breaking vacuums down and find out the motor is alum. : (
I just cut the cord and send the rest to shred pile. Why waste time breaking a vac down for $2 totally worthless and pointless
you figured out my trick, works real good on gas tanks, fill em with water it freezes up solid then on the bottom of the load it goes lol NOTQuote:
Originally Posted by scrapperben
actually i have no problem throwing a vacuum carcass in with the shred if it still has the steel rods copper wiring and switches still in it, if it is clean plastic it goes in the barrel stove
like i said cut the cord off, remove the motor, throw the rest in shred
how much money did you make writing that post?Quote:
Originally Posted by elitelawnteam1
why waste time posting for no money? totally worthless and pointless.
Hey buddy, don't pull that **** on me, my post wasn't directed towards any individual. I was simply stating a fact. If you want to break down a whole vac, go right ahead! Nobody's stopping you! Stop trolling and post something useful.Quote:
Originally Posted by scrapperben
It takes less than 5 min to get the motor out and you can still throw the carcass in shred after the motor is out, $2 for 5 minutes of work is not a hard choice to make, at that rate you would be making $60 an hour, i guess your time is more valuable thoughQuote:
Originally Posted by elitelawnteam1
sledgehammer all the way, a couple good swings and the motor is out, then cut/disconnect wiring and its free
Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer HD (1080p) - YouTube