Anyone know if theres a way to get the copper piping out of air condition radiators?
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Anyone know if theres a way to get the copper piping out of air condition radiators?
That might b more work than its worth.
Just a shhame u donnt gget jack for them and all that copperr is just sittinng in there
I use two methods - depending on how I feel:
1. Utility (box) knife - Cut along the copper piping or to the side. The aluminum actually cuts pretty easily.
2. Grinder - run along the copper piping with a grinder. This seems to take longer than the knife, but less effort.
Mstra, are you cleaning them before you take them in, what I mean is, are you cutting the steel edges off? You get significantly more if you do that.
What is the copper ratio in an AC radiator ?
ok i found a way to get them out its not to hard but way to time consuming, i didnt know that just taking the steel ends off get you more i think ill stick with that thanks
you can cut the copper loops off the ends first then the metal plates. the copper loops add up
The yard I use pays 1.40lbs clean and 1.30lbs dirty. I do like Descrapper said cut the loops off with a metal cut off blade right along the steel then pull the steel off with a pair of chanel locks.
If you have a bench vice,stand it in the vice nice and tight, don't worry about crimping the alu. Take channel locks or vice grips, grab the top part of the fin and roll it down around the tool and peel it right off. You can also put it in the vice take a mallet and chisel and pound it off, either gets the job done.
I used to take those apart, not any more. A utility knife is OK but its still takes me longer than i want to spend on working on them. Especially if they are the real small piping ones, I figure the copper is so lightweight I do ok turning them in as is - cleaned of course.
After watching people do this myself. I agree 1,000%.Quote:
Originally Posted by copperhound
this is how I used to do it. Keep in mind I am an amateur scrapper & had to figure it out on my own. It was very labor intensive.
I did it a bit @ss-backwards though. I would put it in a vice, cut down the inside of the steel sides thru the copper pipes to remove the copper ends (like I said.. I did this the idiot way instead of the smarter way... to cut the copper tube ends off on the outside of the steel sides, then yank or bend the steel sides off), then I would take a box cutter & cut down the sides of the copper tubes though the aluminum..... then i took a steel rod & put it in the tops of the copper tubes & pull them thru the aluminum fins. Like I said... very labor intensive. Anymore I just refuse to do that. I now cut the copper tube ends off, remove the steel ends & then turn in the radiator with the copper tubes still inside the fins. If I had the guts to use cutting tools I would use them to cut the tubes out of the aluminum fins.
Air cons in cars? Normally they are ali, a big box of ali, 2Lb or 1 Kg.
I think they are referring to this A/C (household not automotive)
http://www.lilligren.com/Redneck/ima...nditioner2.jpg
Although I have seen a few actual automotive A/C rads that were CO/AL, rare though
Myekem.....that pic is priceless! Almost spit my drink everywhere.
lol.. Don't get the wrong idea lol, It's not mine. Funny Though.
i havent found the exact ratio between copper and aluminum but i dont think it take that much time. i use a linoleum knife to make one slice on the copper tube. then i use a long pry bar and pull it between the slice marks and they seem to open up nice. the copper tube usually slides out easy and the linoleum knife lasts alot longer then a utility knife blade. ive done probable 20 ac units worth of radiators and it still has the same results.
I take a hammer or a sawzall depending on if I'm too lazy to get it out and take the claw of the hammer and hit it between the steel and elbows, and the aluminum rads and peel it back and keep repeating until all the rivets are out. If not I just run my sawzall down it and it's done
The copper on AC rads is very thin. They are not worth the work to cut out when the Scrap Monster price is 1.58 a pound for CU/AL rads.
Some older rads have three layers of tube. You will cut your hands to shreds getting the center layer out.