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breaking down electric motors

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    ranger730 is offline Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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    breaking down electric motors

    OK I searched and I can find all the info on how to break down a electric motor that looks like this but I don't have the space or time to separate the copper from the metal. But if you where going to scrap as is
    What do you categorize this as

    Last edited by admin; 05-13-2014 at 04:51 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ranger730 View Post
    OK I searched and I can find all the info on how to break down a electric motor that looks like this
    Which info did you find? I have some like that as well.

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    It still sells as electric motor.

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    In case you don't know(and for others who don't know) on that type of motor cut the side with a metal cutting wheel on a hand grinder. The outer shell when then spring open and you can then move on to recovering the copper.

    You can then cut the cooper loops on one end with the same grinder. After the cuts are made you can pull the cooper loops out the other end. This is time consuming but I used to do it when I had more time. I am guessing that you removed the end caps from the motor so you can sell them as Al. Mike
    "Profit begins when you buy NOT when you sell." {quote passed down to me from a wise man}

    Now go beat the copper out of something, Miked

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    Quote Originally Posted by miked View Post
    You can then cut the cooper loops on one end with the same grinder. After the cuts are made you can pull the cooper loops out the other end. This is time consuming but I used to do it when I had more time. I am guessing that you removed the end caps from the motor so you can sell them as Al. Mike
    I can't tell how big the motor is in OP's picture, but this didn't work for me with large motors. The copper is real stiff and the entire thing has a coat of some kind of glue or lacquer or something.

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    Quote Originally Posted by dev View Post
    I can't tell how big the motor is in OP's picture, but this didn't work for me with large motors. The copper is real stiff and the entire thing has a coat of some kind of glue or lacquer or something.
    The motor appears to be very similar to the ones I used to break down. Those motors came from the residential a/c units and weigh about 10 lbs. You are correct that the cooper wire is coated in a lacquer coating and can be very difficult to deal with. I have a large enough vise that I could hold the motor while I pushed and or pried the copper out.

    Its been suggested by many on the forum that the larger motors should be sold whole because of the lack of return breaking them down yourself. Personally I did break down one motor that weighed about 90 lbs and I would not waste my time doing it again.

    I broke down motors and striped wire before I got into other things. Mike


    http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/disma...0lb-motor.html
    Last edited by miked; 05-07-2014 at 05:29 AM.

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    I wouldnt take it down to this point. Leave the outer shell on and sell as a motor this way you get more weight. as it is classified as the same regardless if you take the shell off.

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    If your not going to pull the copper out why whould you take the motor apart? That part still sells as an electric motor or as they call it "copper bearing matieral"

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    ^^Happyscrapper - I'm assuming the OP is new to the biz and thats why he is asking. Those would still go as electric motor. When I run across a motor with those in them like that I no longer break them down, I leave the stator in and get the full price for the motor weight with the extra metal.

    Ranger, ask your yard if they require the stator pulled out or if they accept the full motor at the same price.
    Scrapper, Scrap Yard Worker, Horse farm worker, Cooler Puller and just plain ''tired''

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    When I take these apart, I cut the copper with a sawzall as close as I can, grab a screw driver and hammer, place the driver over the hole, and BEAT THE COPPER OUT OF IT! Wise man once said, "Don't attack the iron, attack the copper."

  15. #11
    davidarlen is offline Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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    I have broken down a bunch of those motors. My yard pays .15 cents a pound for aluminum windings and .20 cents for copper windings. I took them apart and went to my scrap yard. I got the total weight of the motor iron and the aluminum and copper. I figured out I had made $30 dollars more for breaking them down verses turning them in whole. Probably did 20 to 30 motors. Not a good return for my labor. But I will still tear them down

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