I opened my first compressor last night, I used an angle grinder with a makita 1/4 in high duty blade. took about 15 min. I cut it attound the middle, using a saw type motion as I moved arround the container, the compressor was a middle size from a window air conditioner. I xur rtw first hole and drained the oil into a bucket.
Once open the Motor fell out in my lap. I then tried to get the top half, (actial compressor) out after spotting copper in the top end.
I spent 2 hrs on this effort and ended up with less then an ounce of copper. that part is not worth the effort. However the motor looks like it has a pound or more so in my opinion it is worth the effort to salvage the motor, with this caviot, I am in a situation where money even pennies are more important then time at this point. so for what its worth I will lwr you know how much weitht is in the copper when I weigh it. with this info it may help you decide to sell them for .20 motor price or salvage them.