angle grinder/die grinder?

**mike1** · 07-06-2017, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by hobo finds

There should be sparks as it is a steel housing around that copper. Should not go boom if so let us know and I would assume fewer posts if it did blow up! Just be safe open a few up and see how it goes.

lol thanks so have you ever opend one up? have you ever had one catch fire? you know cause of the oil i try and drain out all the oil i can.

**greytruck** · 07-06-2017, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by mike1

lol thanks so have you ever opend one up? have you ever had one catch fire? you know cause of the oil i try and drain out all the oil i can.

What i do is always keep them standing straight up to keep the oil on the bottom, cut the top off and then hang it upside down to drain the oil. I got 2 chains hanging from my garage ceiling so i leave it hanging there over night dripping into a milk jug with a funnel. But not those big 60+ pounders, just the smaller ones. Then cut down the weld and across the bottom like a door to loosen the steel that holds the stator in place.

The worst part of cutting them is when the grinder skips and wants to fly out of your hands. Or if the compressor starts to shake and takes a bite out of your grinding wheel.

also, compressors are not the easy to cut open, make sure you master using the grinder before you do this, its very dangerous. practice cutting some steel before you attempt compressors as you need to keep the blade straight or it may brake in your face.. Be carefull

**mike1** · 07-06-2017, 11:44 AM

oh i see thanks for the info 60 plus pounders? are those the ones that come from the central a/c's? how much does the tanks from window a/c's weigh? i took in 3 tanks as is and it was 75lbs they were from window a/c's. is there really 3 lbs of copper in the compressers from a window a/c the tall round ones it sure did not feel like 3 lbs to me.

**greytruck** · 07-06-2017, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by mike1

oh i see thanks for the info 60 plus pounders? are those the ones that come from the central a/c's? how much does the tanks from window a/c's weigh? i took in 3 tanks as is and it was 75lbs they were from window a/c's. is there really 3 lbs of copper in the compressers from a window a/c the tall round ones it sure did not feel like 3 lbs to me.

Yeah the 60+ pounders are the central a/c compressors. Those i cut the top half off and pour out the oil instead of hanging those up.

I would say that there isnt 3 lbs in a window unit compressor, mabey 1 lb. But they all very in sizes of compressors and the size of the a/c itself. The best ones are the big central air ones, now those will have a couple pounds of copper in them unless there is Aluminum windings inside of them. What saved me time is if you can look threw one of the holes on the compressor and if you can see the windings threw the hole, Use a flashlight to see and scratch it to see if the windings are copper or Aluminum. Only will work on some of the bigger compressors, not all of them. I found 2 AL compressors this way

**mike1** · 07-27-2017, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by greytruck

Yeah the 60+ pounders are the central a/c compressors. Those i cut the top half off and pour out the oil instead of hanging those up.

I would say that there isnt 3 lbs in a window unit compressor, mabey 1 lb. But they all very in sizes of compressors and the size of the a/c itself. The best ones are the big central air ones, now those will have a couple pounds of copper in them unless there is Aluminum windings inside of them. What saved me time is if you can look threw one of the holes on the compressor and if you can see the windings threw the hole, Use a flashlight to see and scratch it to see if the windings are copper or Aluminum. Only will work on some of the bigger compressors, not all of them. I found 2 AL compressors this way

hey thats a good idea especially for me=) best idea yet thanks

**mike1** · 07-27-2017, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by greytruck

Yeah the 60+ pounders are the central a/c compressors. Those i cut the top half off and pour out the oil instead of hanging those up.

I would say that there isnt 3 lbs in a window unit compressor, mabey 1 lb. But they all very in sizes of compressors and the size of the a/c itself. The best ones are the big central air ones, now those will have a couple pounds of copper in them unless there is Aluminum windings inside of them. What saved me time is if you can look threw one of the holes on the compressor and if you can see the windings threw the hole, Use a flashlight to see and scratch it to see if the windings are copper or Aluminum. Only will work on some of the bigger compressors, not all of them. I found 2 AL compressors this way

hm so about how much copper would be in one of the skinny tall window compressors? not sure how much is in it but the copper from that is heavier then the copper i got from a fridge one that was short and round they are both copper maybe since the fridge was newer they use less copper? the window a/c was very old so i bet they use more copper.