another day of compressors

[freonjoe]

Today I broke down a/c compressors. Started out with 726 pounds (11 compressors). 2 of them were aluminum windings. Ended up with 14 pounds of oil, 3 pounds of dirty aluminum, 39 pounds of copper windings and 670 pounds of shred. Took a little over an hour and a half. Worked out to about 23 cents a pound or a little over 15 bucks a compressor at todays prices. They sure don't yield as much per pound as the smaller compressors but do come out better on an hourly rate. Now I need to start tracking which ones have the aluminum windings.

[freonjoe]

On my next batch I'm going to log both the model number and serial number of each compressor that has the aluminum windings. Will take a little longer but will pay off in the end when I'm buying compressors.

[injunjoe]

I had posted about the model numbers a while back.

The compressors with aluminum windings most times have a capitol A in the model number.
Although I had found some that were aluminum and did not have the A in the model number so it is not set in stone.

[divapickers]

Great idea about keeping track of alum winding model numbers.
Are you using a grinder to cut the tops off.
We have a gas chop saw and may speed up the time. We will save up ten and give her a try.
Also one quick question if I may?
What were the compressors out of?
We usually deal with central air conditioners here.
Scott and Betty

[ozzy214]

By my math, your only making about 30 bucks for cutting them up. Based on the rate of motor weight in my area at 25c lb and #2 copper at 2.90. Am I wrong or do need to get edumicated on proper math..lol.

[Dumpster-Dee]

I don't know Ozzy, math isn't my strong soot either....spelling is. But we have 2 or 3 mathematical genius's on the forum.

[KzScrapper]

How 'bout reading Dee...How does that suit you?

Now you're probably going to ask if I've seen the back of your hand lately?

[tackleberry]

By my math, your only making about 30 bucks for cutting them up. Based on the rate of motor weight in my area at 25c lb and #2 copper at 2.90. Am I wrong or do need to get edumicated on proper math..lol.

At least where I am you don't get elec. motor price for compressors. The yards in my area pay 0.15/lb for compressors compared to 0.25/lb for motors.

For me this would be the math....

Sold as compressors - 726lbs @0.15/lb = $108.90

Copper - 39lbs @3.10/lb = $120.90
Shred - 670lbs @205/ton = $68.68
Total = $189.58

So an extra $80 for 90 minutes work. I'd take it.

[freonjoe]

Divapickers, I use a plasma cutter to cut them apart. The compressors were all piston compressors out of condensing units, mostly 3 and 4 ton units.

Tackleberry and Ozzy, here we only get shred price for drained compressors.

[jonnyjeb]

Your math is all good unless I missed something (just graded 120 papers, a little bleary eyed)

[tackleberry]

Only shred price? That's rough, certainly makes the decision to cut 'em up easy.

Do you have a market or use for the waste oil as well?

[freonjoe]

The oil gets properly disposed of. I also process refrigerants so I have to keep records on that. I cut up somewhere north of 1,000 compressors a year so even adding a dollar or two to each one adds up.

[ozzy214]

Now makes perfect sense. That is a low and dirty trick to give ya shred for essentially a type of electric motor. Now I understand. Me personally I sit on them. Then if im really hurting for cash they get cut up or turned in for motor weight. Only recently did it hit 25c lb for motor breakage. Last 6 months it was 15c for motors. Now at 25c I may turn them in for motors, but still probaly cut them. If all your compressors were copper Im sure you would have hit 28c lb. So in my case 28c by 726 equals 203.28. Give or take. So 50 or so for a hour work..not bad in my case either. Sorry took perc from a hand injury cutting motors err a stupidity accident, so kinda rambling.

Oh and I use torches. Most of the time I dont even drain them. Put them on a metal sheet. Burn them through, then let the oil burn out, then finish cutting. just tough to find the \"?magic"? way to get them open the first time.

The potbelly ones from the fridges are cake. Cut the top off and itss out. The ac ones seem like you have to cut the top and bottom, then slice in the middle, basically halving the shell....

[Mechanic688]

I don't know Ozzy, math isn't my strong soot either....spelling is.

Spelling are??? hehe

[MandDMetal]

With tall skinny compressors out of window units does any one find once you cut the top off the motors is still stuck in there? How do you get it out?

[PistoneScrapProcessing]

First question? Why are you getting shredd price for heavy melt? Second question. Why are you throwing away silicone steel in the shredd pile?

[injunjoe]

The yards around these parts pay $1.50 for small and $3.00 for the big compressors.

So if I have a 75 pound cop. it comes out to $0.04 per pound. I would be a fool to not cut them open and get the copper out.

[freonjoe]

PTS, next time they come get the scrap bin I'll ask them.

MandDMetal, that's a rotary compressor. It takes a lot more than one cut to get the windings out of them.

[injunjoe]

I cut those 3/4 from the top then a slice down past the core then a slit in both directions just enough to peel the case back a little then she slides right out. Sometimes it needs a little convincing!

[tackleberry]

The yards around these parts pay $1.50 for small and $3.00 for the big compressors.

So if I have a 75 pound cop. it comes out to $0.04 per pound. I would be a fool to not cut them open and get the copper out.

That's highway robbery. Just sold a couple hundred pounds of compressors this morning, went to a new yard and got $0.18/lb.