Buy a wire stripper or a hammer mill?

Many of you are aware that I am on dialysis and the kidney disease limits me phyisically. I am much stronger and able as compared to even a year ago. I contribute much to the scrapping business, it has given me purpose and exercise.



I am now able to purchase a small machine so I can expand into processing insulated wire on a small basis along with breaking down computers. I like the idea of establishing a route to buy wire from various businesses. I think it will work.

I have found two types of machines first is a small hammer mill. I believe I can work out the seperation after running insulated wire through the mill. It might be used to reduce other things as well. Here's an ebay listing for it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130638200087...84.m1423.l2649


The other machine is a power wire stripper. One is 110 vac and the other is 220vac. My shop is wired for both but I tend to believe the 220 vac might be a better deal. Below is a link to the company's website and the two model numbers are SDT-WRA40 and SDT-WRA55.

http://www.toolzunlimited.com/


So what are your thoughts? The price range of about $900 plus shipping to $1800 plus shipping reaches the limit of what I have to spend on this type of equipent.

Thanks, Mike.

I would be interested to see if the wire stripper handles the smaller guages as well as it handled the larger guages as shown in the video. If it does, I would go for the wire stripper everytime. You end up with bb, nice and easy. With the mill you are going to have to separate, and start messing around with water flotation or vibrating tables or some such. I can almost imagine you milling a load of wire then using a leaf blower to separate it in the back yard

It's that old saying with tools - wince once when you buy it, then smile every time you use it, or smile when you buy it and wince every time you use it.

I would still be looking for a cheaper electric stripper if there is one of the same quality out there though.

Olddude I agree with you on the printers, I try to stay away from them. The reason I picked those two strippers is because they claim they can work on very small wires. I have a lot of computer wire (power wire) laying around right now. Most of the other strippers claimmed to work on 14 gauge and larger and many not on stranded at all. If they don't work on smaller wire then they would be of no use to me.

I agree that the hammer mill's description is lacking. In addition there would be a lot of dust I would think. I see the wire granulator systems all seem to have big dust collector systems attached. I don't need lung problems as well.

I am wondering if there is an significate advantage the 220v motor over the 110v motor.

Wayne, I lean toward your idea as well, less money out is better. Thanks guys, Mike.

Which make model and is it forsale? Mike

Here's going to be my next tool purchase, the longer I wait the cheaper their getting. And it pay for itself in the first big run, not over the first year. I think one or two people on here bought these and I never heard anything really bad about them. That would come out to about $95.00 shipped to your door.

What guage of wire can they strip? I have and will contiue to get 16-20 guage wire. I believe I can buy/get this size wire cheaply. I might also be able to work a deal with the local yard, can't be sure til I try.

I know the strippers I am looking at are similar to what HighVoltage started out with. He of course changed over to bigtime wire grandulators. I don't envision for me do that. I just want to be able to strip most any wire I might get my hands on. I am not looking to make this a real full time job. I would just like to be able to repeat my small successes alot and often.

I will consider this as a possibility. Low inital cost and I could determine if there is some profit there. The multihole of the other machines attracted because it should mean less adjustment. I get a mix if different diamiter wires from one guy who also sells me motors. Mike.

I looked it up and answered my own question. 2mm-15mm. Which comes out to 12 gauge being the smallest it works with which is not good for me. Mike.

Thanks WB, I went to that web site. I have seen these machines before. The spec's on this one is also 16 guage as the smallest it will work with. Since you have used it I would like to hear about it. Also were you able to adjust it to work on smaller wire 18-22 guage? Mike.

kbob, I can't help with that eactly. I have a next door neighbor who scrapes but does not break down motors. I buy his insulated wires and motors at the same price that scrap yard pays. Its great for me so I don't have to go out and find scrap. All you can do is continue to ask. How much experience do you have? How old are you? Mike

It gives me a point of reference, you age and experince. The scrap yards sell the motors to someone. So if you continue selling to them take the opportunity to talk with the employees and owner if he is in the area. They may have a difficult time fulfilling a contract so don't want to sell to others. Perhaps they just don't take you seriously. They may not be all that smart. keep trying, Mike.