Fridge Compressor Motor for Copper,, Worth It ? Yes

Double the money , Stripping a Fridge compressor for the copper, then a quick look at how it operates.

[@iffy9776]

Hi Ian, I've just watched Ben Houghton take a compressor to bit on KZbin, it took him 25mins. I watched you take it to bits and you make it look so easy. Also I think the compressor he had was half the size. I have followed your method and think it worth taking to bits.

[@johntompkins6153]

That was awesome when he cut the compressor open.

[@dryan8377]

@@johntompkins6153 agreed. As a life long electronics tech, I've always wondered what it looked like inside a compressor.

[@adam_clay]

Your like a hunter that uses every part of the animal not letting anything go to waste. Great job

[@vernroach3413]

Good video...Love listening to different accents....Being a semi retired HVAC/Appliance repairman, I accumulate this sort of scrap, and this shows, it is worth while to tear it down before just tossing the whole thing in the scrap pile....Keeps the oil out of the environment too and it's a wax free oil...No gumming up what ever you use it one...My thanks to the gent that made this.

[@Stoner_Lee]

all this time i been stripping the plugs and wires on the fridges and old cars for copper,, there are 300 fridges and deep freezers at the dump by my town,,,, i'm rich ,, thank you for the video

[@Man-in-da-shed]

It’s easy money if there not Ally cores plus you can weigh the cast iron in for a higher price as well

[@jimjones9866]

What a good straight forward video, watched a few people try to put one up but they always made it seem so difficult. You just have to be handy and know what your doing. Thanks great info and advice

[@antoniocampbell463]

I like the hammer and plier technique on the copper pull.

[@cemkahraman2829]

Man that thing with the hammer was awsome!!! It took 5 sec to get rest of the copper form motor! Thanks man!

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Practice. Lol

[@tonyp8808]

Ironically - watching vids like these have also taught me how to repair a few things too. Just have to pay attention to details.

[@blitzerrrrrrr]

You are the first scrapper on youtube to wear safety equipment! Good job to you sir!

[@Man-in-da-shed]

took a lot of pain to learn that

[@madduck692002]

Brilliant, the way you plucked the copper out of the motor cage!

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Matthew Duchvalt all n the wrist and hammer action Lol

[@fan1701]

My father in law is a scrapper and I showed him this video. He never cut compressors open or the cores the of magnetrons but he is going to now after seeing inside of them. I think he would be hooked on your videos if he had internet data limit that allowed him to. Have a great day!

[@travismiller5548]

fan1701 also, there will be some lil chunky silver contacts brazed or soldered to a base metal of copper/alloy. if they were mentioned i missed it.

[@hodaka1000]

Excellent. I like the way you reused the oil and kept the small parts and nuts and bolts.

[@louisbailey4900]

Best scrap video on youtube. Finally someone who appreciates finding out how thi is work.

[@scottyg4605]

Nice one Ian, was a great video mate 😀 anyone watching, don't forget to separate cast iron from steel as it's worth more and separate steel's into light and heavy. Plus a bucket for your aluminium which is about 50p kilo 😀 if you can break a motor in 30 mins you making £12 an hour for your time plus the £4 you would have sold it for as is. Sweet 😁

[@zachamy4444]

sometimes you pick up one good tip from a video this is one of those . thanks for sharing

[@chrisredline1697]

4:32 After watching a dozen videos of scrappers trying to cut or press the copper wire out of these kinds of motors, you sir officially win the internet.

[@Man-in-da-shed]

its all in the wrist action, oh n a big hammer

[@americanrebel413]

It was worth staying to the end my friend, I like to save all those little things to! Great video!

[@paulmayne3216]

This made me think of a recent video I watched, fridge compressor converted into 2 stroke engine!....worth watching 😉👍

[@Man-in-da-shed]

I’ve seen it. Impressive

[@doinok1149]

G’day mate Top video there What a great little motor that we take for granted. Now to take what you shared in your lesson and put that scrap towards some cold beer in the fridge👍🏻👍🏻 All the best.

[@themayorofpoundtown9163]

I learn so much from watching you vids. Thanks for posting

[@calvinmurphy3035]

I never cut these open before i saw this and having done so id say its worth it too. Thank you for sharing this

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Calvin Murphy Not when you find it aluminium wire inside

[@daleHarrison93]

@@Man-in-da-shed LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL haha you just made my day lol aint that just a bitch

[@Tommo020788]

First time I tried taking the copper out of one of these it was an hour of pure cancer. After watching this, it was easy and quick.

[@phxtonash]

Plus thank you for your information I love the way you knock those wires out of there thank you

[@justice216]

HANDS DOWN GAME OVER . YOU ARE THE MAN! THANK YOU!

[@Citizen-of-theworld]

Glad someone is recycling the scrap metal.Good chunk of copper in there!

[@social3ngin33rin]

Didn't expect the oil to be so clean!!! :O

[@95ffd]

Definitely worth staying till the end! Love to see how things work.

[@senditall152]

Thank you for the explanation. I roughly know now how our fridge works.

[@brendamiller8140]

That was cool the first one of those I've saw. Way to go Ian. Have a good one and Thanks for sharing. 🎄😂👍👍👍🤗

[@ThatsHowIRoll]

Hello new friend we saw you over at HazeyDaze channel! we do some scrapping and we like your tips for maxing the cash! We pushed all the buttons, rang the bell and are now and forever supporters of your channel! We will keep coming by to watch, like, comment and share more of your videos! Together we will continue to grow! Justin & Ralph

[@thebackyardwelder5267]

Interesting video mate. The black shell would make a great centre for a large Tie-fighter model. Be good for a piece of yard art.

[@yangasam945]

Thanks, I have two old fridges I'm about to open 😂😊😊

[@dragonlore8484]

Just bought grinder and opened the compressor today definitely worth it the experience the scrap value is just bonus

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Then it was all worthwhile

[@dragonlore8484]

@@Man-in-da-shed yup the experience using the grinder is fantastic

[@Man-in-da-shed]

@@dragonlore8484 yes a really great tool, I call it my universal key, opens anything, but it it also the most dangerous tool in my shed, it is very unforgiving on mistakes and can cut, burn savagely in the blink of an eye, and speaking of eyes ALWAYS use eye protection, I’ve Been in hospital a couple of times with metal bits in my eyes, Heed this advice.

[@majsturbre6001]

​@@Man-in-da-shed do these motors contain any gases or oil that is flammable?

[@fredinhisshed5235]

Thank you handy save me some time, enjoyed your straight to business approach 👍👍

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Appreciated

[@robgrujicic5380]

Hello from Montreal Canada 🍁 beautiful work 😃❤️👊

[@mkbman45]

I was here for the money, stayed for the knowledge!

[@Man-in-da-shed]

then that makes it all worthwile

[@curtb.9450]

I do the same thing but I dont take it that far apart but never the less its a good learning video for beginners

[@ScrapPalletMan]

SUPER great video. thank you for taking it to "bits"

[@swampgator2012]

Hey Paul, I see you enjoy Ian’s vids too.

[@shubbz87]

Great show 👍

[@tobiasgreen8211]

Some scrap yards call the bright copper, copper windings instead... I striped out loads and got stung at the scrap yard. Also, I went through lots of grinding disks so I just broke even.... Never went back to the place. My experience was that you have to spend your time doing what makes the most return. So I left motors intact, didn't strip cables and just collected... Made more doing less.... Funny business. Good video pal. Well done

[@Man-in-da-shed]

tobias green , a lot comes down to how much you value your time. As scrapping is a hobby for me. The time is irrelevant, my last vid definitely proves that, how does a fisherman view his hours spent at the side of a river with no return. As enjoyable I guess

[@HueyLionsheart]

Good job Ian, I had always wondered what was inside them that makes the scrappers rip the motors out and leave the fridge carcasses on peoples gardens! Stripped out they become worth a few bob! 👍 #32

[@HueyLionsheart]

@ian matthews LMAO....this is back in your youth....still 'ad no 'urr though!🤣🤣🤣

[@GilSkillz]

SWEET VIDEO!! I've got 6 of these just waiting for me to cut into them! :)

[@julianmarsh2758]

Your funny, nice and easy to watch, thanks.

[@Hexdek16]

Well done, and thank you for the pump - I am delving in to metal scrap art. Thank you! 🤠👍

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Check out Rooster creations then

[@smileyleaves3066]

This is what I call useful video

[@AlexanderSmith21]

That was an interesting one but Ian wanted to show the rest of the KZbin community more well done Ian hat off to you my friend

[@welshreaperscrapandcasting4029]

Damn wish I'd seen this before I took my fridge to the dump. Nice to see a uk vid on here for a change. I'm from north wales and recently started hobby smelting

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Arwel Evans look up UK Scrapper, snobby scrap picker, Braveheart scrapper

[@zachamy4444]

thanks Ian nice video and I learned how to take the copper out the easy way . I was doing it the hard way.

[@Man-in-da-shed]

We have all done it the hard way it’s how we learn.

[@mattcourty6322]

Nice vid! I agree it's almost always worth it to separate your scrap.

[@hollygame7103]

Depends how much do you charge (get) for an h of work.

[@dand4564]

Nicely made video. Educational and entertaining

[@bucksmith9035]

you made it so easy i dont know ??? i have to FIGHT with the compressor motors LOL

[@loafersheffield]

At :10 "As they say, waste not, want not" and I say oils well that ends well. "You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead" (Stan Laurel)

[@loafersheffield]

Ooops at 1:10

[@BeachsideHank]

I've salvaged some nice short lengths of hardened and ground drill rod from high pressure washers, they make great tooling setup references being as they are so precise and concentric, dowel pins by any other name I guess. Enjoying your journeys too.☺

[@HighVoltageMadness]

More useful as a shop air compressor than for scrap. Many of these put out over 500 psi, great for air cannons and other projects. Could easily be sold on Ebay for more than 20 Euro if it works.

[@015diesel]

Very good video mate well done!👍

[@irishgoldstacker8018]

Hello Ian. Haven't seen too many of your videos lately. I remember bringing home two of those compressors on the bike once only to find out my scrap yard doesn't take them. I never strip motors.

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Well thanks for hitting the back catalogue, indeed some yards won’t touch em with a Barge pole. But they are lucrative for the copper if stripped, and even if taken by a yard they are not classed as motors

[@MJM844]

Tank you for you uitleg groet, Maarten from Nijmegen NL.

[@smoke3571985]

Mountain Springs and Two Chinese daughters of copper i had to turn the volume back up subtitles did you no justice LOL

[@Man-in-da-shed]

😂😂😂. That’s awesome. I have sometimes had subs on when reviewing my footage it can be quite hilariously funny

[@traviswilson8922]

I'm convinced. Made it look easy

[@jimharry2273]

interesting video Ian. I have a similar compressor motor I removed from a fridge and enjoyed seeing what is inside it but after watching your video I don't think it is worth stripping in my case due to current scrap prices here in Sydney. A scrap motor is 60c a kilo while a kilo of copper winding is $6-$7. Obviously selling as is would be $6 so hardly worth the work to disassemble for an extra dollar at most. Thank you for saving me the time I would have spent to break it down not knowing the amount of copper inside. Cheers.

[@Man-in-da-shed]

jim harry your welcome.

[@Okiescrapper]

you make that look too easy, great video

[@dameonbird8694]

Thank you very much for explaining that the way you did I do appreciated it and thanks once again.

[@lloydstacey7674]

Nice to see a UK scrapper with character lol

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Thank you

[@jackpotdigger834]

lol i like that the answer is in the title good job ian

[@jerrykingsley6703]

glad I found this. Wonderfully informative video

[@NotSoCrazyNinja]

You forgot to factor in the cost of the grinder wheel and total time/labor. There is also electrical cost but it is almost trivial. All in all, still sounds like it would be "worth it" if you have more time than money or just bored.

[@shawnmcmullin792]

You change the game for me... Thank you!

[@Man-in-da-shed]

shawn mcmullin it’s easy money

[@claytonschemper8375]

So much fun to watch.

[@wannabescrapper72]

What you get now? That's definitely worth the time to tear these down. I assume a freezer/AC compressor would be about the same, depending on the size. I guess pumping oil would keep everything in pretty nice shape in there. Great video. Nice chat today.

[@ohsoloco5113]

I started cutting open compressors after watching this. Recently I quit the practice after cutting open a very large compressor and discovered the motor windings were aluminium. That's the biggest disappointment I come across when scrapping. I now sell my compressors as "sealed units." Don't have to mess with the oil, and I don't go through a couple dollars in cut off wheels.

[@Man-in-da-shed]

It is disappointing to find aluminium wire, you could always drill them first to find out if copper or not, Use a diamond wheel more expensive but lasts a longtime, I’m fortunate I get part worn cut off wheels for free.

[@ohsoloco5113]

@@Man-in-da-shed I can't recall what my scrap yard pays for sealed units. I could do the math after my next run, but considering I usually only have 2 or 3 of them I'm not sure I'll mess with them anymore. I drilled holes in the units and let them drain for a few days, but everything is still oily.

[@user-ez3jv3yh2y]

Отличный способ разборки, с меня лайк.

[@TheShadeTreeFixitMan]

Neat stuff, maybe I will tear the compressors apart from now on. Thanks

[@benhumphregys3087]

Great videos thanks for tips and advice

[@Redgonetogray]

Dang ! An I scrapped a small fridge last year and didn't realize all that was in there.

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Well Red that did come out of a substantial. ( for the UK ) Fridge Freezer what we call an American one , not a double door one but still a big un

[@PaulioMaldinio]

I like the way the video is done. Kept me interested

[@Man-in-da-shed]

PaulioMaldinio thankyou

[@ededmund5685]

WOW GOOD VIDEO Thx Ed Loretto Ontario Canada

[@robg9370]

Nicely done! 1 thing from a refrigeration tech. The oil is VERY hygroscopic (attracts moisture). I would not use it on anything I'm fond of. Thanks again.

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Rob g. Thanks. I did not know that.

[@SkyCandyVisuals]

I will start cutting my compressors open. I only found this video because I'm searching if old school hermetic compressors have copper in them. I have quite a few but wanted save time and not break them down if no copper is inside. The scrap yard is taking them as mixed scrap as they claim there's no copper in it

[@Man-in-da-shed]

A lot of the newer ones are aluminium wound, best to drill a hole in the side first to see if copper or not.

[@amishpope]

Squeezing every penny out. Good job mate. Cheers

[@joeyboland3406]

Getting the copper wire out is arguably worth the time, depending on how much a person values their time, but trying to separate the aluminum that's in the compressor I would have to say is definitely not worth anybody's time

[@dasdasdatics420]

Well done for keeping the tatting hobby going. Just hope the council don't send you a business tax for turning your garage into a workshop. Always keep space in it for a motor bike.

[@Man-in-da-shed]

🤫

[@eatiegourmet1015]

Ahh... From a time in history before "me Bench" became a mythological figure... ;)

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Aye it Twas less empty then

[@adey88splace]

I always wanted to know what was in those motors. Thank you!

[@dimim44]

Just be carefull what you use that oil on . Refrigeration oil is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs moisture becoming acidic.

[@jasonbrand5762]

$10 scrap fridge+$15 copper,aluminum=$20 x5 fridges=$150 for grinder,blade,puller pliers,hammer

[@waltwood4113]

That is a easier way of doing it...thank you for the idea

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Walt Wood is there any other way ?

[@waltwood4113]

@@Man-in-da-shed I was sawzalling them which took for ever...your easy cut 3 minutes off of recovery time

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Walt Wood. ahh The sawzall. Mine won’t cut butter, but it is a very cheap one.

[@waltwood4113]

@@Man-in-da-shed same as mine lol

[@ewastemike7700]

You ruined a nice beer glass. they buy them here as compressors. I had over 2.2 tons of them last summer. That was cool 2 hit's and copper out. Great to see one takin apart.

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Practice lol, Beer glass ? i had to re-watch to see what you meant, its a Dyson vacuum dirt collector

[@gainingweightminingmetal3848]

Very informative. thank you

[@stevemccann9599]

Great informative video...thanks for sharing

[@micahperson6903]

Now I know where I missed money. Thanks

[@curtjames1943]

I guess i need to learn brittan to understand. 😉

[@steelisthemeal]

Just looking at the old videos

[@steelisthemeal]

Well I do understand completely the benefit of Tek it to bits Of course I’m sure that if you had my set up that you would probably shirk that off and decide it’s best not To bother 🤔 But then for many people it is fun to tear things up Myself I wonder how much work should I put into this and how much money am I going to get from it For me individually and personally it is probably more beneficial for me to save up several of those compressors and just bring them to a scrapyard it pays $.12 a pound. Taking these apart yes brings more money in but I don’t know Here I will tell you what I will give it a whirl and make a video of it and determine at least from my point of view is it worth the extra time? clearly I can see that you more than doubled your money!!!!

[@Man-in-da-shed]

SCRAP Kingdom!!!! It's fine if you have the time, but if it's a living. As you know, time is money.

[@David-td1tf]

Very insightful

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Thanks, i also did a follow up vid kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJ_XdoSbhN58bc0 a bit of a fail but i tried.

[@armelbourassa1378]

GREAT VIDEO

[@ScrappingwithGrandpa]

Nice video. Dang didn’t know how long you been on here

[@Man-in-da-shed]

seems a long time now

[@MoHomesteading]

Wow this is a really good video! so is the part you cut off .. on the casing .. is that steel? the first cut.. and I love the magnet on the stick... I had not seen that before.. :) all the little bits and pieces for art... see that's what I love!

[@Man-in-da-shed]

MoHomesteading yes it’s steel

[@BhodieBob]

sweet - your wife must be like i don't know what he does down there and i don't care

[@Man-in-da-shed]

Oh you don’t know the half of it, I’m banished out the house early. Can only come back in for tea

[@candlestyx8517]

BigstackD: Im going to needlessly hammer all of this wire through the stator with a flat punch Ian Matthews: Just grab it and give it a good whack...

[@kentrobison588]

Did compressors and motors for years. The copper in compressors nearly always comes out very easily like in the video because they are oily. Motors need punching out. Slim ones can be hammered off. Big transformers and long motors can be a nightmare. Bash all the plates off or cut the whole thing in half with a big grinder.

[@brandonkocanda5413]

@@kentrobison588 does it real work to just cut them in half I don't want to pull every single slot

[@kentrobison588]

@@brandonkocanda5413 Yes. Compressors are very easy to salvage the copper. With electric motors, the copper usually has to be punched through the slots and long motors are difficult. Long motors may have to have all the plates bashed off. I just did 8 compressors in about an hour. I use ultra-thin 9" cutting discs. Find the three welds on the compressor and cut right around the unit beside them on the long side and remove the end and the armature.. Cut down the length and across the bottom. You do not need to cut the other side so save disc wear. Just spread the long cut a bit with a hammer and cold chisel and the windings drop out. The copper does not need to be punched out. Just bash the copper at one end and they slide out easily. Be very careful cutting them open. Hold the compressor tight somehow.

[@brandonkocanda5413]

@@kentrobison588 my question is really for big motors because I have some glycol pumps 254 lb motors that I'm tearing for scrapcutting them along the edge and then just pulling the wire individually which seems to be like the only way I see people do it

[@kentrobison588]

@@brandonkocanda5413 kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGaveaV6a7R5iZY I misunderstood the question. Think I am going senile. The biggest motor I have done was about 100lb. The long motors in bore pumps I cut in half but it costs disc wear and doing them on a dropsaw might burn it out. Some motors are really hard and I spend a lot of time bashing plates off. Cut the end windings off with an ultrathin disc on an angle grinder and then use it to grind the copper flush if it sticks out a little bit. They are harder to get out if the ends are a bit bent over. I use use small-angle steel wedges 1/4' to 1/2 ' thick and hammer them in under the loops to lift the bunches a bit. Then bigger wedges. A strong slide hammer with a heavy slide might be good. Make one up with a hook and hook under the loops after they are pulled out a bit. Pulling a few wires first will loosen the others and the lot will come out easier.

[@twitchyourwhiskers]

Good job , Ian. I always wanted to know what is inside one of those. Thank you.