I Spent $945 on Transformers to Scrap for COPPER

So much copper in this video! This time though, it's scrapping copper transformers. After the success of my experiment buying AC compressors, I decided to up the ante and spin that scrap wheel again! This time we loaded up the truck and trailer with as many copper transformers as we could haul, and smashed them into dust with the biggest hammers around! How much can we make? Was it worth it? Find out here!
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[@Suzu92]

That round one w plastic you passed on is awesome. I get them off Uninterruptible power supplies. 16lbs of copper

[@thubprint]

Really!? I’ve always found those are the best things to pull off circuit boards, generally a large amount of windings on them. Sounds like I missed out!

[@tylerlowrance5279]

I thought it was neat watching you unload truck and noticing the rise of bumper as weight came off

[@thubprint]

I loved that part too! It’s just interesting to me, seeing incremental changes sped up so you can watch it. Like those high-speed videos of mushrooms or flowers blooming

[@groovethief711]

totally a cool shot

[@nightscrapperuk13]

30hours of hard grafting for a jaw dropping $2300 cnd is awesome am glad you felt proud driving to the scrapyard with all that #2 copper

[@MattsAwesomeStuff]

Wow this was satisfying. $1200 is definitely worth your time. That's almost a rent payment, in only 30 hours. For something that takes almost no tools and no skill, that's not a bad side hustle. Hell it's not a bad main hustle. If this was full time, that'd be an $80,000/year job. And, that's with your beginner's methods and tools. You'd get better and faster as time went on. One thing about breaking apart the stacked E-I transformers (versus interlaced), unless you want to re-use the transformer you don't need to use an angle grinder to cut the welds. An old hatchet as a wedge and a 3 lb hammer to smash it will punch right through those welds on the first strike. Also, since you left $400 on the table by selling high-silicon iron as tin shred... that's getting close to the cost of shipping a pallet to the coast. If you're doing quantities like this regularly (you aren't, but...), it's probably worth it to call around and find out just where the closest yard is that *will* pay you high silicon prices. Or, I dunno, if it's Edmonton or Red Deer or somewhere in-province, it'd borderline be worth your gas money and time to trailer it. I know yards in Ontario and BC pay for high-silicon, but, I've never heard of any here in town. I'm wondering if it'd be worth it for you to have/build a small hydraulic press (that's electric or air over hydraulic, so that it's 10x as fast). So much of what you do is hammering lettuce-sized objects, this has got to wear you down and slow you down. A fast-set vice (old impact driver and socket mounted to a vice, with a foot pedal to tighten/loosen) would also be a project worth building. Nothing you couldn't easily build out of scrap, and, I'd bet a project video series like that would be quite popular. Even not as a video series, your efforts are slowed down so much by your simple lack of clamping. You're wasting 90% of your body strength by having everything floating around all loose-like and never getting to apply proper leverage. Selling yourself short. As to peeling paper, my only thought is to maybe get it at a 15 degree angle and smash it into a parallelogram with a hammer. Might sheer the windings and sheer the fiberglass/paper. Fire is another option. Get a $25 weed burner propane torch and roast 'em. Copper soaks up heat magnificently, it'll soften the enamel and glues. Few seconds with a torch then the hammer perhaps? Like anything, you'll get better at it as you do more of it, but, for something you only do a couple times a year you're never climbing over the learning curve.

[@amogusenjoyer]

I think the hard part would be to find truck loads of copper transformers 😅. Consistently I mean

[@MattsAwesomeStuff]

@@amogusenjoyer - Well, honestly, the scrapyard should be willing to do this, for all they're concerned. They got rid of some transformers, they got back some iron and copper. Both in this case as market rates, so, at worst they should be ambivalent towards it. Meanwhile, he could make $80k/year processing them. Or more if he got more efficient. Though you're right, maybe the entire yard doesn't have enough transformers to justify this. I don't know if he went to Empire or Recon for this load. It was Recon at the end where he sold the iron. Empire's like 5% the size, just a small bay or two in a warehouse strip, but Thub usually takes all his non-ferrous there 'cause their prices are significantly higher. Either one could've sold him transformers. The thing is, none of these yards are anywhere near the size that they're doing actual recycling with it. They're just stepping stones to the actual recyclers. They sell to "someone", so, the "someone" might as well be Thub. These aren't un-askable questions or a charity operation necessarily. Even a tiny premium to them in a very competitive industry has value. If he pays them 10% above transformer value, he'd only lose 10% of his profit, but meanwhile, they'd probably be happy making 10% more on it than they were. It's good money for Thub, but it's literally free money to them to get a 10% premium.

[@amogusenjoyer]

​@@MattsAwesomeStuffagreed! And as you said, a hydraulic press would make it even easier and much more steady if the supply is there. Not sure about the very thick transformers but for the smaller ones and the separate coils, would be a huge help for sure

[@groovethief711]

i bet you would need a couple of rest days after that

[@groovethief711]

@@MattsAwesomeStuffgreat info mate thanks

[@campervan-john]

Project shop FL is the expert on breaking transformers

[@ScrapFatherScrapSon]

He is with the machine. Stop by mine and watch how ibreak them down by hand!

[@campervan-john]

​@@ScrapFatherScrapSon Ok cheers

[@ProjectShopFl]

@@ScrapFatherScrapSon Don't let the machine fool you, My hammer game is still on point. lol

[@ScrapFatherScrapSon]

@@ProjectShopFl abahhahahaha I know it is derek I’ve seen you swinging that thing like is a lollipop! Still haven’t made me a transformer press! I need it! 600 lights rolling in!

[@louistowers526]

So much inspiration to start this in the UK! 😜🙏💯🔥

[@mrMacGoover]

You need a shop press, you put the transformer in it diagonally corner to corner and crush it till cracks and falls apart.

[@sticksandstones1885]

Motors are very hard work . My suggestion is to find you an old log splitter. If it's gas, do it outside. If you can swap it over to an electric motor then you can probably run the retrofit log splitter indoors in the winter.. But you will definitely have to change the anvil on the log's splitter So you can do the small motors Any type of hydraulic ram with a splitter on it would be helpful And I will encourage you to watch the project shop florida Videos, because he has a pretty good. Set up on how to get those things knocked quickly

[@nomadsteve5297]

Soak the thick paper coils in a bucket of cheap paint thinners, I leave them in the thinners for a week, then the paper/glue will just slide off, make sure you hose down the copper with cold water afterwards, thanks for keeping us entertained with your videos 👍

[@ScrapFatherScrapSon]

Find a yard that takes it is number two with it on they should there’s plenty of them that well as for me, one of my yards takes it as number three electric motor copper, but the price is higher than most other yards number two by at least 50 Cent

[@Beak3er]

Thanks for this tip. I've got some transformers that are fairly hard to remove the glue and paper.

[@peetbronkhorst5473]

Not sure if it would be cost effective but sulfuric acid(drain cleaner) works amazing at removing the resin and paper

[@swohs100]

We are 73 and we are glad that there are young people like you in the world. You have done more for the environment than the windbags, Gore, Kerry and Thunberg combined.

[@jessevos5109]

Blood sweat and tears won't describe the difficulty you'll encounter the 1st time you get the copper from these. 😂

[@memo_madness]

If I recall correctly project shop nfl once said he stopped cleaning them up and still got the same price. Not sure which video he mentioned it in but I often go to his channel for information on transformers.

[@ScrapFatherScrapSon]

Yeah, most yards should take it as number two with the paper on if they complain, find another yard!

[@davidbrock-vs9px]

To keep your hammer head tight keep it soaked in water. I'm a Faller and keep my axe in water once in awhile in summer. Also copper usually goes up in price in spring.

[@mr.zardoz3344]

Your copper skillz are MAD bro! Astounding, incredible, amazing, Randallicious, divine, i-Cream, beautiful, righteous, Bob's-your-Uncle, flash, and crafty! Glad the payout was worth your time. Thanks for sharing.

[@thubprint]

Going above and beyond Mr. Z! I’m gonna screenshot those and try work them all into sentences haha 👍 thanks for being a part of it!

[@Stalkpro]

Excellent result, simply super, it’s always a pleasure to work with copper, especially in small quantities.👍

[@thedwindles]

Reading some of these comments I like the ideas of soaking everything in some sort of solution or finding a yard that will pay number 2 even with the paper. Also a good idea to leave the best looking stuff on the top :P

[@joshp6061]

Next step: contact all the electrical contractors in your area and offer to buy their transformers off them 6:18 Your garage is a mess? Who cares! 7:45 It’ll absolutely be easier to break them down if you’re hammering on a sturdy metal table, it’ll absorb the impact so it doesn’t all go into your arm and shoulder 9:10 Your technique is undeniably masterful!!

[@drcurioustube]

Fascinating. Intriguing. Excruciating. 😄

[@Hobbyscrapperaustralia]

Always the hardest part is cleaning the paper off the copper. Luckily for me my yard takes # 2 copper cleaned up, burnt,with paint on it or covered in paper insulation and they give the same price per kg

[@kurtriemer3797]

Project Farm uses a salt water mixture he uses for oxidation on metal and it takes just a few days if I recall correctly. Might be worth reaching out to him and asking about it if you really are serious about rusting them before you process them

[@simodo11]

Always a pleasure watching your videos ,your a well spoken ,intelligent and very interesting scrapper ,keep up the good work . Always look forward to your informative videos

[@thubprint]

Thank you!

[@thadofalltrades]

Buying transformers and motors to break down further is really the only way to really make money scrapping. There's a ceiling to how much raw scrap a person can collect and process. Canadian Treasure Hunter works tirelessly at it and makes like $35k a year. He's sitting on probably $100k worth of copper though.

[@britneyystaples91]

There is alot more money than that in scrapping. You just gotta pay for your scrap metal.

[@simplescrapping]

Nice job my friend👍👍

[@patrickmorrissey2271]

@ 10:05 Your technique was inspiring, no doubt.... I'm intrigued by your comments about the price of Copper.... Copper is a commodity... People do need it.... And, let me say, I am not a Financial Advisor. This comment is for entertainment only. I am a knucklehead commenter. Okay?? Good. If you found the price of copper was way down, Go buy more transformers for LESS money.... Clean those up... If the price is down again, buy more transformers, clean them up.... When the price rebounds, take your bounty & sell it at a high price.... It doesn't matter that much if you're looking to buy gold, silver, copper, platinum, pork bellies, soybeans, wheat, cattle, whatever.... although, taking delivery of cattle can present some serious storage problems.... Heh heh heh! My point is, If you believe in any commodity market, STUDY it... With the tools available today for free, look at your 50 day moving averages, your 200 day moving averages.... When the market drops DOWN, that's a buying opportunity. That's the thing you wanna buy, ON SALE. It's the same "thing". Except the price is down. When the price is running strong, that's your SELLING opportunity... Unload. Take your profits. Drag your money off the table. Book that profit in your notebook, reset, and start watching for the next buying opportunity..... Look, when I watch these videos, I see a guy with ambition... With energy... A guy willing to put in the work... And that is all very admirable... So, be SMART. If the price drops, buy more. When the price is up, sell it off.... Keep pounding. Get rewarded for your work.

[@chilewillys]

To make best score using a minimal hand forcé you Need : 1 - sorting of transforms for type of similar core and model 2- use the grinder to cut the solder joints. 3 - see KZbin for learn another technic of dissambling trafo .

[@troynixon209]

Air chisel might be more efficient for the ones with the joins/seams.

[@blackwidowfarms]

Wow! Your hammer skills are astounding, impressive and inspiring. Your technique is remarkable in how you peel those hairy little meatballs.

[@bigcountryscrapper6885]

Great video my friend

[@cardrivingdude]

During most of the core disassembly I kept thinking this is a job for a log splitter. Thanks for sharing.

[@michaelbrinks8089]

I was thinking a machine press from Harbor freight with the big bottle jack in it. Give each one a smoosh.

[@lostonpurpose3734]

Yep, we use a wood splitter it's the fastest easiest way.

[@panteleon1]

the easiest method to separate copper is to put the entire thing in the forge inside a cubicle and in copper melting point remove steel and pour the clean copper in a cast

[@VetvsWorld]

I need to find some scrappers near me. I’d pay more for copper!! Unrelated, but very cool edits unloading-I especially liked watching the truck rise as it was unloaded. 😂 Lastly, carry a rake on your rig bro.

[@scrapnjunk81]

That was and awesome video. Pretty cool return

[@robwaterfiled6168]

great work, couple of things, an anvil/rail track on that stump would help heaps, the vice on a sturdy bench with the little jaw bits screwed in tight as any bit of crud that gets under a loose jaw becomes a potential break point when its tightened so keep em snug. i also endorse the hatchet/hammer method to split them, quicker and quieter with the anvil/rail. But a cool video Dude, thanks for showing us

[@user-ib9bt9sn6w]

Awesome work.... well done. You inspire!!!

[@Beak3er]

I use a chunk of I-beam to break the steel, I don't precut the transformers. Also suggested to use a 4# cross peen hammer but smaller will work. I have all my steel and copper stored in 55 gallon drums waiting for a rainy day.

[@dnickarz]

Great job, love your channel. That vise needs to be higher so you don't hunch your back. Workflow, man.

[@tractors44]

The round ones are a good source of copper wire, yes there’s a bit of paper but they are still worth breaking up.

[@TheNickZajac]

ASTRONOMICAL HAMMER TECHNIQUE!!!!

[@thubprint]

Oooo, that’s a good one! I’m gonna remember that one 😄

[@zacklamprey4784]

Awesome job

[@selenerucobo2251]

Wow, that was great.

[@lorrainemcdonald7332]

Another great video!

[@TheApartmentScrapper]

You have excellent hairy meatball skills!

[@benhumphregys3087]

For real I’m such a big fan of yours I’ve literally watched and liked every single video I’ve watched them more than once too❤

[@thubprint]

Thank you so much!! I genuinely really appreciate it, I know my videos aren’t for everyone but I try to make stuff I like and it means a lot to know there are people like you who like it too 💚

[@rixismetals]

Remarkable technique handling the meatballs 😳

[@DanielCordone73]

Awesome this did look fun, if I were to do this I'd get only the transformers with welded plates. In my opinion more fun to Crack open and requires the least amount of tools. As you mentioned though it takes its physical toll. Great fun thank you!

[@rayl3177]

I admire your patience. I work 2 jobs I don't have the time or patience to go to these lengths. I just turn it as is.

[@user-hh9cx6zw5w]

I've never done this kind of work but just by watching I'm wondering if it would make sense to get a hydraulic press and press the outer steel and inner plastic off of the copper? Maybe even make different jigs for the press head to fit common transformer sizes? Keep up the great videos! Love em!

[@benhumphregys3087]

Amazing videos like these I absolutely love and wish you did them more often

[@wantacar2055]

A very good job was done and the result was superb 👍

[@evilengine9]

I like how your vice is bolted to a tree stump… very Canadian.

[@deborahgould5695]

Your doing great Thub. Keep pushing yourself and all will be well. Love all your videos 👍

[@thubprint]

🥲 ty!

[@chrishawes6565]

Happy days, if you had fun making that amount an hour, got to be a bonus. Keep posting and I'll keep watching

[@jonathanhege5029]

Beautiful hammering technique!

[@david.perrip4316]

Very nice video! Love the humor in it!! Great pay day too !! Love it

[@maritimescrapper]

That was an awesome video my friend!!

[@DianaRea-nv8zc]

Wow. Those paper stripping skills were a thing of beauty

[@DrHutOfHandcraft]

Really nice camera work 👍🏼 Love your content 👍🏼🐼

[@thubprint]

Thank you! Used most of the lenses I own haha

[@SeanTikiTea]

Superlative hammer work. Your videos have been so helpful to a newbie and now that pile of transformers I have looks a little less intimidating. Thanks mate 😎

[@Derbyhobbiescrapper]

Nice load mate .Next step a furnace

[@user-vn3sd1qn7g]

I can dig it dude, just spent 2 hours pulling apart a car alternator with a 20oz estwing hammer and hand tools.loved it

[@timcolgan2699]

I have a hard of my own. Your vid has been most helpful my boy. 😊

[@nikkolaus]

You should go watch Project Shop FL .. he does this with transformers all the time, but he uses a press on the steel and cracks em...

[@user-hs9ns7fg1j]

This is a process wow 😳 very impressive technique 😅😅

[@jameskandosii240]

Love these further away shots, great focusing!

[@HappyAst34-vp3xg]

Phenomenal, stupendous! Loved this

[@thescrapmeister]

it's great that your yard was willing to work with you of the project.

[@markdukeshire4812]

Amazing! Riveting techniques! Superb rhythm! Good eye and steadfast determination. 5 stars!

[@gravitybear]

This was so great! You have inspired me finally to deal with the transformers I have stored up. It's two orders of magnitude less, but it needs to be done.

[@frelnc]

Good job, Thub. Awesome work.

[@vinnienowhere1015]

Well done Drake! Your technique is second to none 😂!

[@caveweta]

Maybe find yourself a slab of thick steel to use as an anvil, or an old piece of rail track, easier than smacking that vice all day

[@misterdecaro]

Hi, I enjoy watching your content. Just a couple suggestions. You can save alot of pounding by cutting right through the welds to the copper and then the sides should peel off pretty easy. Also, I'd suggest raising your log with your vise on it. It was killing my back watching you bent over pounding the the transformers. Lastly I'd suggest putting your processed materials in containers as you process them - hopefully reduce your handling time and efforts. Happy Scrapping!

[@siggitiggi]

On that note, he has an sds and a wedge for it.

[@canadiangemstones7636]

@@siggitiggiHow you know he has an std? Is it a bad one?

[@DortyDennis.]

Splendid!

[@SmokyNiteSky]

Duuuude. Be proud. You earned that 💯

[@RealTC16]

Great work man! Keep grinding. I found torch takes the sticky paper off, much faster.

[@paulturner4598]

Enjoyed the video, keep them coming

[@frankspicci9994]

Great video Man! And those were some "Thor" like hammering skills!!

[@SollersSrappingandDiving]

That was so awesome!! I love the copper toroids though, they take seconds to breakdown with a 🔨 and actually have 2 layers of copper, yum! I'd kill my back hammering at that low angle, how the heck do you do that 😬 but yes awesome, astounding and I can't remember the words you said lol. The level of effort and work you put in was formidable, great job as ever 👌😄

[@Man-in-da-shed]

👀

[@DianaRea-nv8zc]

Those hammer skills were Olympic qualifying like

[@Aeblehjem]

YES! I cannot wait to see how this unfolds!

[@bsp7364]

Great video dude the voice over was relaxing

[@garrettmillard525]

I don't understand why Project Shop FL doesn't buy them from scrap yards. You are a madman cleaning them up.

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Listen to the vid. Scrapyards are not in the biz of selling transformers at cost. So this vid is fantasy.

[@danielmusumeci661]

That was inspiring hammering there I must say

[@IKIDIF]

Always learn something new watching your videos, thanks bro!

[@williammeeks1283]

One of your best videos yet and that's saying a bunch because you have awesome content. Great job on staying after the goal and bringing that profit home.

[@MrRoscojones1]

GREAT JOB! Great effeciancy!

[@thadofalltrades]

You need a more stable surface to hammer. That log is bouncy, and it is sending energy back into your body.

[@dr.a006]

I think Thor himself would be amazed by your hammering techniques.

[@GodPikachu]

Damn you are lucky, every time i seem to crack a large transformer open all i get is steel and copper coated aluminium. GRRR!

[@thubprint]

That was a big part of the advantage of buying them from the yard, they check and sort them for copper when people bring them in. There was a much bigger pile of aluminium ones there haha

[@nampet26]

Fantastic thanks for showing process and pay off Hard work $ well earned

[@jeffwarga7405]

Masterfully done!

[@sirmileshendon]

That's awesome! A really great video!

[@44davewright]

Inspiring and astute hammer techniques as usual Thub!! Much love from Ontario

[@colehagglund4259]

@thubprint invest a framing hammer! Sure they were originally made to drive in 3 inch nails while building the bones of a house, but it works like a hot damn on these plus you won’t get tired swinging it

[@MissCanadian]

Nicely done my friend

[@SkullerMetals]

You do a great job with your vids. Cheers!

[@williammcquiston2820]

I really enjoyed your film it was very informative and well done

[@StellanLarsson]

Very impressive work and video! Nice new overalll!!!

[@jrae6608]

Awesome video

[@zebcosk1097]

Great video with epic hammer skills. Great opportunity and curious what amount of markup a yard would typically add.