Is there enough copper in a sealed unit to pay for them?

[@hobbitreet]

People like you make my days worth living. Love your down to earth presentation of good business sense.

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank You Rob, I am glad you enjoyed the video, Thanks for watching

[@hobbitreet]

@@Okiescrapper Why on earth do I spend my days tearing things apart for the copper and aluminum only to then come in and sit and watch others do the same thing? My wife may be right, it's a stupid guy thing and an "excuse to buy more tools." :)

[@gaildeckant267]

@@hobbitreet "excuse to buy more tools"- lol. That's the best part.

[@Bob-Whiting]

@@hobbitreet Hahahha! sounds like my ol' lady!

[@scottjones1497]

I’ve done tons of electronic motors and compressors. Best rule of thumb is 1 pound copper per horse power. Some advice, always cut above the ring on a compressor

[@Okiescrapper]

nice to know about the 1 lb. per. horse power, I don't think that I ever paid any attention to the horse power rating

[@jerrynewberry2823]

A

[@spacealienrissley]

I find either copper or luminum nit kixed on the staters w windings

[@ericharris893]

A16” demo saw with cutting blade streamlines the scrap business. Works fast and efficiently. Torch is a must but the demo saw rips through heavy steel and bolts or anything.

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

That's what I did. Demo Saw....even with that I enjoyed making a video about it but didn't enjoy the work.

[@dustyweasel41]

I’m on my second demo saw. They save me a ton of time. I cut the compressors just above the bottom and then slice it at the top hose area. Boom

[@donw3912]

Ive always wondered what was in those compressors...Thanks for the education on that as well as tearing down the windings. Ya learn something new every day,

[@Okiescrapper]

most are all copper and the payout is good I did another one that was all copper kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX27hpmCdqxnmMk

[@AlexJones-nx8fk]

Okie scrapper is the most complete and informative actually the best scrapper.

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank you

[@docink6175]

I went to the scrap yard for the first time in several years last week I took two batteries and a contractor's bag full of crushed aluminum cans, I walked out with $7 and change! Back when I was actually scrapping just that bag alone would have been $10... It's really not worth the time and effort now

[@Okiescrapper]

last winter it was worse. think it was like $40.00 a ton. I stockpiled until the price went up to 80.00 aluminum has been down for a while and not showing much sign of coming back up, your batteries should have done better then that. a lawn mower battery should bring $3.00 and $5.00 for a car battery. about .20 to .25 a lb. thanks for watching

[@robertthegrowguy7115]

War time all metal goes up

[@rickzacher1797]

I've been saving mine up for the future copper will go up as soon as the country opens back up

[@robertthegrowguy7115]

@@rickzacher1797 in my area scrap metals have jumped up price by almost double

[@robertthegrowguy7115]

@@rickzacher1797 actually that was a weekend special

[@mythics791]

I have made a lot of money from old compressors great video.

[@Okiescrapper]

yes, a good bit of copper in them, and not hard to get it out,

[@adamz4345]

Good info ,realized long time ago that it was not worth the time and effort to break down a compressor.

[@Okiescrapper]

most are ok and full of copper but every now and then you get one with aluminum, I now use a cutting disk to cut them open faster and use less then 1 disk to open them, the disk cost me about .55 cents each and on a big compressor like this about 4 lbs. of copper. I am a hobby scrapper, I still work for a living. so scrapping is mad money it comes in handy for extras, I get a lot of good stuff from scrapping. and I enjoy it. take care

[@gussuperman7565]

M8 you did a great service to all of us . Cheers. The steel prices are up now , so it's copper and aluminum . The steel out of the compressors is prepared steel , not light iron or tin. That means a better price , the aluminum is conceder wire not sheet , it is worth more and the copper windings are called num 2 copper . Wish you success in your endeavours .God bless y'all.

[@Okiescrapper]

aluminum need to go up for sure. the yard that I go to pays more then all the outer yards around they don't have a lot of space so they don't have short iron or prepared steel it all goes for one price but they are paying $125.00 a ton and the yard closest to me is paying $70.00 a ton so the prepared steel there may be $80.00 or $90.00 so I will take the extra 15 miles for the better price and I don't have to sort it. but yeah I should call it what it should be in the videos I will have to explain myself in a video. I put all my aluminum windings into a dog food bag. so no confusion as to what is copper and what is aluminum. Thanks for watching Gus

[@smuzzgulp3187]

One US the others UK

[@daffyduck2469]

The torch shouldn't be making such a loud (what I call jet airplane noise) hiss unless you're squeezing the oxygen lever to cut. Flame should be shorter and not as violent sounding. When you turn on acetylene and light itturn fuel down until right before it is making those little black floaters in the air. If it's making floaters its too low. Then Crack open oxygen at bottom knob fully open then adjust top oxygen knob until you see each flame cone at tip. Then fine adjust to your liking. Nothing wrong with the way you did it but this way will conserve more fuel and o². Make your tanks last longer.

[@steverenken5143]

I've learned when cutting really thin metal with a cutting torch you want to lay the torch almost flat. It cuts better.

[@Okiescrapper]

thanks for the tip, I think angle grinder is the way to go on them, thanks for watching

[@edwardfraker4043]

I use an angle grinder for sure, also on the windings. Way faster. I do loose a little cooper but I bust one out in about 5 minutes total.

[@Okiescrapper]

@@edwardfraker4043 that is working fast. good money if you get the copper one's so far most of them are

[@Grayson203]

Just finished my oxy fuel cutting class and can confirm this. Anytime you're cutting thin metals, you want a hefty travel angle

[@Okiescrapper]

@@Grayson203 Thanks for the tip. I never took a class, I think that maybe I should someday,

[@bigcountryscrapper6885]

Great video here....I mever bothered with scrapping these out never really thought it would be worth it

[@TenmaFN]

Those wires are a copper coated aluminum, much like TV cable wires they run in peoples houses as the power/signal only runs on the outter diameter of the cable (the copper part) the aluminum is just fill to make the wire size diameter to meet the specs. Its a cost cut. Think of it as 1 mile of Copper at .125 inch vs. cost of 1 mile of Aluminum .120 plated with .005 of copper.

[@gregjones7356]

I I

[@Poorboychickencoop]

No it's really aluminum wire.... and tv coax is 99% of the time copper clad steel wire..... a file and a magnet 🧲 is your best friend scrapping.... I scrapped for 15 years and now I have worked at a scrap yard for 8 years..... I've operated every machine (and repaired them also) the only things on the yard I haven't operated is the cash register and credit card machine... There is a machine that makes recycling compressors profitable but for $12k it's not every man's tool...

[@michaelanderson-sr5uv]

I have been doing those for years that first piece that you cut off we call that the bracelet you get a carbon blade put in a circle to saw believe it's called You Pull the handle down with that Carbon Blade and you cut that off and then when you cut that off the carbon blade makes it nice and smooth and even so you can pull the rest out after you put it the whole piece the vice pretty easy I've been doing it for years I'm one of the few people that do those I was glad to see you using those torches I've been waiting to see that I do have a set of settling torches just never got around to it doing those for years . Thanks for showing me

[@Okiescrapper]

Yes I thought about getting a bigger grinder a 7 inch and try that, but I do have a 14 inch cutoff saw that is probably what you are talking about the blade is kind of wide but I could put a shop vac. at the back of blade to catch the copper dust. and I have a chisel that I cut a v into it and it pulls the copper out real nice with the air chisel. Thanks for watching Michael

[@jonathanlawson4667]

You remind me of my grandfather he worked at the city dump running a dozer all his life well up until he died at 50 from a massive heart attack and he would take everything apart like that and separate it and he made a decent living doing that

[@butcherbaker4258]

Awesome video sir, i am not one of these youg bucks complaining about everything. I didn't mind watching the video for longer. Keep up the good work and thank you for showing the ones that are actually doing this for curiosity nor crime. I have kept everything so far that i have melted down but the day when i do start to sell it might be weird for me personally because ya never know how the market or banks start to go a little crazzy i know i have guaranteed income. Keep up the great work and i will always watch 🇺🇲🙏🏼 god bless you and your's

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank you, I have retired since I made this video, so now still a hobby, and it supplements the ssi. I plan to slow down some so I can get out and fish a little and play around in the boat

[@jzeerod]

very good video. i have never come across aluminum in a pumpkin from a fridge or stove or AC. coolers are a good source of copper if you seperate from the alum fins. i use a sharp knife after lopping off the macaroni ends. justt cut once, then second cut, slightly to the side or whatnot, peels away clean if you cut it right with a sharp knife point. can just pull the end with pliers. i tried these with air chisels, but simple cutting is best, quiet and clean. almost relaxing when you hear that ZZZZZZZZZZZIP when you know you cut it just right. also, MW, those small rotisery motors, collect em, they add up if you have a 20 or so. and for me a bit of fun to imagine what i can make with all those small gears if only i was a bit smarter. anything up to a 220V plug is worth stripping by hand.

[@perstaffanlundgren]

Would be interesting to see the scroll compressor in the unit . Can you put up a video on that?

[@mybuickskill6979]

I was wondering the same. As a tinkerer with the geothermal arts, I was quite curious about that myself 🤔🤗

[@billybeason350]

I do this all time at a scrapyard in stilwell. I use propane instead of acetylene much cheaper does just as good of a job. I just cut those bolts with my torch and hit with my sledge hammer to loosen it up and it comes apart. I've seen those kind of compressors before aluminum and copper usually just toss in the iron pile not worth the work and hassle of trying to separate. Also do electric motors the are easy also, like your barrel with the catching of waste oil may make one also, thanks from a fellow okie.

[@Okiescrapper]

I will have to check into propane gauges. Your welcome Billy Thanks for watching

[@arielkozak]

Propane is cheaper. But to get the same efficiency as acetylene propane uses like 3 times more oxygen. So in the long run you'll be wasting more on oxy

[@danthescrapper815]

Compressors i work on about 10% of the total is copper inside, not entirely accurate but gives me a ball park figure anyway....7 cents a pound is a terrible price for a compressor, that yard is making huge profit at that price.....here in Australia im getting $0.99kg for my compressors and if i did remove the copper from the inside id get $9.80kg for it but because i get heaps of aircons to strip apart every week i no longer have time to cut them open so my $0.99kg is good enough for me......shop around for yards mate and try to find the yard he onsells to which is what i did with my stuff that way your getting the best price possible.

[@Okiescrapper]

yes I agree to shop around. the yard closest to me pay's low so I hardly even call them for a price quote

[@kennethhacker1341]

Wow I never knew here was copper in compressors...thank you for the education

[@Okiescrapper]

you are very welcome Kenneth, most are all copper, as luck would have it I picked one with aluminum for the video, about 4 lbs. of copper in a unit this size, Thanks for stopping by

[@johnbailey9020]

Have you calculated the end the cost of the acetylene torch? And the time involved.

[@Okiescrapper]

about 50 cents for the torch, who keeps track of time on a hobby? most units are all copper and have about 4 lbs. or a bout $14.00 in copper, this unit was free so it is all profit. a cutting disk will open one easy too, and use less then 1 disk

[@dreandreamer2021]

If you put that in a little fire for a couple minutes the plastic will melt just it cool off then you can pull that copper out in 1 minute it has a pattern to it

[@Okiescrapper]

I can pull it out in a minute with my air chisel I use that method in a few other videos. thanks for stopping by

[@ZaganStoanes]

I had truck and 2 trailer loads (7×9 flat bed on truck and a 8×20 trailer) full given to Me by a heating and ac guy and had about a dozen of these compressors and wasn't sure what to do with them but now I do thank you for the video.

[@Okiescrapper]

Hello Zagan a guy in the comments said he did 100's of these a day ranging from 3 to 15 lbs. each, think for this size I see about 6 lbs. on average, most of them are all copper, but as time go on I think will see more and more aluminum in them. Thanks for watching

[@spirittomczyk2174]

Have you ever tried to use a wire wheel ton the winding strings??

[@Okiescrapper]

no I need to try that, I have one on the bench grinder

[@bdowsley5656]

Love the barrel set up. A little bit of that weight was the oil inside too. Great, real time, video. Lots of useful information. 👌🏻😎

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank you, a 41/2-inch angle grinder will cut them open easy too, I use less than one disk per unit, and use the angle grinder to cut the copper, and now I use an air chisel to pull the copper out with a chisel shaped like a Y, I now use a plasma cutter, so only using electric for the cutter and air compressor, so I won't be cutting any in the summer between 3 pm and 7 pm as electric rates are higher during those hours. most units have all copper wire in them, about 4 to 6 lbs. so $12.00 to $22.00 depending on the price of #2 copper at the time and in your area. thanks for stopping by

[@rogerlane474]

I've taken many of those apart. Some will be all copper windings, others will be all aluminum. You found one with both. You might be able to tell what you have by the weight before you open them up. I don't know how else you'd determine it once they've been separated from the appliance.

[@Okiescrapper]

one guy told me about some numbers on plate, I still have the top with the plate on it. I think it would be hard to go by weigh of unit as there are so many styles, I will not buy them too much free stuff out there, so I will take what I get, Thanks for watching

[@ruthiewrangler9864]

How do you discharge the unit when removing it from the appliance.

[@Okiescrapper]

I don't discharge them that one came in as is, and I get a lot of condenser units that have been removed by the heat and air guys, I need to get down and take the class and test for recovery and get the equipment.

[@dangoldbach6570]

And people think scrapping is easy! I'd say for these little guys it's not really worth it, but it might be on a 5 ton or bigger commercial hermetic. Something else to be aware of you correctly pointed out, refrigeration oil is considered hazardous waste because of the chloride content from the residual refrigerant dissolved in it. If there's a lot of it you may see green flames from the cutting torch, that's the refrigerant burning and creating phosgene gas, you will know it if you make it because it stinks. It's also really toxic. (WWI mustard gas). It will also tear up a waste oil burner, not just because of the phosgene or fluorophosgene, but because a lot of changed compressors are burn-outs and are loaded with acid. That all winds up in the oil too. I definitely give you credit for trying to see if it's worth it and it's always cool to see what's inside those compressors though!! Good video!

[@wisconsinfarmer4742]

Thanks. I always learn something from your vids. I'm a hobby scrapper too, don't really need the money but it is so ..... relaxing I guess. I think you put it another way, once. " scrapping is in you"

[@Okiescrapper]

yeah I think it is in the blood, I almost got out of scrapping, I stopped bringing it in and after a year of so I was almost out of scrap to clean and I thought I am going to miss this and what will I do to fill my time, and I started to bring it in again, Thanks for watching

[@ericharris893]

@@Okiescrapper the metal always comes back. Yep, Always comes back home.

[@scottmorse1798]

thanks for the video Okie, always wanted to do the big a/c units torn down.

[@Okiescrapper]

Glad I could help I have a few more that I will be doing soon, Thanks for stopping by

[@gentry11000]

Is the black outer shell made of copper?

[@Okiescrapper]

no a magnet sticks to it, but it will go in short iron or #1 prepared steel.

[@RoeMantic]

Not every compressor motor is gonna be mixed wire.

[@Okiescrapper]

Yeah I cut open a few hundred over the years, the aluminum is mostly in the big ones, don't think I have seen any in the smaller ones, and I looked at the top plate on that thing and it said made in the USA. but still make a few bucks cleaning it up, Thanks for watching Roe

[@jessewilson8676]

I do these often. The extremely cheep mini fridges are often straight aluminum most AC’s are all copper on average 1 in 10 have aluminum wire either mixed with copper or straight aluminum.

[@scrapmanindustries]

@@jessewilson8676 I have found the same thing. I don't think I have found one window ac unit with aluminum in it. Some of the fridges have straight aluminum. even less have a mix. them big ones that come out of I don't really know what are hit and miss. Most of the ones I've done have been mixed to some degree. a lot have been copper and some have been straight aluminum.

[@scraping101]

Here in Australia i have found on newer compressors its 50/50 on copper or Aluminum windings older 80's / 90's 1 in 10 is Aluminum pre 80's all copper So i just sell whole anything manufactured in the past 20 years Currently im getting $0.75 per kg about $0.25 per pound for whole compressors

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank You Daniel I wrote that down. I will try to look at tags and see if we get the same numbers here, Thanks for the info and for watching

[@exogator]

Don't know where you're selling them but I get about $1.25 per kg for compressors

[@keeanmorishita8457]

@@exogator @TheDanielelliott This is a huge difference... what's going on here

[@exogator]

@@keeanmorishita8457 don't know but I just got $5 the other day for a fairly big compressor out of a large window/wall mount AC.

[@johnbshandyman6096]

Sometimes the outside shells are aluminum too.... Also check and see what they're paying for motor weight.... When you get the ones that are half aluminum half copper sell them for motor weight and save your equipment

[@Okiescrapper]

I haven't run into any that have aluminum shell. I will have to try to figure out how to tell the aluminum one's from the copper with out opening them up, Thanks for watching John

[@stickhillfarm]

must use last bit of torch cutting in an intro reel! That was pretty spectacular!

[@Bob-Whiting]

Very interesting. Thanks a lot for all your hard work.

[@Okiescrapper]

Thanks for watching Robert, this was a bad unit for this video, most units are all copper and yield about 4 lbs. of copper, about $14.00 and I now cut them open with a 4.5 inch cutting disk on an angle grinder. one disk will do one unit and a little bit of another, the cost of the disk is 54 cents.

[@ejmollentze6733]

I've just decided to start scrapping some things I have taken apart and can you please give some tips and tricks if there are any and what is worth scrapping and what's not worth as well as the process of going to the scrap yard and selling it. Thank you

[@Okiescrapper]

what is worth scrapping? that depends on the scrapper, how much time do you have, how much scrap do you have. some micro scrap and take a computer down to almost nothing get all the little bits of copper, others will say it's not worth the time to break a motor down for 2 lbs. of copper, on the scrap yards, research what scrap yards are in your area and make a list of them with phone numbers and addresses, if you can take a trip out to one or all of them and watch how others have their scrap cleaned and sorted, like copper pipe most will go for #1 as long as you dont have any solder joints on it. if you do cut any solder joints off and they will go as #2 copper. many good scrapping videos on youtube just search out how to clean any item. but then call the scrap yard you plan to use and make sure they want it that way. the Iscrapapp has many good videos on cleaning items and check out the facebook group " scrapmetal talk"

[@ejmollentze6733]

Thanks for the tip 👍 I appreciate it

[@henryhatfield74]

When you turn off cutting turn off the red or fuel gas first . This prevents a burn back inside the hose .

[@Okiescrapper]

Which gas do you turn off first? Harris Products Group "Which gas do you turn off first?" We get this question a lot out in the field, and it's a good one. This blog entry outlines our recommendations for proper shut down of an oxy-fuel torch. OXY-ACETYLENE We recommend closing the oxygen valve first whenever turning off an oxy-fuel torch system especially when Acetylene is fuel. This is only part, but a very important part, of the complete safe operating procedure recommended for torches by Harris. When shut down properly, this procedure can help detect even a minute leak in either the fuel or oxygen valve. It will also help keep the system free of carbon deposits that can overtime accumulate and eventually cause the torch to become inoperable and/or unsafe. This procedure should always be used on oxy-acetylene equipment to keep it in a safe operating condition. As a general rule the same procedure is also recommended when using oxy-alternate fuels at the initial light-up after the equipment has been shut down for a period of time or disconnected and reconnected to the gas supply system and when empty cylinders are exchanged for full cylinders.

[@iffy9776]

Hi Okie was the compressor from a refrigerator or air conditioner unit? Where was it made? The last question is for my research? They use aluminum wire which is cheaper and the wire does last as long under high temperature.

[@Okiescrapper]

I am sure that came out of an AC unit. the tag on top said made in the USA it was a free one so all profit. if I were to buy them like that I would still make a few bucks.

[@sooneraviator]

Hey Okie! Fellow okie scrapper here specializing in E waste. If you're not already become a member at scrap metal forums, it's a great community there! Great videos

[@Okiescrapper]

where in Oklahoma are you, I may have some boards for you

[@redhot8041]

Good video. Nice to see what's inside a compressor.

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank you, most are all copper about 4 lbs. about $14.00 at current prices. as luck would have it the one I picked for the video would have aluminum windings, I don't get many like that just once in a while, Thanks for stopping by

[@L3V1T8-84]

Where do you scrap? I know where there is an older model huge tv in Norman.

[@Okiescrapper]

I live in Blanchard and work in the city so I pick up in Bridge creek, New Castle and Blanchard area

[@L3V1T8-84]

@@Okiescrapper nice, interested in picking up the TV it's been discarded to the side of the road so totally up for grabs.

[@Okiescrapper]

@@L3V1T8-84 it's 20 some miles one way, truck gets 13 miles per gallon. So it would cost about $9:00 in gas to make about $2:00

[@L3V1T8-84]

@@Okiescrapper point taken, I'll scrap it myself on my way home from work tomorrow. I was just thinking it would be good to use for video content on your channel, no worries, I'll let myself out....🚪

[@Okiescrapper]

@@L3V1T8-84 I have a few videos already scrapping cut tv,s thanks

[@farmerdude3578]

Thanks . Just be carful when cutting a closed container. Sometimes there’s things can go boom.

[@Okiescrapper]

it is not totally closed. there are 2 spots that the copper tubbing goes into. and oil has to get very hot to burn

[@zekemontgomery6678]

Lol. Wow

[@dust1ification]

I have always thought about taking these apart. Now I know I never will. Not worth the time or cost.

[@Okiescrapper]

most have all copper wire and you get about 6 lbs. but it's a hobby for me. gives me some mad money, I do conveyor maintenance for a living. Thanks for watching

[@dyer2cycle]

..yep, I'm glad I watched, too...now I know I'll keep selling them as sealed units...I do it for money, not fun, and time is money..plus, I just got updated prices today...25 cents/lb for sealed units, $3.09 for #1 copper...I think I am better off getting them moved for 25 cents and moving on to the next project...way too much time/effort, plus, got to figure in cost of oxy/acetylene, etc..it's not cheap...and too slow, same reason I sell electric motors as is and don't take them apart...now, something like copper/aluminum radiators, I always saw the ends off, fairly quick with a good sawzall blade and well worth the effort to get clean prices...it's all about a balance between time, cost, effort, and prices....

[@maxguod]

@@dyer2cycle if you use acetylene to cut scrap you are wasting money . You can buy a two piece propane tip for the torch - way cheaper

[@dyer2cycle]

@@maxguod ...I don't use/have any type of torch setup to cut scrap...I keep cutting to a minimum, use a sawzall when cutting is necessary...yet another reason I think it isn't cost effective/return on investment to cut open sealed units..just sell 'em as sealed units...

[@maxguod]

@@dyer2cycle Sawzall is always good , many applications , many projects . Torches are a need for scrapping and mobile mechanic work , etc . Was under the idea by your comment - that you scrap a lot . Just sayin to help , idk where you are from - sorry reply is 3 months late -

[@mattyal9347]

In addition you should show usage of the acetylene and oxygen plus the wear and tear on your saw blade along with the electricity used to break it down. Still, no matter what the profit margin is, its a hundred percent more than I made sitting on my caboose watching you do the work! I said it before and I'll put it out there again. You have fine torch skills.

[@Okiescrapper]

to track the oxygen and acetylene I think I would want to start with full tanks and see how many I could cut open with one tank of oxy. I use almost 2 oxygen to 1 acetylene. think the Oxygen is about $15.00 and the acetylene is around $30.00 to fill. and last for quite awhile

[@offwithhishead2556]

....and then factor in fuel savings from burning the scrap oil for heating.

[@bobbylong2202]

Awesome

[@scrapperdscrapperj3948]

Did you buy the utility knife blades with a hooked beak ?

[@Okiescrapper]

Yes I like to use them on the strings, straight blades go dull to fast

[@maxguod]

I use a pair of diagonal side cutters - way easier

[@clownworldpa2590]

I spent hours taking these apart (14 of them). To be told.. it was aluminum at the scrap yard. Anymore.. the unit will go as tin

[@Okiescrapper]

it's hard to believe all 14 of them were aluminum, the yard may have gotten to you or they were all from the same kind of unit, Thanks for watching

[@clownworldpa2590]

@@Okiescrapper I think they f'd me. I should've never told him it was my first time scrapping. I normally would give all my metal to a "friend of mine"(so-called). And I would ask him how much he was getting. And I was in his vehicle.. I found a receipt for almost $800 So I figured my last load, would do it myself. He would always tell me he was only getting around $30. And I have loaded his truck and trailer. (I have a construction business, I get lots of scrap). And he isn't getting another piece from me I had 1 truck load of nothing and I got $199,70

[@DeanG55]

Great video. Keep them coming. Protect those eyes!!

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank you! Will do! the ears are shot, but not as bad as some people I know. Thanks for stopping by

[@briand6671]

Nice Video! I have a few of those around and was myself wondering if it was worth the time to break them open. Thanks for posting! !

[@TheBrandini76248]

No.... unless you have a yard full of them and it's still not worth the bs of all the tare down

[@briand6671]

@@TheBrandini76248 I agree but it saved me me a big mess and a nice bit of work !

[@Okiescrapper]

it is worth it for some and not for others, verry few are aluminum windings, most are all copper about 4 + lbs. so you can figure the amount you can make from current prices, you can cut one open with a 4 1/2 cutting disk and still have some disk left, my disks cost me 54 cents each. a plasma cutter will cut them open easy too, I just got me a cheap one and plan to do a video soon cutting one open, I think a guy could do 2 in an hour easy, I use a air chisel to get the windings out now. I cut one end with the angle grinder cutting disk, Thanks for stopping by and Happy Thanksgiving

[@LiberatorYourself]

What appliance did this compressor come off of?? I'm beginning with scrapping and I'm not sure who can help me evacuate the freon/refrigerant. Also how do you know the oil in the compressor is flammable or not? Cool forked chisel! Thanks!

[@Okiescrapper]

that came from a condenser unit for central heat and air it is the outside unit, and the heat and air guys vacuumed them down. so no refrigerant in it all oil is flammable but some have to get hotter before it will burn, I us a mix of compressor oil motor oil and kerosene to burn in my oil burner

[@lenrookus5000]

Cut the lines

[@keith102955]

When taking the string off there will be one that you can pull like a feed bag and it will untie all just by pulling on it.

[@Okiescrapper]

yeah I do that when I can, sure makes it faster, on some motors they have so much shellack that it glues the string to the wire, and then some string is just rotten

[@BADBONESDAD]

Consumables cost more than profit but thanks for video

[@donniedoesit4958]

Wouldn't it be easier to put that into a vise to get the copper windings out? Just asking.

[@Okiescrapper]

it would take a big vice

[@scottgarner6364]

I use a plumbers chain vice and an extra replacement chain to make it reach around. You can do some really big motors that way.

[@hotrod500hp]

with your oil burner why not melt the al from rest of motor, and ones I have done, tore all the way to compressor side, more al to melt away. I miss something?

[@Okiescrapper]

I already have a small mountain of aluminum to melt.

[@A-GUY-AND-HIS-TRACTOR]

Newbie here. What is this compressor from or used for?

[@Okiescrapper]

air conditioner condenser unit from a central air setup

[@martyb4815]

Yea used to recycle A/C units, but didn't break down the compresser, sold it whole.

[@Okiescrapper]

kind of do you have the time? if you do I think you can make some good money, most have about 4 lbs. of copper, around $14.00 you can cut one open with less than a 4.5 inch cutting disk. a plasma cutter would be cheaper, in a few other videos I use an air chisel with a Y shaped bit to pull the windings out after the first end is cut. fast and easy

[@janderakaleroydavis]

Just asking, wouldn't the sawzall work better in cutting the coil apart on first side?

[@Okiescrapper]

some times they do and some times they pull the wire, a cutting disk works good and it's fast too, I am thinking about trying my 14 inch cutoff saw, Thanks for watching Jander

[@derekschwendemann2468]

You waste material using a saw. Shaving are hard to recycle. If you cut/chisel, you are wasting the more expensive metals

[@edwardrumick1496]

How much time did you spend breaking it down

[@Okiescrapper]

well if I was doing it and not making a video about 30 minutes, this was a bad unit for this video, most units are all copper and have about 4 lbs. of copper about $14.00 I cut them open now with a 4.5 inch angle grinder with a cutting disk, one disk will do one unit and a bit of another one the disk cost me 54 cents each. I cut the copper ends off with a cutting disk now too, and use the air chisel to get the copper out, thanks for watching

[@dougwalsh9610]

@ Okie scrapper - Just wondering...why do you keep mentioning tin?

[@Okiescrapper]

because that is what light iron is known as in the scrapping world. you can call most any yard and ask what tin is paying and they will tell you their shred price. and when your yard only has one price for iron heavy or light it is a tin price

[@victoryfirst2878]

There is a reason why many people stopped scrapping stuff because of the aluminum used instead of copper.

[@Okiescrapper]

yep and we will most likely see more and more aluminum as time go by. Thanks for watching

[@victoryfirst2878]

@@Okiescrapper Any time fella.

[@jeffkiehne2545]

Could these be opened with a giant pipe cutter because the less effort taking apart the better.

[@Okiescrapper]

the round one's may work easy not sure about the oval one's

[@HallnoutMhall]

Just found your channel & subscribed. I enjoyed this video and your experiment. Pretty cool I thought. I'll be watching. Thanks.

[@Okiescrapper]

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the sub

[@newrenewableenergycontrol5724]

A silly question. How much labor did it take, and what is the payback per hour after gas, saw blade, and kitty litter is deducted? I will assume your heat is 'free'.

[@Okiescrapper]

would you ask a fisherman how much labor is involved? what is the payback per hour after the cost of the fishing pole, the line, tackle, and the bait? because that is what you are doing here, This is a hobby most of these are all copper and will make at least a $20.00 bill the gas may have cost about 50 cents, the unit was free,

[@newrenewableenergycontrol5724]

@@Okiescrapper That explains it completely! I thought this was how you paid the bills. But we did make cash from fishing in sales of extra fish. Just no way to make a living after Tide detergent and Great Lakes shipping ruined the Great lakes! I never thought of scrapping as a hobby. I worked with a scrapper when I was 20 years old removing and scrapping old residential oil furnaces. It was hard and dirty work, but the profits made that dirty work viable! My boss Hank was a professional scrapper. If there was no money in it he would have done something else I am sure. (His actual hobby was horses at the track. ( A very expensive hobby.) What you see as a hobby we saw as a dirty and uncomfortable business! Definitely no comparison to fishing or horse racing! But if you love hitting yourself with a pipe, smoking your flesh with burning torches, breathing toxic fumes, having heavy crap fall on your hands and feet, flying metal chips in your eyes or dropping tons of cash on expensive tools then hey, its still a free country ... sort of ...!🤣🤣🤣

[@scrappinbig2239]

I just wanted to say that I opened up one of those that came from a window a/c unit that was a few years old and the unit inside was supposed to be copper wasn't ! It was aluminum , copper coated ! So I wouldn't want to jump on buying those units for what you offered .

[@Okiescrapper]

yeah I decided not to buy any too much free stuff out there. I am glad that one was free, I still have about 8 condenser units to scrap out I don't think that I will get to them this year, but retirement is only 11 months away

[@DrPhydeux]

why not use a cutting wheel? Oxy-Acet is a pain for cutting thin gauge sheet ... (at least for me) although he made it look easy

[@Okiescrapper]

in this video I use a cutting disk. and the compressor has all copper, take a look kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX27hpmCdqxnmMk

[@jameslane2332]

Try tossing the core in a metal bucket with charcoal. It will help get rid of the plastic.will make it easier to remove the wires

[@Okiescrapper]

just more work and charcoal is not cheap, my air chisel takes it right out. I use it in other videos

[@dannywinchell3012]

Use the grinder to cut strings,

[@Okiescrapper]

and another good idea. will do that thanks, that was one of the reasons that I wanted to put up this channel, was to learn from each other.

[@jeffdoran8126]

I use a grinder with a cutting blade it'll cut into them compressors like it's butter saves time and a blade don't cost much.

[@Okiescrapper]

I cut the long thin one's from window units the torch get's them too hot and the plastic sleeve's melt and make it hard to pull the copper.I just bought a 50 blade pack on amazon for $25.00 and they seem to be a good cutting disk

[@benjismith593]

Right now my scrapyard is paying 25¢ per pound for them. I'm not about to go through all of that work. I bring in 5 to 7 of these, and get $25. I have like 10 minutes time invested in yanking them. Great video, but so much effort.

[@Okiescrapper]

yes there is some time and work involved, and I know a lot of scrappers don't have the time, as even I make more off of shred in a year then I make from copper, brass, and aluminum put together. and the guys scrapping for a living have to hustle to make it. this is more for the hobby scrapper

[@kevinbrown1629]

Are you using acetylene or propane? The scrap yard I work at uses propane and liquid oxygen.

[@Okiescrapper]

I need to check into a gauge for propane, I am using acetylene, 30.00 a bottle

[@ericharris893]

@@Okiescrapper propane hs been great for me. I like it a lot.

[@zacharykoedyker3978]

Awsome video. Never had to drive to dismantle one of these, of any size.

[@Okiescrapper]

Glad you liked it! thanks for stopping by

[@ATAATX]

I watch a channel called " HVACR ". Its a guy who does AC, Walk in, Freezer and other such repairs in Las Vegas. He cut open a noisy compressor, after replacing, to find out what was making all the racket. He cut it open on the roof of the building he was working at using a angle grinder Quick, cheap and easy.

[@Okiescrapper]

I use an angle grinder a lot too

[@barryellis4718]

Good video from your scrapping brother in lawton ok. I use a metal cutting blade on my skill saw to cut the ends off. Goes really fast.

[@Okiescrapper]

Thanks for the tip, I just bought a 7 inch grinder gonna try it and see how it works, I use the 4.5 inch angle grinder on the tall thin one's that come out of ac window units, the torch get's too hot and melts the plastic sleeves and almost glues them in. makes it hard to get the copper out

[@barryellis4718]

I hope it works out for you. Let me know Stay warm brother it's cold out there.

[@gainingweightminingmetal3848]

the only thing that comes to mind is flashpoint. great vid.

[@Okiescrapper]

thank you I may try to remake this video and hopefully it will have all copper in it. I never did buy any, but I may from an ac shop here in town. see if I can do any good

[@jeremyturner9067]

I like to use a sharp Axe to open things up . Big head ,short handle . Then use a 3 lbs sledge to peal it open . I can split a gas tank in half under 5 min . ( With a long handle ) . Nothing beats brut force .

[@Okiescrapper]

You need to do some videos, I bet people would love them, sounds like fun, but I think that would ware me out fast lol. Thanks for watching

[@jeremyturner9067]

@@Okiescrapper It gets to my 42 year old badly abused back now and then . I always wondered why they payed more for sealed units . Now I know , thanks . I fear to the problem would be what I encountered once scraping out commercial electric engines . Ya I could make about 20 bucks more per motor by tearing them down and separating the copper. But due to them being made of cast iron that was it . I could haul 5 per half ton truck , 3 loads a day. Good $$$ . But cleaning them slowed me down to much . I got between 400;- 500 per engine with pump still attached selling them as electric engines. I didn't bother cleaning but 1 of them wasn't worth the time .

[@LabXBros]

Good evening Sir been in the scrap metal business since 1993 and i can tell you that thats not tin thats labaled as number 1 short but i appreciate you taking the time to do this video

[@Okiescrapper]

The yard that I use everything go's at tin, and they pay more than any other yard that's why I was calling it tin as it is or was tin for me, I have checked out another yard that is paying $200. for short iron and the tin yard is only paying $160 so I am separating them again. the yard paying the $200 for short is only paying $150 Thanks for watching

[@1MoGuzzi]

@@Okiescrapper I posted this as a reply to another comment. I'm not trying to be a wise A. The term "Tin" is a bit confusing in this case. It is not referring to tin, the metal, but the classification for pricing. It's the lower grade of mixed metals such as, these sealed units, car bodies, refrigerates, and that trailer load of crap you picked up around the yard. Easy to misunderstand.

[@dougpine4746]

The motor is usually going to be worth more as a motor to build something useful. Something that would be more valuable then reclaiming the scrap. Provided the motor is still able to run and you can remove it with damage. If you were producing something that needed such a motor and had to buy one that price is what it is worth in that case.

[@Okiescrapper]

if I didn't scrap them I would have a few hundred laying around the place, Thanks for stopping by

[@kalhoon]

cut off wheel on a grinder works best to get copper wires out. cut tops on one side and they pull right out other side.

[@kalhoon]

get a diamond cutoff wheel ,they cost a bit more ,but save on changing wheel all the time.

[@Okiescrapper]

yeah I have one I like it, it's about worn out, they run about $10.00. think I have one listed on my amazon page

[@robertthegrowguy7115]

Those are filled with what mineral oil

[@Okiescrapper]

some kind of oil not sure what kind

[@robertthegrowguy7115]

@@Okiescrapper if it was clear most likely mineral oil

[@bigimskiweisenheimer8325]

Kramer and Newman recycling aluminum cans in the mail truck. Great episode

[@chasebarnard1223]

I must have missed that one sure sounds like something they'd do! Which season?

[@johnsteele6257]

I agree that scrapping, in most cases, is not worth it even if you consider your time worth $3.00/hr. especially when even a fast food worker get more than 4 times that.

[@Okiescrapper]

yes you are right, I say scrapping can be a lot of work for a little money, but sometimes it pays well, most of these units have about 4 lbs. of copper in them and to me are worth the time. It may be faster and cheaper to cut them open with a cutting disk, you can cut one open with less then 1 disk, and cut the first copper end with the cutting disk and air chisel the copper out, I do it that way with a motor in the video that I just uploaded

[@ssteele1812]

I thought the steel in windings was a different grade of steel that paid better?

[@Okiescrapper]

It may be, I used to put it into my short iron pile, but the yard that I use only has one grade for steel Iron and tin but they pay a higher price then the other yards do for short iron, makes it easier for me I don't have to sort it

[@TheRedhawke]

What do you do with the oil ?

[@Okiescrapper]

I have a waste oil burner that i use to melt down lawnmower motors, look in my play list

[@tripparkeketa97]

Cook steak.

[@jimb9369]

The tip of the flame is the hottest part, adjust your position accordingly and you will cut faster.

[@Okiescrapper]

thanks for the tip, I have been cutting them open as of late with a 4 1/2-inch angle grinder, just got a cheap plasma cutter and plan to try it soon on cutting them open, thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Thanksgiving

[@charlesincharge.5161]

Aluminium switcharooo. I been fooled too. Breaking stuff open takes time and energy. You don't always get back what you put in. 📡👽🇺🇸 Keep going.

[@Okiescrapper]

the unit was free so a few more buck in pocket, it's a hobby so no loss for the time and this video has done well, so very much worth the time

[@iffy9776]

@Okie scrapper Hi these compressors are relatively the same size, so what you get from a refrigerator is the same size and what you get from a Air conditioner is round about the same size. So because copper in the periodic table is twice as heavy as aluminum. It might be possible to work out which compressors have copper and which have aluminium. Your thoughts pls. Without cutting them open. As for half and half seen that few times.what make was the compressor?

[@Okiescrapper]

You may be on to something there, I can take a picture of the different sizes and style's and put a weight to them, If style x is copper it will weigh x amount of lbs. anything lighter will be aluminum, will have to start tracking them, Thanks for the idea

[@iffy9776]

@@Okiescrapper yeah have a margin of error plus or minus several pounds either way. I think it's possible.

[@keith102955]

I use an Angle grinder to cut the end off takes 30 seconds then take a long screwdriver pound through the other end and hit ends with a hammer and the windings will pop out.

[@Okiescrapper]

I have been using the angle grinder for some time now and I now use a air chisel with a Y shaped chisel to drive the wire right out

[@hotrod500hp]

most of the older oil was petroleum based. newer units are organic, synthetic. seems all used oil is toxic. but what isn't? toxic to drink does not equal toxic burned. just be careful on any fumes. outside, on right side of wind is benifical

[@Okiescrapper]

yeah it's no fun when you are down wind. I use a respirator when not doing videos

[@anthonycook8737]

Drill a couple of holes in the compressor for the oil to weep out, put the thing in a shop press, crush it a couple of different directions and pull out your copper and aluminum.

[@Okiescrapper]

I put them over a 5 gallon bucket with expanded metal on top and let them drain out one of the holes that are already in them, Thanks for watching

[@bernmay6650]

Could you use a plasma cutter instead of a torch ?

[@Okiescrapper]

yes, you can, I have a plasma cutter now and use it on the big ones, a cutting disk will work good too, on a 4.5-inch angle grinder

[@bobber55]

I like your idea of a cutting drum with a grate on top. You need to find an more economical way to split the case open. The few bucks you made went for consumables... You're working for free.

[@Okiescrapper]

that compressor was free, so made a few bucks, most of them are all copper about 6 lbs. some say angle grinder is cheaper, I think a plasma cutter would be the cheapest, or maybe a carbide sawzall blade. Thanks for watching

[@snoozin99]

I watched a video like this just recently and the guy drilled a small hole in the bottom and top and just let them drain into a container. Then he did the same, just cut them open etc. :) Hope it helps a bit and ty for the video :).

[@Okiescrapper]

I drain what I can through the hole in the side into a 5 gallon bucket with expanded metal on top of it, and the barrel catches the rest

[@davidkirkman2223]

I find that if you hit the strings with a blow torch it removes easier

[@Okiescrapper]

yeah, I bet it would. I may need to start doing that. thanks for watching

[@edwhitson9873]

Depending on how much you think your labor is worth per hour + added gasoline to pick em up, plus the cost of added electricity and oxy-acetylene costs, is it worth it to you?

[@Okiescrapper]

I don't do this as a job so I don't think so much about worth per hour,, does a guy out fishing think about how much he is worth per hour ot the guy on the golf green they spent a small fortune on equipment and gas to get there, some people scrap as a hobby not as a job, I have a job to pay the bills this hobby pays me mad money to blow on tools and other things, not many hobby's pay you

[@edwhitson9873]

@@Okiescrapper dude I have hauled scrap and sold used tires for years...... I was making a point, not to jab you with, but because I have been there and done that. Sensitive fella huh? Do you beat your wife if she embarasses you in public?? Damn, chill out Mr scrapper sir

[@1MoGuzzi]

​ @Okie scrapper I posted this as a reply to another comment. I'm not trying to be a wise A. The term "Tin" is a bit confusing in this case. It is not referring to tin, the metal, but the classification for pricing. It's the lower grade of mixed metals such as, these sealed units, car bodies, refrigerates, and that trailer load of crap you picked up around the yard. Easy to misunderstand.

[@Okiescrapper]

yeah the term tin is used lightly in the scrapping community, talking about light iron thin steel like you said car bodies appliances, like the term tin roof. it's light iron, also known as shred

[@1MoGuzzi]

@@Okiescrapper Is there a source for Tin, the metal. that you know of?

[@louisrichards3702]

using a cutting torch is NOT cost effective..i use a 4 1/2 angle grinder w a thin cutoff wheel,, buy them 100 f 50-40$ off e bay,and take your time,, just 2 days ago i used 1 wheel cutting(.45 cents) open 2 ac compressors,,only a plasma cutting torch is cheaper,,,i used to use a forked steel bar to knock out windings, that air hammer is Carpel Tunnel Syndrome in the making,,,makeup a small hydraulic press,get a 1/4 thick steel plate 10x10, sharpen one end, use that to sever stator in half,, put severed piece in vise w uncut end facing up,top of stator just below vise jaws, tighten ,use long pry bar to lever out copper,,fast,and no loud air comressor running to wear out,and run up your electric bill,,cheaper and just as fast,,

[@jessiefayne4083]

Use your grinding wheel to cut one side of the windings off then build a fire and throw it in there pull it out and the windings will slide right out a lot easier than trying to use all them other tools a lot faster too.

[@martinmcdonald3044]

Happy Thanksgiving Okie to you and your family God Bless we have a lot to be Thankful for Amen

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank you, I hope your Thanksgiving was great.

[@mybuickskill6979]

For the cutting all those little tie strings there why not just chuck the whole magnet bit in a fire for a little while. Get 4 or 5 together and throw it on a wood fire or something and it would doe away with a lot of the tedious parts

[@JOEZEP54]

Interesting video. We learn by doing & watching others as well. I have a bone yard of push & riding mowers. Right not not worth the price to drive to the yard. Once price move up I will be cleaning out. Stay safe, Joe Z

[@Okiescrapper]

prices are good here $160.00 a ton the average riding mower is about 485 lbs. it would be nice if the price go's up some more

[@JOEZEP54]

@@Okiescrapper I am ready for when they do.👍