How to Scrap a VCR for copper and aluminum. Easy money!

[@brimli1]

I am also a scrapper from NJ- really enjoy your video's- have learned allot and find you one of the most knowledgeable people on the topic. I really like the fact that you scrap almost every metal in the things you take apart, as I do. Keep making more and thanks, Bob

[@MNdigger]

I love it when people leve a VHS, DVDs, CDs ect. in the item I am scrapping. Its kinds like Christmas LOL!!! I must know... What was on the tape???

[@VelserHerrie]

Hi Moose! Thanks for the cool video. I took apart a VCR (Without the TBC!) I found in the rain with my sons (7 & 5) the other day. We had loads of fun, wrecking the thing. Got off all the valuable metals and iron, which will go into the saving bins I made. The hard plastics will be recycled too (not for money though). The rubber parts can't be recycled in the Netherlands, so they went into the waste bin. I'm a hobby scrapper since a few weeks, just for fun next to my job as a radiopromotor. Just keeping my eyes open for stuff on the streets. The VCR was our second project, first one a broken toy keyboard. So not much copper and aluminium yet, but we have turned in about 200 kilos of iron already, so the boys are now making money! (Up next, two tv's, a fondue-set, a Philips Smart lamp and a vacuum) And tearing something apart has a meditation kind of influence on me. Just perfect! Keep up the good work with these video's!

[@moosescrapper5928]

cant ask for more than that!

[@moosescrapper5928]

lol thanks. Most of these tools were free so I use them where I need to. You migh say that I am too cheap to go out and buy the perfect tool fo the job but as long as it works, and I am not having to pay for it, I cool with it. You are right though. THanks for watching!

[@moosescrapper5928]

Great question! For electronics, you won't typically find brass on the outside of the piece. If there is some confusion, a quick scrape with a bastard file will show the color underneith. Also, brass and gold have a similar color, however, if you hold a piece of each together, there is a clear difference. Bottom line, if its gold that I am going to be processing, the Acid/Peroxide solution will disolve the brass into solution. Also, gold never loses luster. Brass can tarnish. Thanks!

[@KathrynsWorldWildfireTracking]

Some hard to find vcr's were $3,000 new, and still worth anywhere from $200-$700 today. What you want to do (to find out which ones are still valuable) is look up what "time base correctors" are. (TBC) They are *priceless* when folks are trying to convert VHS from a shaky, deteriorated, old tape and smooth it out for transfer to DVD. The picture will get out of sync with the player (On really long, or badly-damaged tapes,) and literally jump and jitter all over the place. You *need* a TBC to fix the problem. Many video editing folks make their living transferring VHS ---> DVD. If you are fortunate enough to find a VCR that they need (with a built-in TBC) - do not turn it into $.50 worth of scrap metal! Look up whether or not it is considered a quality TBC vcr and sell that puppy for cash. (Even if it doesn't work, parts are still valuable.) I have mad respect for Moose - and like Moose always says "scrap is the lowest value." :)

[@moosescrapper5928]

+Kathryn Davidson AWESOME! This is why I love comments! You learn something new all the time! Time Based Correctors.... Will have to make a good note on that thanks!

[@shirjan5]

Kathryn Davidson 00937920020owt

[@moosescrapper5928]

I hear you, the first thing I do is check them out to see if they work then sell them on ebay. I am not an electronics repair person and would not be able to fix it if there were anything major wrong and it would likely cost me more to have it fixed than what I would get for selling it. But you are right, they are becoming worth more and more, its the new vintage item!!

[@moosescrapper5928]

Those are Craftsman RoboGrip Channel lock pliers. I get a lot of use out of them. A bit pricy if you buy them new, I got these in a rusted shut toolbox last year!! lol

[@Blue-zx7ot]

Hay moose love the channel and you and scraping for a dart got me hooked on eletronic scrapping. Just thought i would toss out some info not mentioned in this vid. Some of the newer VCR'S have a board in the head reader that has quite abit of gold plating. Considering what we are scraping here. Keep them coming maybe ill have a channel soon. Take care.

[@moosescrapper5928]

Right, this is not for everyone. For some people like me this is just a way to make some extra cash while I have to be at home with the kids or late at night. If i got a job at MacDonalds then i would have to hire a sitter, pay for gas to travel there, etc and there goes my profit. This also allows me to work at my own pace, scrap as little or as much as I want as well. Keep in mind also that VCR's are not the only thing I scrap and the videos purpose is just to show people what is inside.

[@browntrout3994]

3:45 "unscrew" and the hammer comes out ...lol

[@moosescrapper5928]

I scrap relatively few vcrs. I still make a considerable amount of money on the side with this, I help to recycle and protect the environment, and i have some fun making the videos. So for me it absolutely is worth it. You are right though, you need to figure out if it is worth it for YOU. Thanks for watching!

[@june201955]

There is an easier way to get that brass piece off of the shaft as well as to separate the 2 cast aluminum pieces. You open the vise up to about 1 1/2", place the aluminum spindle brass side up on top of the vise, use a hammer with a small diameter punch to knock out the center shaft. And, wella!... Everything becomes separated : )

[@moosescrapper5928]

It was part of a larger no-name straight from China driver set that i got a dollar store (nothing in there was a dollar but was still cheap). Damn thing has lasted almost 10 years! Thanks for watching!

[@juanacosta5565]

is it worth to take the copper off from motors? my yard takes them as shred.

[@junglejammer1]

My Dad was a carpenter and I occasionally, do some woodworking. I shudder, every time you hit and pry with a wood chisel! LOL. It's your's though and you can do what you like with it but, seriously, you should invest in a cold chisel. The steel in a wood chisel is harder, to hold an edge and consequently, more brittle and could snap or chip and wind up in your eye. That purple "pry thing" is a tack puller for upholstery work. Cool looking, though.

[@dirtdogscrapping3267]

Where did u get that purple pry tool? I like!!

[@rassbeary]

you get money from the broken boards ?

[@moosescrapper5928]

Thats a pretty loaded video request... You are right though, that would be a great video. I will try but keep in mind that I am not an expert, my decisions and thought processes will be based on my experience, knowledge, and what my local scrap yards take (which isnt much). I can give you a great guide that is available online at the Rockaway Recycling website, they have very detailed info and pics. I hate to say it, but let me think on this a bit so I can try to make an appropriate video.

[@BeakerT714]

Have the exact same vcr in the basement!

[@daryltestone4922]

Hey. How about scrapping a mini frig. I come across those in dumpsters at the end of college semesters. Thankss

[@glasshalfempty1984]

+Daryl Testone ughhh, people are so wasteful. All those fridges probably still working and some maybe even clean (heh)...hard not to be pissed at people for being wasteful...but then sometimes their trash can be other's treasure, so that kind of makes up for it I suppose! So I'd love to see a video on this as well anyway.

[@moosescrapper5928]

+John Meise I don't have a video on refrigerators as they are usually easy to fix and resell for a better profit than scrap and I also do not have someone to drain the refrigerant from those, only AC's.

[@glasshalfempty1984]

Moose Scrapper more valuable information! Thank you very much! :D

[@bradymeister9834]

Do you melt down the copper and aluminum into bars, or just drop it off at the scrapyard?

[@moosescrapper5928]

Just drop it off at the scrap yard. I figure if I have to spend time and money for the energy to melt (propane, coal, electric whatever) it eats into profits. Scrap yard does not pay more for aluminum or copper ingots here anyway. THanks for watching!

[@cranemen351]

what kind of vice grips are u using?

[@coexcharlie]

so what was on the tape?

[@SirDexus]

Someone just gave me 6 VCR's all of which won't power on. Guess I'll scrap them as it seems pretty fast

[@williamaverkamp7215]

On a electric motor. Is there a way to remove the copper windings when they appear to be stuck on the inside. For example a power washer motor not like a fan motor where the copper windings are easy to remove.

[@moosescrapper5928]

There is a way, but it depends on what it looks like. See if you can find a picture online and copy and paste the link to it in your nextcomment so I can see it. Thanks!

[@amylin2009]

How much profit yield would you say you get per VCR?

[@moosescrapper5928]

Per VCR.... Working, about $20 average on ebay. Scrapping, maybe $4.

[@moosescrapper5928]

Thanks for watching! Unfortunately they are not. Have a good one!

[@glasshalfempty1984]

Just a quick question. I'm starting to consider scrapping for monies, but when you know nothing about it, it's hard to tell what's worth it, and what's not. I read through some of the comments and you had mentioned anywhere from $2-$4 for scrapping a VCR and about $20 for a working VCR. This video is 7.5 minutes long, but you cut out some parts so I'm guessing it took you 15-20 minutes to do this. Assuming a medium price of $3 per VCR and 20 minutes, that's only about $9 per hour. Not terrible, but not really that great. I want to ask first, is my estimate of about 20 minutes accurate? And also how do you know which ones are worth the time and effort to scrap? Are there any that can net $10 from scrapping, or is $4 the absolute most you can get from scrap in a VCR? Thanks!

[@moosescrapper5928]

+John Meise Hi and thanks for watching! When this video was made almost 3 years ago, scrap prices were a lot higher. The value today is about half that. VCR's, working or not, will be worth more money on ebay as they don't make them much anymore. There is a post right below this that mentions some very valuable VCR's with Time Based Correctors. As for the time to dismantle, it takes way less. I can have one apart completely in less than 5 minutes. Especially If I am not constantly checking the camera view finder, making sure to comment on certain things, etc etc. As for the income per hour, yeah, $9 is not great, but then again, if you are making more than that, why are you scrapping in the first place? This is a great way to make extra cash, especially if your choices are this or watching tv. Thanks for watching!

[@glasshalfempty1984]

Moose Scrapper Glad to hear my estimate was way off haha. $9 an hour isn't great, but that was based on 20 minutes, so I think it'd be a bit more (even considering time to find scrap VCRs, and the time taking the materials to a scrap yard). Am I correct in assuming that things like water heaters and washers/driers and other larger appliances have a much better pay rate per hour? They are heavier and surely take more time to move and dismantle, but I'm guessing because of the amount of material, they are worth more? Thanks very much for your reply and for the videos!! Going to start watching them to learn more about this!

[@moosescrapper5928]

+John Meise Not necessarily. Water heaters and large applainces are mostly steel. Right now prices are pretty crappy for steel. This is not to say that they can not pay better, or worse. Water heaters, if you just pull off the brass fittings on the outside and the thermostats then you can be done ina couple minutes, appliances can have working parts that can sell for big money as well.

[@glasshalfempty1984]

Good to know :-) thanks very much!

[@ericgarner2987]

Hey Moose, Eric here. Thanks for making these vids, They help a lot of us!!!!!! My question is,do you strip copper bearing ever??? Or is it not worth the time. Please keep the school in session. lol Thanks man!

[@moosescrapper5928]

Hi and thanks for watching! Can you clarify whar type of copper bearing material? I do strip copper wire, anything power cable sized and bigger unless its solid core wire then i will strip small guage sometimes. I strip copper bearing motors (most of them), and other copper bearing items. Thanks!

[@tysonthekhajiit3015]

"oh hey they left a tape in here for us..... I wonder if it's porn.." oh crap" wait that was supposed to stay in my head. 😆😆💀

[@extrahyena0303]

Lol thats what I think when ever I find an unlabeled vhs

[@spvillano]

@@extrahyena0303 out of hundreds of unmarked tapes that I found inside of VCRs that I repaired, I can number on one hand the number that had porn and of those, the majority were homemade and honestly, could've been accurately title "The Great Train Wreck". Played, to ensure alignment compatibility with tapes previously recorded on that machine. It seriously sucked when a customer returned the unit with the complaint that it wouldn't play back old tapes that were recorded on a machine that was a touch out of alignment.

[@shaniquegeiger108]

i think you're the best....thank you....peace

[@52ponybike]

WHAT was on the video?

[@moosescrapper5928]

The world may never know....

[@rocksolid6494]

Please excuse me, a transformer is copper bearing, yes, but not a motor. A motor has moving parts but a transformer does not.

[@moosescrapper5928]

Hi and thanks for watching. You must be new to scrapping! Welcome! Scrap yards use the term copper bearing motor, or CBM as a reference to a type of scrap. Basically anything that contains copper, steel, and possibly aluminum. Their price list would be pages long if they were to try to list electric motors, transformers, inducers, relays, etc etc. Make More Money Scrapping Metal Part 4 Copper Bearing Motors CBM

[@marks.6480]

thanks for showing me how to disassemble the head. Now i can slavage the aluminum.

[@DaveNovakTV]

vcr has a steel case.

[@rainbowturkey_7652]

Um, the power cord is made of copper, silly. Where is it? Want not, waste not.

[@truthfinder4973]

i use to scrap butt every one do it now days not much money to make any more and if you make more on a paper rout or worm for mc d than doing this and all you make of that one vrc was 40 cents lol

[@moosescrapper5928]

LOL, it was a bad ten year old copy of the final episode of Friends...... I was hoping for something else...lol

[@BigCheech-wy9os]

maybe you should of watched the tape before stripping it

[@LHUPA]

Nuduty of the system!!!!! :)

[@gianbattista]

in a VCR you can earn half a dollar and you do not even need to wash your clothes

[@noahrp777]

3:09 gotta either be some eye popping illegal porn or some boring security camera video

[@BigCheech-wy9os]

you could of sold the vcr on ebay for more money then you scrapped.. thanks for the video i will now not take apart my vcr

[@ICBMPIRATE2]

Yay first

[@victorgoz8647]

No tienes ni puta idea de desguazar un vídeo