Pulling Copper From AC Compressors.

In today's video I split a bunch of ac compressors and pull the copper out with the stator wrecker. Thanks for watching! #transformers #electric #electricmotor #recycling #scrapping #scrap #copperwire #aluminum #diy #projectshopfl #copperking #led #ledlights #lighting #generator #statorwindingmachine #electricmotor
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[@handdancin]

man watching you figure this out has been a thing of beauty. so satisfying watching those half stators getting copper neatly pulled. you can sort them by OD so you have the minimum amount of up and down time with the clamping cylinder

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks!

[@noneyabeeswax3200]

It is,it’s awesome man! Your vision come to light 😊 Maybe you could make a concave blade to sort of wrap around that one with the shaft the ID a little larger than the shaft

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@silverlicious2086]

Nice work man! No dust, no wear and tear on the grinder. The more you use this the more you're getting dialed in. Then the puller has no problem getting the copper out. That's what I'm talking about!

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks it is really coming along

[@randydobson1863]

Hi Derek & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks Derek & Friends Randy

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks Randy

[@murlbailer3755]

I was always good with machines, show me and it will be humming before lunch 😂. Worked a lot of different jobs in my youth. I loved the variety. I remember one job boss came around and said that’s not the way you do it. The job was getting done my way in the same amount of time as the old. What works for one is not necessarily the way it works for someone else. A left handed person does things differently than a right handed person, right? ✌️

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for sharing. I always think out side the box.

[@SteveandSusiesHomestead]

If you could free float the blade it would fallow the plates of the stator .. Like a gun barrel reamer .

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@martyanthony4116]

Would like to see how you cut the ac compressors. Nice haul.

[@ProjectShopFl]

I used the plasma cutter. I had the footage but forgot to add it.

[@Robert-nj8io]

Great video all I can say you are not afraid to try new things

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thank you!

[@markrice3502]

nice job it works so damn good im glad ypur getting it working to get that copper thanks for shareing

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks!

[@williamdawson3353]

Good production this time

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks!

[@scrapmanindustries]

I’m pretty sure the window ax units definitely yield more copper compared to the fridges and bigger units. The big units I feel like are what caused me to lose money on the load that I bought since most of em were big Tranes and copelands.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Dang sucks loosing on a load.

[@bentleyalder5492]

If you use a hydraulic press to push the axle out of the rotor you can split them just like a stator ❤ I do it with smaller motors all the time

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion I will try that next time

[@sidschwan8031]

Hi Derek when you make the new blade in the center of the cutting edge put a half circle to bottom out on the shaft.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@johnnydavenport2015]

My 20 ton press cut a few.laminations some time but the copper still knocks right out

[@ProjectShopFl]

It did cause a problem I just want things straight.

[@marshmallow220]

Make a blade guide on the sides of the blade so it will run true and not warp from all the pressure come off your frame to build it😊 awesome work buddy

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@marioneves7786]

Try leveling out the table. Because the blade mounts are coming down on the stator lopsided

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@scottcameron9267]

The v plates its sitting on are lifting at the ends as they're pushed down in middle, need to secure those v plates that stator sits on

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@W8iHav2P]

I think the angle and point of the blade are the main issue. It's because the point of the blade goes into the bottom of the center opening before the side of the blade spreads it apart. The point is starting in a different row of plates on the bottom half forcing it to cut through them. If the point was shorter the sides of the blade would split it enough for the point to go in the same gap it started. So less angle on the blade or a semi-circle blade shape would fix ya right up 😊 Eta: if this doesn't make any sense just look in the opening of the stator and watch the tip of the blade while cutting...

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion it makes sense to me

[@Funkybulb]

Ive seen few scrappers with cheap mechetti knife and a hammer to split them Stators. Maybe u can use that with your press ?

[@ProjectShopFl]

I've seen that and I was impressed. I had an Idea to do something similar because the original video I am replicating from had something liker that with a hydraulic ram

[@ebre3080]

Yo man! nice to see you getting better and better at dyling in that gigantic press. Please modify that pulling thing, bend the handles out so they don't cross / touch when closed. My as hurts from sqinching every time you grab that thing.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks! I will be making new ones and modding this one.

[@davekelley8520]

The rotor shafts can be pressed out then you should be able to split them

[@ProjectShopFl]

I will give that a try

[@brucebradshaw5947]

you could even put a small (1/2"-3/4") wide flat on the bottom, it doesnt need to be totally pointed to get through the stators.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@dennishoward941]

You need a straight or round blade. I was impressed with what it did.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@CanadianTreasureHunter]

Your plates are shifting, Tack weld the left plate

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will be making a more permanent and v plate that won't shift.

[@brian56]

I'm wondering if as the thickness of the blade comes down it's putting uneven pressure against to the plates to the windings starting from the top. Both halves of the stator are tilting slightly causing the crooked cut

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the info

[@Ds755rxz]

Have you seen the log splitter cutter video? He had a 3-chain puller that could pull those small ones in 1 pull.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks I will look for it.

[@marctodd8531]

It's still beats the hassle of the old process. You just have to sleep on it. All good.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks!

[@Д.Неуловимый]

Couple of suggestions. Shape of blade should be like semicircle, not wedge. Bevel must be polished. And you should fix stators tight at the basement to avoid shifting.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@bryanbradshaw4257]

Nice setup! Have you thought maybe some big all thread tapped to welded bolts in a jig frame on you base to level? You may need a to level as u go given the force you are getting out of the cylinder. I learned in farming when I was young., Powerful hydraulic cylinders do have the ability to completely warp the cylinder arm. Happened more than once on the front loader on a tractor. The whole cylinder warped.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion. When I move the press to the other table I will figure how to make sure the fixed carriage is level and probably like you suggested have jack screws to level it.

[@compdude551]

At 35:30 as you push down the whole press rocks to the right side. This probably also rocks when you have the blade in it. That’s why it wasn’t cutting straight down. The more force you put, the more it rocks to the right.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks, I know I have a lot of slack to take out.

[@brucebradshaw5947]

that blade can take it, if anything just put a radius on the tip to make it stronger and roll with it. that steel they use for stators is soft as butter.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the info

[@jasonholloway998]

Concave blade!

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@dorphac]

@40:12 look at the whole left side lift up. Is this why your cutting crooked?

[@ProjectShopFl]

That is part of the problem

[@davidbudy6256]

Put the camera Square to the blade right in front of it so you can see what's happening

[@ProjectShopFl]

Ok thanks for the suggestion

[@usocrazy6133]

The blade is going to follow the path of least resistance with no blocks on the ends of the motors.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks

[@CB-dx6hy]

For what its worth i think the slop is coming from the frame of the press. HDPE glides could help?

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks the holes are wallowed out and I will be welding plates to fix it

[@ratdetecting4780]

Looking good mate. Coukd it be that the laminated steel in stators aren't straight? Good to see that you're trying new things, to get the bucks😎👏👏👏👏

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks that's a possibility

[@handdancin]

assuming the blade is a uniform thickness past the beveled edge, you could make a fixed blade guide that will stabilize it and reduce the lever arm on the blade when cutting. im glad you are thinking about that because as you currently have it, you could have quite the bending moment on the blade if you arent careful. id find two pieces of channel steel, attach uhmw to the flat faces, then figure out a way to fasten them securely to the press frame so that they guide the blade. you have a nice mill now though, so you should be able to fabricate something nice!

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@25vrd48]

Your slowly but surely getting the shear lined out .

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks!

[@brucebradshaw5947]

for those rotors you could just use the press and like a good metal handle hatchet

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@johnnydavenport2015]

Cutting the laminations is not a problem ,as long as you can still remove the copper, which is the objective. The steel is just a bonus for gas money.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thank!

[@GeorgeRichardson-cv4xz]

I think it's because everything on the table moves especially the v'stheres nothing really pushing the blade!

[@ProjectShopFl]

I know it needs a little work still.

[@compdude551]

On the bigger ones. Cut as far as it goes. Slide the metal Vs in there to raise it up and give it another cut.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@schwarz6337]

I think the proper term for the "things" or "plates" as you call them, is laminations.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the info

[@kevtris]

I don't know if it's the straightness of the cut, or the act of separating the laminations. it looks like when the laminations split, the blade's thickness isn't perfectly centered due to differences in the glue strength holding them together, so it walks a bit sideways on some and not others.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@elizabethwulf8710]

Hey project shop on Camry that played for the splitter looks like it's bent toward the tip of it and it shows that spent to the left or the back wall😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@ProjectShopFl]

Ok Thanks 👍

[@Plains_Scrapper]

A note for the editor. When you go x2-3 speed the audio does not and becomes disjointed from what we are seeing. It might be better to hold with your music tradition from your timelapse camera or to just mute during that speed up period.

[@bettymorgan4909]

It is kinda cool to see fast forward but hear real time. But, yes the music is usually covering it. This editor is doing a great job.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks we are trying to work on that issue.

[@scottuntz4534]

I’m not understanding why cutting thru the plates is an issue. It’s not pressing thru them because they are thin and easily cut

[@ProjectShopFl]

I just want the machine square and true

[@E-BikingAdventures]

You need a blunter, shorter, more acute bevel so the lamanents spread apart more closer to the cutting edge. This will also make your blade more durable.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the tip.

[@thelastlemming6608]

might have to box in the stators like you do the transformers

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@andysend]

looks like left side of the press is warped

[@ProjectShopFl]

It might be the fish eye lens

[@matthewelliott2213]

I think you might have just paid for the cutter, press, and puller! Buttery smooth and safer!

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks, It's only gonna get better.

[@btcbob11392]

What the hell difference does it make if its not cutting perfectly straight ? All long as it cut's in in half you've accomplished want you want.

[@ProjectShopFl]

I don't want to flex or stress the blade.

[@compdude551]

Wear and tear on the blade.

[@LouSassel69]

The motors are just a bunch of fine plates stacked up, if it's not straight then you are literally cutting the metal where he is trying to split between them so it's only cutting copper not the steel. Also if it gets deformed it's much harder to pull the copper later

[@margaretanilsson4364]

Is it possible to press the axl out first?

[@campervan-john]

Yes the shaft can be pressed out I've seen it done on other videos

[@ProjectShopFl]

I might try that

[@sethblue2092]

Save $$ on making a new blade you don't need one. You have everything you need in-house to just press those shafts out.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@garybattle1293]

Have you figured out how much you make on one compressor

[@ProjectShopFl]

No, I will next time I get some

[@edwardfrazee1867]

🎉what is up with ur camera?

[@ProjectShopFl]

I think the it's been through too much abuse. lol

[@ArthurStaufferJr]

It's cutting them in half so why worry about it

[@ProjectShopFl]

I don't want to flex the blade

[@nashville5326]

It’s simple your whole press isn’t level. That’s why the blades crooked and the base is crooked. You can prolly stick that level anywhere and it’s gonna read the same un level. Straighten your frame of the press and your good.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@bfd1565]

In a previous video. I heard you mention how much you like the Eastwing hammer. It's a good hammer. Carpenter knowledge is unfortunately it sends the shockwave straight to your elbow.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the info.

[@patrickm.8425]

I can't seem to really make decent money from doing this. I'm paying .35 per lb for scrap electric motors. I can do about 8-10 1-2.5hp motors in 1-2 hours or so, but there's really not much profit from it. Purchased $189 worth a couple of days ago, got like 8 1.5-2.5hp motors, and 4 .75hp-ish motors. Total copper is 70 lbs, I get $2.80 per pound for #2 copper. So I have a total of $196, for a total profit of $7 and change. I have 265lbs in steel, I get like .06-.08 per lbs on steel depending on the day, so we'll go with .08 for this example, that gives me $21.20! Have a small amount of cast aluminum from the motors, maybe 10 lbs, so maybe another $4, for a total profit of $32! The only way to make any kind of money, I would have to work 10-12 hours a day, non-stop, 7 days a week, then I might be able to pay a bill or two. So I'm not sure how you can make so much from so little, what am I missing? Thanks.

[@ProjectShopFl]

You are paying too much and getting too little for the #2 copper. I get .35 for motors in Miami I would only pay .20.25 for them. I also am getting 3.60 for # 2 copper. I did a video a while back where I showed how I buy transformers. I basically move the decimal to get my price. If I am getting 3.60 for # 2 copper I will pay .36 for the transformers. Where are you buying the motors and what are the local yards paying?

[@patrickm.8425]

​@@ProjectShopFl OK, that makes much more sense. We've basically got two yards within a 45-mile radius, both compete in pricing. Unfortunately, only one of the yards lets the public buy from them. First time I was there, they charged .25 for scrap motors, but every time I've been back since, they've been charging me .35 per pound. Neither yard pays jack for scrap copper or steel, so I traveled over an hour and a half to another yard that paid the $2.80 per pound for the copper. Although they're very nice people, your ass seems to hurt when you're leaving. Current prices are as follows (I just called today to verify what they're paying): Sims Brothers, Marion Ohio: #2 Copper: $2.90 lbs, Mixed Steel: $155 ton D & J Scrap Metals Bellefontaine Ohio: #2 Copper: $2.30, Steel: 0.06 per lbs Where I've been selling my copper is a place called SA Recycling in Springfield Ohio, they pay: $2.80 for Copper, 0.08 For Steel per lbs. They do not sell to the public. The only other options I have are over an hour away, so I guess I will start calling around to the yards in Columbus Ohio and maybe Cincinnati which is like 2+ hours away, and see if they sell to the public, but I'm not banking on it.

[@ProjectShopFl]

@@patrickm.8425 I had issues with SA recycling here in West Palm Beach, I will never sell to them again. If I were you I would try and find the source of the motors. Also If you are buying them from the scrap yard they should work with you on the pricing because they are making money twice on the same item. Try explaining that to them and tell them you want to do tonnage. See if you can't talk to the owner and get them cheeper and get a better price for the copper. Good luck!

[@patrickm.8425]

Just called two more places. One in Columbus, and the other in Dayton. Dayton (Franklin Iron & Metal Corp in Dayton, OH) "claims" they'll pay $3 lbs, but not sure, needs to see what we got. Columbus (OhioDropOff) only pays $1.30 lbs, because the wire is so small and thin, it's considered horsehair, and much of it is lost in the smelting process. So to me, it's looking like Ohio simply sucks for scrappers. The only other thing I can think of is to melt it down myself, but then I'm stuck in a market of about 5 million other fools all doing the same thing, trying to make a buck. That minimum wage job is looking better and better. smh

[@dumpsterfiresidechats208]

I like that big shear for cutting the stators but wouldnt it make more sense to shear off just the copper at the end allowing you to use the hydraulic puller to drag the copper out after? If you cut them all in half you literally double your work with the puller.

[@ProjectShopFl]

On the bigger ones you have to cut them in half they are glued in and the machine can't pull them out. some times even cutting them in half it is still a struggle.

[@mandypavey2504]

Dose it really matter your binning it

[@shogormachine]

Just cut the rotors with a cutoff wheel

[@ProjectShopFl]

They where out, create dust and you loose copper. The blade is a one time thing and as long as I don't do something stupid with it will last for thousands of stators.

[@davidbudy6256]

Grinds are off " who cares" ?

[@ProjectShopFl]

👍👍

[@timcurtis6607]

HEY OCD JUST SPLIT THEM

[@ProjectShopFl]

ok

[@mikemichinski2230]

Ur soo close dude..a sharp blade for sure..about 3/4 of an inch above the blade needs to be wider..let the hydrolics spread the housing and the blade will easily cut the Cooper..did u ever cut a tire and if u spread it open when cutting its easier to cut? Same concept..let the fat part of the blade do the work and save the blade for the gold..too easy..😊

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks, It's definitely coming along well.