Scrapping 2000 LBS Of Copper Ballast. Was It Worth It?

In this video I scrap 1 ton of copper ballast and find out the percentage of copper, light steel, heavy steel, and waste. Watch till the end to see if it was worth it. #copper #recycling #scrapping #diy
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[@robertdelgado1385]

I've been doing ballasts for about 10 years and I got it down. The best ones are the real long ones and your right they are messy and a pain in the ass one time I went to the scrapyard and paid 10 cents a pound for 1600 lbs and paid 160 and 2 days later cashed out $1,500 but they were all the same and were really good with 3 winds o f copper on each

[@ProjectShopFl]

Nice! Did you beat them with a hammer? lol

[@travismiller5548]

The potting tar melts at a really low temperature. It occurred to me a good rig for processing potted ballasts and transformers might be a big toaster oven with the bottom cut out, to allow drippy warm tar to fall into a barrel below. I haven't built this rig yet, but very tempted. I work in commercial signage and throw away tons of ballasts and big old neon transformers. We recycle everything except these goodies.

[@ProjectShopFl]

😂😂😂 I like that Idea but the shop would stink so bad. I already hate the smell of the ballast especially when they are burned up.

[@sticksandstones1885]

📌Very helpful thanks for doing that breakdown at the end. 👍

[@ProjectShopFl]

No problem 👍

[@farmerkevin]

Your gumption is off the charts, love it.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thank you.

[@jr-a-cat]

Those are a winter time job here in Ohio get that black tar nice and cold pops right off . Try putting some in the freezer then wack with a hammer . I use the putty knife on my air gun cuts that copper right out

[@nickimpala8886]

I should try it this winter

[@jr-a-cat]

Jumped ahead of my self

[@ProjectShopFl]

I like the air gun idea.

[@redrum2612]

Cool video. It's always worth it in my opinion. I love finding different ways of recovering copper. I've never seen the Jaw before. Awesome tool! Unfortunately where I live currently they do not separate their Steel and also weigh Aluminum and Stainless Steel together as the same. I miss having a yard like that. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing those other copper removal projects 😀 👍

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks 👍

[@ronsaddler993]

See how at 5:32 the wire just flew into the wire bucket without him even knowing like an boss!

[@ProjectShopFl]

😂😂😂

[@silverlicious2086]

Interesting about the 21.5% #2 copper number compared to regular transformers. But man, those suckers are a lot of hard work with all that sticky dirty tar. That's the true definition of "Hard Labor". Looking forward to seeing how the granulator comes together. Good idea about refurbishing the screen. Saved you some $$.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Haha, It was defiantly hard labor

[@johnmorgan6997]

I did all mine in the winter when they were froze, the tar stuff breaks up really easy when they cold!

[@ProjectShopFl]

I wish I had that option, I live in south FL. lol

[@perstaffanlundgren]

Mayby you could freeze the units with substantial copper components, and smash them.

[@steveherr450]

I live in Wi. and do mine in the winter time too.

[@rockman531]

With all the tools you have available - taking these apart might be profitable. I stopped processing ballasts over a year ago. Way to much time for very little profit. Great video! Looking forward to the granulator video. Take Care, Jim in Phoenix.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks

[@alexandershatzko8748]

i figure my time is worth 20.00 / hr

[@joshp6061]

Reading other comments I like the ideas of the chop saw and air gun, plus with your hydraulic press and pass off with Steve, you got a rhythm going. With that 20% yield of #2 and like you said at 50:50, $10 twice a minute is literally $1200 an hour or $4800 for a 4 hour session. Ballasts can definitely be a new source of copper for you especially since nobody wants them cause yards pay a pathetic dime per pound, so you may even be able to get them for free sometimes with your connections and contacts which is better than your current “best the best price” scrap buying model And finally the water sluice is happening! It’s gonna be epic, your way of thinking is ingenious and your recent vid frequency has been awesome And on the GoPro, have you considered using another brand, or even just a standard camera on a tripod? You’re not a vlogger or mountain climber, you don’t necessarily need a GoPro. Just some food for thought

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for all the suggestions. The gopro someone else said I should use a different frame rate. I'll give it a try and see if it helps, I don't want to have to spend more money. lol

[@kevensvideos]

@@ProjectShopFl recordings in 4k make the camera hotter and drain the battery faster.

[@bigcountryscrapper6885]

Great video

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks

[@maxmacdonald7174]

Very good video, thank for making it. Look online about the Go-Pro some models really have problems.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion I have a GoPro 9 & 10

[@positivesideofdark9090]

Cool

[@ProjectShopFl]

👍

[@greekgods3399]

love it

[@ProjectShopFl]

👊

[@Alrik.]

Those Jaws hanging above the table is so ominous 🤣

[@ProjectShopFl]

😂😂😂

[@keithruss1925]

would the hammer mill be a profitable way to get the tar off of the copper or maybe a run through the granulator to get anything still sticking to it

[@ProjectShopFl]

Possibly

[@shaunbarringer1853]

What do you do with the computer/chip boards after removing the transformers?

[@ProjectShopFl]

Sell it as sheet seel

[@charlesyates6687]

Need one of those double roller shredders

[@ProjectShopFl]

Yes! It's on the wish list. lol

[@douglloyd3802]

On those T ballasts, could you not cut the first side and then punch out the coil with the press on the second side? Seems you could stream line it a little?

[@ProjectShopFl]

Are you talking about the outer case?

[@incredible5587]

Go pros have battery packs for the new ones, not like a typically one but one that attaches one like a attachment so you can record for long period of time. but it makes them bulkier.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the info I will be looking in to that for sure.

[@incredible5587]

@@ProjectShopFl They also have one that is a tripod with a battery inside. I have a friend that has a channel and he said they dont overheat. I think it was called the volta and by go pro and the other one i mentioned that makes it bulkier was aftermarket. I buy aftermarket batteries as well. i have it in front of me now but the name is worn off but there cheap batteries off Amazon that come with a dual USB charger and they last twice as long and never overheat, i have sent many of them through the washer and dryer on accident and never had one fail. i have a bunch, i will try and find one with the brand on it.

[@incredible5587]

@@ProjectShopFl The batteries i mention that are aftermarket are by emiral and like i said they last twice as long. I dont YT but i do like to record my Bike park sessions and downhill MTB runs for Facebook.

[@jr-a-cat]

Those trans at 27;10 like rap in Alum foil couple raps with a small nail hole and put in wood stove to burn that crap off when the flame stops coming out its done .

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the info.

[@hoagie7859]

If you're using the gopro 8 or higher, it will overheat often when shooting in 4k. My gopro 7 doesnt overheat as often as the gopro 9. the other option is to go without a battery and run the camera off of a power bank with a cord to the camera.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'm constantly having issues with the batteries and the camera over heating.

[@simonjohansson3900]

If you can build a maskin that is like the same the scarpyard uses but smaler i think this process is easy ;)

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@trenthighvoltage]

I have to warn you, i'm not sure if you are aware, but PCBs were used in old electrical equipments such as old heavy fluorescent ballasts (even old cables!). Polychlorinated biphenyls were banned in 1977 and 1979 because they are carcinogenic. In older heavier ballasts that are not electronic btw. If it doesn't say "No PCBs" on the labels, then assume it contains PCBs. I wouldn't want to mess with that. (In the tar btw)

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the concern. I do know about them and always look on the label they all say no PCB's

[@trenthighvoltage]

@@ProjectShopFl good to hear.

[@dalesmith147]

If you would have took those balances in and sold them as his what would be the difference between what you would have made selling them as is and then tearing them apart like you did just curiosity want to know if you could let me know.

[@ProjectShopFl]

I explain it at the end in the break down I probably gained $1000

[@steveherr450]

where i am located ballasts only pay .05-.10 a pound not much fluctuation at all so it pays to seperate them when you learn how to quickly.

[@michaelpaton7127]

Put the black tar ones in a freezer it just shatters after doing that.👍👍✌👊👊

[@ProjectShopFl]

I did on the last few but would have taken forever if I tried with all 2000 lbs. lol

[@nunyabuziness8421]

Just because I'm curious how much do you make a year doing this

[@ProjectShopFl]

haha 😂 nothing I’m poor

[@steveroberson1488]

I think this will void the manufacturer warranty !

[@ProjectShopFl]

😂😂😂

[@Funkybulb]

There a second hand market for 40 watt preheat ballast

[@ProjectShopFl]

Where? lol

[@y.lelivelt2619]

Perhaps this is a winter job. When it turns under zero degrees Celsius you can put them outside and let them freeze . Watch out they don't freeze to another

[@ProjectShopFl]

Problem is I live in south FL and its 80 all year. lol

[@joeydobbs341]

How did you find the percentages of each? What's the formula?? Please

[@mythar1]

he just weighed the different types of material he ended up with relative to the total starting. So if he started with 2000lb ballast and got 200lb Al thats just 1/10 or 10%

[@ProjectShopFl]

You can google % calculator

[@ProjectShopFl]

👊

[@williamdawson3353]

GRAN-U-LATOR!!!! YES

[@ProjectShopFl]

👊

[@ScrapFatherScrapSon]

Before watching it. I’m gonna say it’s worth it for me. But I’m sure you’ve found an easy way to break then down!

[@ScrapFatherScrapSon]

I only mess with the biggest ballast you show here they have a good few pounds of copper 😊

[@ProjectShopFl]

I think it was worth it.

[@ScrapFatherScrapSon]

@@ProjectShopFl so I have never heard you mention this but have you ever found aluminum coils out of 1000 watters that have an inner layer of copper coils? Like 80/20 aluminum to copper. It’s hard to spot but I know you can feel by weight … I’ve just found a few that I knew were aluminum but felt a bit heavier so I look closer and sure enough when I scratched the inner coils there was a small amount of copper near the center

[@ScrapFatherScrapSon]

I don’t think its enough to try and liberate but interesting nonetheless

[@ProjectShopFl]

@@ScrapFatherScrapSon Yes, I made a video on it 2 years ago and show a easy way to recover the copper kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5qamIx9g9yWldU

[@blackopsrocks]

the 10s need a aluminum heatsink thermal glued to them unfortunately. nothign else really can be done, definitely have to consider leaving them out of the enclosure if you can.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the info

[@cheryldarke8324]

"The Scrap Hunter" giving you a shout out from Great Britian. Check out his one ton haul of copper. He likes your channel.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for letting me know I watched the video that was a nice load of copper.

[@galacticmarine663]

Use liquid nitrogen to freeze the tar then it will be easier to get the metal

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@geneticdisorder1900]

One thing about being a plumber, I don’t have to beat the 💩 off the copper tubing, 🤣🤣🤣 I have a couple hundred pounds of #2 pipe and 2-3 hundred pounds of brass and some aluminum. I’ll cash it in next year at some point. Plan on buying a tig/mig welder with the money.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Nice hope you get a nice welder

[@simodo11]

What the name of that amazing hammer

[@ProjectShopFl]

Probably a Estwing

[@Firejoker54]

Is it worth it? Yeah, I'd say so. Especially the big ones. Would I want to deal with all the mess? Hell no! 😅

[@ProjectShopFl]

I agree with you. lol

[@SilverScorpion]

That looks to be to much of a pain and take way to much time to do

[@ProjectShopFl]

It was defiantly harder than my usual transformers but I think it was worth it.

[@laisuresboringadventures7052]

I think ur just lazy silver scorpion

[@codiwonkanobi9788]

A thousand dollars plus for a couple days of work is definitely worth it. There's only one yard in my area that takes them whole so I have to break them down anyway. I get a really good price on transformers whole so I only process the largest ones all the way down.

[@skrrtskrrtallday490]

My GoPro hero 8 has the same overheating issues only at certain times tho

[@ProjectShopFl]

I have constant issues with over heating. Some people said it's because I shoot in high def 4k

[@skrrtskrrtallday490]

I wonder if it’s the design of the batteries they just get way to hot

[@ProjectShopFl]

@@skrrtskrrtallday490 I just bought new one and they are white, hopefully they last longer.

[@skrrtskrrtallday490]

@ProjectShopFL I may have to upgrade mine are the black ones still and wish you was in NC I’m a scrapper myself and would go in business with you 😂

[@computerlearingchannel4257]

You should check on "naturejab" channel where he pyrolysis e waste and make fuel out of it. And what left is the industrial metal

[@eby6114]

If Project shop gave naturejab his insulated trash from the copper wires he'd be busy for a long time.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@ScrapFatherScrapSon]

How often do you get 1500 watters that are double copper. I just got a load of them today I’ll be damned if the coils don’t weigh 8 pounds double copper. I’ve only ever come across 1copper 1 alum. But these are reallllly old stadium lights

[@ProjectShopFl]

I use to get a lot before cities changed the ball fields to LED's. They mostly come from sport lighting. My press struggled with them. lol

[@ScrapFatherScrapSon]

@@ProjectShopFl I could see why they are Massive! But my 4 pound pain giver doesn’t really struggle , what struggles is my arm, elbow and back from whacking them over and over! But they are both copper coils. I wish I had a scale but I bet the coils weigh 7-8 pounds

[@ScrapFatherScrapSon]

My 8 year old son helps bust em open! Even he can crack em

[@ProjectShopFl]

@@ScrapFatherScrapSon Haha, nice

[@ProjectShopFl]

@@ScrapFatherScrapSon If you are beating them you might want to set a bunch in a row and hit the welds with a grinder. You don't have to go deep and they will basically fall apart. Also I don't know how you are breaking them but having a heavy thick pice of steel or anvil will help a lot. I've made a video on how to do it by hand if you have not already seen it.

[@maeflorogario3733]

🥰🥰🥰

[@guyfawkes578]

Give me a call.

[@ProjectShopFl]

😂😂😂

[@courtneykachur9487]

Couldn’t you put those on a hot plate to melt that glue holding the boards to the aluminum?

[@ProjectShopFl]

Possibly

[@steveg5576]

Chop saw with a composite blade -- wack all the sides off.. ?

[@ProjectShopFl]

I like that Idea, Thanks

[@joshp6061]

@@ProjectShopFl chop saw is also great for cutting the ends off stators (simple man does this), should be good for this too

[@jayr9810]

Yummy PCB dust

[@ProjectShopFl]

Watch the video I show they say no PCB's. lol

[@positivesideofdark9090]

Is this Happy Scrappy

[@ProjectShopFl]

I don't think so

[@dirrrrr82]

2:00 Tag Team

[@ProjectShopFl]

👍

[@silverking4281]

I got 7 scrap yards and 2 utility companies copper wire is the only thing worth ot

[@ProjectShopFl]

👍

[@davehazel1994]

get a freezer put in the office one side ballasts other side pizzas get a microwave you got ballast for breakfast and pizza at lunch

[@ProjectShopFl]

Haha nice Idea.

[@williamdawson3353]

Just looked up 'Go Pro overheating'. COMMON problem..HA! they suggest a slower record rate or fan cooling. Really?

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks, I will look in to that.

[@timothymichaud2442]

Have u heard of fire light fire in bbq pit put in grate light fire all that tarie shit melts out then tar suplys fire

[@ProjectShopFl]

sounds toxic, lol

[@donnykiofetzis5775]

you need a small shredder.

[@ProjectShopFl]

I know. lol I might build one.

[@silverking4281]

F that I process wire 50k lb a month scrap yards payme by lb to process for them

[@ProjectShopFl]

You must have a nice setup. 👍

[@silverking4281]

@@ProjectShopFl yea I do I was scraping in florida boca raton came to western ny to do one job industrial buildings where cheap bought and utility company work with you up fpl in florida are too big don't give small guys a chance bought My first load of 15lb of wire pole wire striped it made over 12k and from there it's history

[@SkullerMetals]

Heat AND cold affect my camera batteries....and they want all cars to run on them. Duh!!! Kentucky will be the only place that can have E-cars.

[@ProjectShopFl]

I don't think having all cars run on batteries will happen anytime soon.

[@getprobed838]

i'd work an extra day for $500

[@ProjectShopFl]

I should have processed them all. lol

[@shanebrown5709]

In canada you are not allowed to burn if u do the scrapper if he wanted to be a prick, will report u to the environment then u get fined big time

[@ProjectShopFl]

They won't buy it if they think you burned it.

[@davehazel1994]

freeze the heavy ballasts then they break up easy

[@DavidGillooly]

What is used to freeze them liquid Nitrogen, CO2, ?

[@ProjectShopFl]

👍

[@ProjectShopFl]

I've always thought about using that

[@6Diego1Diego9]

Where do you see yourself in five years?

[@ProjectShopFl]

Making custom products that I have not shone on YT yet.

[@EdZirul]

Look every single bit of copper is worth it… it all ads up… and if copper is at 5 bucks a pound … it’s all worth it… get thousands of pounds saved up and you have a pretty hefty payday….

[@ProjectShopFl]

Thanks!

[@user-ni5hp3re3o]

اذا اكو عربي يحط لايك

[@ProjectShopFl]

English

[@ZombieGrandpa]

A few things, One, I hope you keep your tetanus shots up to date! Two, you scare the hell out of me every time you swing that sledge close to your hand! I feel like at any moment you will destroy your hand! And your next video will be you with your mangled hand saying that you can't scrap anymore! But hey, you do a great job friend.

[@ProjectShopFl]

Haha, 12 years of swinging that hammer and I've never hit my hand.

[@NeoAndersonReloaded]

Heard nothing but bad things on go pro

[@ProjectShopFl]

It's frustrating dealing with them.

[@brian7189]

Seek Jesus! Repent for the Kingdom is at hand! Jesus is the way! The truth! And the life! He’s the ONLY way! Open the Bible, read and understand that we are in the last days! Put your full trust in him! Believe 1 Corinthians 15 1-4!

[@ProjectShopFl]

I am way ahead of you, I'm the son of god 🙏

[@tr909love]

Dude, give Steve his break. Why you not giving your employees some break ?

[@ProjectShopFl]

Dude, he can take a break when ever he wants. lol