Scrapping Electric Motors For Copper Recycling - The Complete Guide!

Scrapping electric motors for free copper! They always make it look so easy. Everybody loves scrap copper and copper recycling, and it's no secret that electric motors have plenty of copper in them. How much copper? And how long does it really take? Is it worth it? I spent a lot of time determining the answers, just so I could know how to make the most money scrapping a motor! And of course, I put it all together for you. Not the first electric motor recycling video but certainly the most complete!
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Music by Harris Heller
Outro: Industrial Scrap - bsmith

[@JosePena-or9fz]

Having the right tools makes a huge difference. I have a hilti wheel cutter with Diablo cut wheel. Cut off both sides, go through eight motors in an hour.

[@TrashStacks3]

That’s impressive

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

I hear you on the cutting wheels,but the other sounds exaggerated.

[@sticksandstones1885]

We were able to save 1000 lb of number two from the motors during the lockdown. Normally we cut the motors out with the sawzall. Then we cut the copper with a sawzall or we use a four and a half inch grinder with a diamond blade. Sometimes we use a 7 inch diamond blade but the diamond blade works better it doesn't fall apart and it doesn't leave us much dust it will cut down on half of the amount of and the blades will last three times longer. Remember if you use a 7-inch diamond wheel you have to use a bigger grinder. We also suggest if you're going to use a vice use a smaller one or one with smaller Clausso this way you can put only half the motor in there to bite down I'm half of it and that's all you need. You'll never be able to find a place that will open up big enough to hold the motors. That's a good video thanks for doing it. Once you going to hang up doing it you can knock them out very quicklythe big motor probably would have taken about 15 minutes to a half-hour the little motors normally take about 5 minutes. That's once you're all set up and you have good experience on doing. A chain hoist fromceiling hanging down with Claus is the best thing to use and you can pound out the copper. Remember gravity can be your friend. We even cut up compressor motors out of sealed units.

[@thubprint]

Sounds like I should hang out with you for a day! Thanks for all the great tips 👌😃

[@kameljoe21]

Some 1 inch acme rod and a few nuts and some steel will make a pretty nice vice that would work as well. Just a thought. I have ordered 1 inch by 5 threads per inch nuts and rods for a low price online a few times.

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

A large vise is the best but no vise is big enough for the larger motors. Doing like you said is the way as far as clamping them.

[@adamdaley8090]

I sit stripping copper wire with a knife and watch scraping videos lol. I'm a carpenter so I pick up after the sparkers and save demo copper/brass/aluminum. Keep up the good work

[@thubprint]

Nice! Well I’m glad you found me 😊

[@ColdBrewLobster]

Electricity follows the copper, the magnet follows the electricity. Cool, simple way of putting that.

[@L3V1T8-84]

I just had my biggest copper haul, I live in Oklahoma and the High School nearby just redid all the lighting from the old fluorescent tube lights to the new LED tubes and well that being said I work for the school district, I'm an hourly paid Custodian. Anyways, I talked to the contractor and asked what they will be doing with the copper wiring in the light fixtures and ballasts and such? He replied they were going to scrap to which I replied bummer, I'd love to have some of it, he laughed and said well there may be something I can do about that but I won't promise anything. He said I'll tell you what check the bulk waste container on the East side of the school when you get off work and there may just be something there that just happened to be thrown away by "accident." I said that would be awesome just don't fire anyone for such a mistake as I laughed and walked away... So I got off work and not expecting there to be too much I went to have a look and to my amazement there he had tossed for me quite a lot. I brought it all to the wrestling room scales and it all came to 257 pounds. There really are still some pretty great people left in this world and I'll be sure to thank him next I see him for sure.

[@thubprint]

😳WOW!! That’s so good, what a great dude!! I often find all the best results come from having conversations with people, I’m stoked for you. All it really takes is people being decent with each other. Nice!

[@L3V1T8-84]

@@thubprint Thanks much appreciated.

[@woodworkingandepoxy643]

Moose is amazing i don't get why he doesn't have way more subs

[@savedge666]

Dude I was just thinking that as I shoved my thumb up & subbed his channel. It's cuz he doesn't scream about the epicness of his amazing fail or hurt people/himself.

[@l.mcmanus3983]

I have grabbed several fan motors and had a ton of fun figuring out how to get the copper out without cutting it. I cut all the string off and then worked loose wires and too them out one loop at a time. Inner loops first, outer loops after. It was time consuming and I found it fun but I am sure others would find it tedious.

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

Way too slow .No one I know would call that fun.Cleaning motors is hard work.

[@modela4096]

I too went through a learning curve with electrical motor windings removal. After doing a few of various sizes i was then able to cruise through 3 in an hour. Nice video.

[@TheSleepingonit]

For the reciprocating saw get ghee Diablo blades, they do cost more but last longer

[@thubprint]

Hirsch nope thanks for the tip! I definitely had the wrong blades. And I am a big believer in spending a little more for quality tools to get the job done right.

[@joshuamorris9050]

Carbide tip

[@ChristopherGoggans]

@@thubprint another tip would be to examine the tooth size of the Sawzall blade. I suspect smaller would be better, as it's normally the preferred style for thinner material, but copper is so soft it may not matter. As far as carbide, yes it's amazing but way more expensive, so cost/benefit has to be a factor. Also Diablo seems to consistently be at the cutting edge of carbide and bladed tool research, so they're where I would definitely start. They also seem to have very competitive prices from what I've seen and what I remember. Hope this helps!

[@kameljoe21]

@@ChristopherGoggans Diablo blades are the best. Few notes on them are to start off slow and then speed up. Keep them cool and they will last a long time. Mind your blades with care and they will stay good. I cut 3x6x1/2" thick tube 2 times with one blade and its still going strong.

[@andrewpeterson7633]

Thanks for the additional channel, I watch a multitude of scrapping channels, some have mastered things better then others while others are still honing skills. If and when I get around to it I'll copy/paste some links that may help the community at large to learn some other ways and all that jazz.

[@stuartsmg1]

I use aviation snips on the winding and use a pry bar against the steel housing and yank the whole winding out

[@scrappermax9513]

Extremely glad you finally are taking apart the motors for the copper windings. That’s my favorite part of scrapping from just the payloads of copper I get. Some motors are incredibly tight but others have windings so loose they just pull right on out

[@thubprint]

I figured as much. The blue one had windings packed right to the edges of the channels, and the other ones I had looked like there was a lot more space. I had some more footage explaining my observation but I decided to cut it to keep the video length down because it didn’t feel like it added significant value that wasn’t otherwise implied. Thank you for confirming my suspicion!

[@TheSkaireKrowe]

Thanks Thub. Enjoyed your perspective. My experience wit these are similar, but I find it enjoyable tearing these down for the copper to use in smelting projects. It's always going to be 'what is it worth to you?'. Recycle, reuse, repurpose. Take care.

[@patriciapines587]

"He's always after me lucky charms. So I don't trust him a bit". I LOVE that throw-away line!

[@thubprint]

🤣

[@pds9246]

Great job I have it down pack 3 to5 motor a hour I stock pile all motor that i get a hold of then a rain day i chop it all To me every penny counts 👍

[@chdhrdcnj115]

Hey brother... I just want to say thanks man.. you've helped me tons with learning how to get my side hustle up and moving . Before I was just getting scrap wire off stuff dumpster diving but now I've really upped my game .

[@thubprint]

Nice! Glad to hear you’re moving up 😎

[@smileyleaves3066]

Straight to point, rich of info. You got my like Sir.

[@ronshoemaker1761]

First I would like to say that I always enjoy your videos. This is the first time though that you approach was sadly a very inefficient way to remove the copper. I do a lot of them and I also use a cutting wheel to remove one end. But then I have tent stake that is roound with a loop on one end. The diameter is just small enough to fit inside the grooves where the copper is, and I cut off the non looped end to create a flat surface. Then it is just a matter of tapping each slot of copper until the copper is roughly half way out of the housing. Then I use the claw side of a hammer to strike the copper which pulls the copper the rest of the way out of the housing. It takes me approximately 8-10 minutes per electric motor. Good luck and keep posting great videos.

[@chewdognrambo]

Hey there boss. Small and big are both worth the effort. I get them down to the case(small) cut off one end using a hacksaw on a vice(least amount of waste), put on side and roll a little at a time hitting it with a 3lb sledge(pushes stator walls in this loosening copper) too the open end with a little penetrating oil, move to next and do the same.....By the time you're done with next the previous one will let copper go with little effort. I can knock down 15 in an hr unless my canine companion wants some love. Big ones I cut end, beat with hammer, oil outside of stator, section with chisel and hacksaw, little oil, flame(to loosen glue/insulation) hammer and comes out quite easily. My biggest stator was 190lbs and still wasn't that bad(used 16lb sledge on that one) on time. I do the aluminum ones for the steel(yard picked my truck up with claw crane and dropped it with 1400lbs of steel in the bed so I get a really good price on steel) and save the wire til I get a few buckets and add it to an aluminum run in. Rock and roll sir.

[@sentradynamics8889]

I save oil from compressors to use for lubing up motor windings so they come out alot easier. Great for rusty bolts too and its free as a by-product of scrapping 😎

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

If you start cracking open AC comp motors there will be a lot of oil to get rid of. That oil makes the windings come out pretty easy and can be used to lube other motor windings.

[@gussuperman7565]

M8 that was an informative video cheers. I scrap the motors from the water pumps inside the washing machines. They're small motors that are made of some type of composite , easily breakable and worth the amount of copper in them. Keep up the good work. God bless y'all.

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

I do that also.All manner of motors.Washing pump motors are usually copper but the drive motor is not. The washers that have no agitator usually have copper also

[@alyssacatanese7222]

Hammer drill and v bit will push them right out

[@WastedMoment]

I wish you or another scrapper lived by me so i can buy your copper so I didn't have to do it, since I just melt it down for funsies. However, I will tell you this. I spend my time going to my scrap yard and buying motors to pull the copper out of. I have never found aluminum in the industrial electric motors, always copper. If im not mistaken copper is way more conductive so it can make for more powful motors that the industrial purposes need on their applications. My scrap yard doesn't get the bigger ones often, but a lot of the smaller ones, the smaller ones are usually from boat lifts since its Florida where im at. The only ones I have found to have aluminum wire, and I have been burnt every time is appliance motors... dishwashers, washers, and dryers, sometimes microwaves. Also best way to dismantle (i have found) for the cases, is to cut off each side of the chonky windings (6" grinding wheel best for the bigger ones or ya, sawzaw) Get two building cinder blocks, place them on your work bench, put the stator on top, and then punch-out the straight bits in the stator case. I made a metal box when im grinding that'll contain most of the copper dust in the box, and i can sweep up all the copper dust, put in a jar, and then I melt it. For you scrapping idk how dust would work at a scrap yard. But ya but hammah smash to the iron and aluminum cases, grinder to the steel, pop right out.

[@thubprint]

You’ve got it figured out a long time ago! This was a learning experience for me for sure, and I made a lot more work for myself trying to do it quickly and easily.

[@connelljackson2936]

Thub has made me a scrap addict!

[@mr.zardoz3344]

Great stuff !!

[@dr.a006]

Definitely assembly line several of them at once. It makes it look like you get more copper when you have several to show for it. I wish I could get some giant motors like that all the time! Also for my aluminum ones, they are only one or two cents less than a copper motor at my yard so I leave as is, maybe bust off the easy cast Aluminum for a little more.

[@willlastnameguy8329]

One of my great disappointments in life was finding out that most large appliance motors have copper coated aluminum windings. That, and getting fat after years of being in shape.

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

​@@willlastnameguy8329I don't think it's a copper coat. Some of the windings are green some red.The coating is a coating to keep the electricity from jumping from one wire to another Color means nothing.

[@scrappermax9513]

You will of course get quicker at taking apart motors the more you do it. My first motor I took apart was an ac motor that took me 4 hours. Now I can get through some the size of that yellow one in less than an hour

[@element_avcisi]

It's been a long time. we missed you. Hi from Turkey

[@thubprint]

Hello!

[@jamieepley7779]

Hello from Missouri Thub!! Just found your vid on motors and I gotta say thanks man..youve answered so many questions and you explain things very well. Keep doin your thing man!! Thank you very much for your time and energy!! Very well done sir...

[@Inthebeatenzone]

Man you have the best instructional videos.. you need to be a teacher!

[@thubprint]

I’d love to someday 👌

[@regannyhuis2728]

I cut both ends of the copper off and then punch out the remaining copper and that’s how I get it done in close to an hour

[@regannyhuis2728]

And I wait until I have at least 10 to 20 then do them all at once

[@thubprint]

That sounds like it would be faster, good idea!

[@wozzajayscrapping9056]

Yep that's the best way

[@louisrichards3702]

well i have a big 5 inch vise , so i cutoff one end,(1/4-1/3 HVAC fan motors),using a 4.5 angle grinder, then put it in the vise with the copper uncut windings up, the top of steel plates is about 1/2 -3/4 inch below the top of vise jaws,then using a modified 20 inch flat blade screwdriver, i lightly hammer it in and then lever out the copper windings , easy and fast..larger motors i cut in half with a axe head, ( grind axe head long and thin,it will go in between steel plates real easy and cut through without much trouble)hammered in,, then lever out copper from both sides just like the smaller motors..10-15 minutes each for the smaller motors, i once did some big motors,2 hrs each,,7 inch angle grinder ,cutoff one end of copper winding, and a 1/4 flat bar x1 1/4 wide with a fork like V cut into one end,and hammer out the copper,, one big motor had brass bushings along with ball bearings,, 4# of brass!!

[@dr.a006]

Makes sense. Less friction for a single bundle than several connected.

[@shaneyork300]

Well put together video! First time is always the longest! After more experience even the big motor should take well less than an hour and the small ones less 15 minutes! Then that's when you start to realize it's worth it to crack them open!! Especially with copper prices on the rise!! Have a GREAT Day!!!

[@thubprint]

Thank you, and you as well!

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

It's about time someone was honest. Thanks for that.Some of the smaller ones will even go faster. I even do ceiling fan motors . These motors use a different method but are usually done within 4 minutes or so.

[@livvyweimar7362]

Great information as usual lol. Gonna share with my friends, in case they are undercover scrappers.

[@albertmeadows8645]

Thank you, as always, for the very helpful video.

[@thubprint]

Doing my best!

[@ashtonnelson7748]

That was actually a great explanation for electric motors, I appreciate it 😄👍

[@thubprint]

Trying to add value whenever I can! I was *hoping* to show how fast a person can get through them, but instead I ended up showing how sometimes they are more difficult than expected! 😅

[@jr-a-cat]

Yes ,like watching the Moose ,love seeing some one having the same hard time that I have on motors .

[@mitchdickson254]

2 ways youngin. First, wood fire and burn off the coating. that loosens the copper and brings it out easy. Vinagar and salt will clean up the copper to #1. 2. air chisel will bring them right out after you cut the windings on one end. A few have plastic coating like house wire instead of enamel. Just run those through a stripper to get #1. Muratic and salt will strip the enamel taking it to #1. Motors are easy money once you learn how!

[@thubprint]

Can’t wait for the next pile now ☺️

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

​@@thubprintDon't burn unless you absolutely have to.Your neighbors will call EPA or some such nonsense.

[@De8080]

Well I have several very large motors have at it lol. I have done this before not to thrilled to do it again.

[@thubprint]

There’s definitely some technique involved! 😂

[@De8080]

@@thubprint yes and it’s not for me lol. It takes a special person I think to enjoy opening up such a package lol.

[@mollynakamori]

Certainly the most charming motor scrapping video on KZbin! ;)

[@thubprint]

Awwwwe ☺️

[@MrKevincalgary]

Great video, interesting

[@JasonBristow2003]

On large motors, I cut off both ends of the copper windings and use a long thin bolt from the motor to tap out the rest. Some of it even falls out. Usually takes me about ten minutes

[@thubprint]

That’s a MUCH better idea... where were you a week ago??? 😂

[@JasonBristow2003]

Glad you like it

[@joeybuldo3008]

I remember first time I took an electric motor apart I told my self never again but Torah my friend put me on and showed me how quick he pulled on apart and I tried it for myself boy was it worth it I took all my electric motors apart today had a milk Crete full probably 8 in total took around 2 and a half hours definitely worth my time will continue to do them it’s rly not a bad thing to do if you have nothing else better to do

[@VileStorms]

10:44 which is why we bake the motors when we are doing a rewind. You bake it to the point the varnish melts and burns off and its easy to cut through the windings to count the turns.

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

Burnt windings are not sellable.

[@VileStorms]

@@user-uh2tw8ym9n depends who you sell to. We sold them that way for decades(he ran the shop from the 60s-22 when he passed)

[@leeharrington4116]

Been watching your videos since day one!! Almost feel I know you personally, really enjoy seeing how you make the most money out of your scrap and trash, and just how different things are in Canada compared to the UK. All the best From a fellow British scrapper!!

[@thubprint]

Thanks for saying hi! I’m glad the ‘personal touch’ translates lol. I’d be super interested in travelling to different places to explore the scrap life around the world... maybe once international travel is back in fashion, hah!

[@leeharrington4116]

@@thubprint you're always welcome to come and try uk scrapping with me 😁

[@shawnlaplante2244]

Thank you this was very help full.

[@thubprint]

Just doing my best! I really thought I would get through these in no time, but that was simply not true haha

[@Punk__pixie]

Howdy Thub, I'm trying to get a friend of mine into scrapping and I've been showing him a lot of your vids I think hes starting to get into it ✌🏻

[@thubprint]

Well thank you! I hope I’m getting across the importance using your time on the right things and recognizing a bad investment early 👌

[@skagonmotorz4199]

I just started following you and loving the content you have on KZbin and TikTok

[@thubprint]

Thanks!

[@scotthoward4836]

Not sure if you came across any but I'm sure you have judging by the amount you would've scrapped but the ones that have wood instead of plastic insulation I found a little harder to get the copper out. I usually cut both ends and use an old or broken hacksaw blade from a heavy duty electric industrial hacksaw machine (not a hand held) . I have several the blade are wide thick and super strong. I use as a scraper blade, chisel and punch and is perfect for getting each chunk of copper out.i also agree Canadian treasure hunter has it sussed. For the size he's done a block splitter or axe should do it

[@THEATREGOD3]

Oh man I remember when trash panda was simple now it's know-it-all panda. 😅 I kid enjoy watching KZbin videos I grew as a scrapper and so did your Channel

[@driversseat9801]

great video, very informative..thanks.

[@toruko-ishibravo2zulu679]

I did scrapping. As do some people that had used copper as salary hire or owned it as a business property. Either of the latter can fall upon a passer-by that lacks their permission to handle scrap. The scrap I got came from obtaining verbal permission after my day work at the site was completed. I still have about 3 yards left after 28 years of using it for my home repair needs. Saved me a dime and time wasted. Personally, I never cared for motors, but some do go there.

[@thubprint]

I’ll be keeping an eye out for the big motors, but for the most part, nah.

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

Motors get way easier with time and are very profitable.

[@rossbrumby1957]

A slide hammer with an appropriate size right angle hook on it will get the wire outta the bigger motors while only cutting one end off.

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

Have not tried this but I will. Faster means more money!

[@vantagegamingleague]

Another great video! This one was super informative 👍

[@thubprint]

Aw, thank you!

[@nicejunk666]

New subscriber wow that is way easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@kdscrapping4452]

that was fun!! i do them all the time

[@scrapmanindustries]

That was a good idea scoring the cast shell like that. I never really thought of that. Them cast iron ones are way harder than the cast aluminum ones. I used to have a 7 ft. piece of pipe with a 10lbs. splitting maul head welded on the end of it. I nearly broke my wrist a few times trying to get the cast iron shells off of them big ones. If you do this again when you get the big one down to a stator, cut both ends of the windings off. then throw it on a vise or drill a hole in a pretty sturdy table and punch the copper through the holes individually. I used to have the bolts I saved from big ac compressors hanging on my truck bed for this purpose. some people use nail punches, but I've found you generally can't get the copper all the way out with a nail punch and generally have to pull it half way out with some pliers or something. careful with the bolts though they tend to bend and get stuck unless you hold them with some kinda pliers. If you do it that way you should be able to get the big one apart in maybe 30-45 minutes depending on how stuck the copper is inside the stator. the big ones really used to slow me down when I was running sealed units. the first one I did took me two hours of strenuous beating and trying to pry the copper out with a huge pry bar. then someone told me about the method I just went over. I made a hydraulic puller for them now so hopefully they won't be an issue anymore.

[@thubprint]

You MADE a hydraulic puller? That’s rad! (I think I mentioned you in this video but if I forgot, I meant to) your video was one of the ones I studied trying to figure out the easiest way to get these apart, but I didn’t have a maul so I needed to make do. Hence the scoring! I think next time I get one of these that’s gonna be the trick, cutting off all the ends and working the holes one by one. I was trying to save time keeping them together, and that’s what made it take so long lol. Do you have a video of your hydraulic setup?

[@scrapmanindustries]

@@thubprint yeah. its actually a log splitter. I bought it new just cause it was easier that way but an old one would work. or if you know a guy that is good with hydraulics and welding you could really make something a lot better but I don't know hydraulics that well so I just made something that worked for what I needed it to do. its still in its early days. more modifications to come but this is what it is right now. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqaaZYqor86dfa8

[@scrapmanindustries]

@@thubprint I watch a lot of your videos as well at times. even if I know how to take apart something that your showing how to take apart sometimes I still watch how others do it. your videos really explain things pretty well to the viewer compared to most scrapping channels. its almost like you went to school for film or something.

[@thubprint]

@@scrapmanindustries I appreciate that, thank you! I didn’t do film school, I just watch a lot of KZbin and have a very short attention span lol. I like to write a script first (sometimes) so I can stay direct and to the point, and keep “show them don’t tell them” in mind. Stoked to hear it seems to be working!

[@scrapmanindustries]

@@thubprint yeah man, there's definitely a lot of information people can get out of your videos. the only complaint I have is the man bun. but those just aren't my thing I guess. definitely keep up the good work.

[@davidhowick3665]

Great lecture Professor ,

[@Suzu92]

Great video

[@ComputerGUY27332]

Okie scraper uses an air hammer to remove the copper from the metal housing. You should check it out.

[@ComputerGUY27332]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX27hpmCdqxnmMk

[@thubprint]

I’ve actually seen him use that and it looks great! I don’t have an air system set up unfortunately but if I get one, that would be a great asset to the toolkit 👌

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

I wonder if this works for the motors that are really stubborn. I need to get a bigger air compressor so I can try it out.

[@Kid_Ikaris]

I've seen bigstackD clean out a motor in no time. Keep scrapin' Thub

[@thubprint]

I mean sure, but did you see the one where he separated every steel layer one by one? He didn’t ALWAYS blast through them lol

[@Kid_Ikaris]

@@thubprint there is a lot of fast motion camera work too

[@iffy9776]

Hi I take the copper from electric motors and compressor, because the compressor windings sit in oil they pop out in seconds. With the electric motors there is away of pulling the windings out quicker. I first saw the video of someone doing the pulling and holding the motor with his feet in china. Now something like the big motor takes me less than an hour. It would have been easier if you cut both sides and the knocked them out. Watch Ian Matthew in the Shed. Taking copper from 15bhp motor.

[@scrapman502]

I find it very easy to remove the copper from motors and transformers after you stick them on a BBQ grill and cook them for a while. The fire burns away all the string, glue and insulation completely. You then just drop the entire transformer into a large bucket of water and wait for about 10 minutes while the water boils. The wires will just pull out without even cutting them. Plus, the wire is a #1 product ready for melting or selling. I melt all my copper into ingots, and there is hardly any ash or slag.

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

Very illegal won't work if you have neighbors close buy.Burnt wire is not sellable on the other hand if your smelting and no one close . Then go for it.

[@trevethan82319841]

IV been opening these things ever so often and I have 2 new ones recently and so I'm waiting to cut them open with my new 3 in 1 plasma cuter after a get the Oregon gas later on at some point

[@thubprint]

That would be so much faster!

[@randalldefisher358]

Get that Bigger vice. Its easier. Cut tops off, then flip and go around with a round punch. It comes out like a Crown.

[@ltdan2990]

Always like your videos, thanks!

[@FORGIVEN11967]

Once you get the casing cut or broke off. Cut the lead side of the copper off. Build a nice fire and put the windings in the hot fire. Let cool down and start pulling..

[@thubprint]

Oooo, thermal expansion! That’s a real good idea to get things moving, and if you’ve got a pile it would be real efficient too

[@ScrapiT68]

Here’s the ting. Fun or profit. Melt or sell. For me it’s fun and melt... maybe one day I’ll sell, not a priority so fun fun fun 😎 obtw, 150kg copper, 79kg brass, 345kg aluminium saved up 😉 1 year 😁

[@thubprint]

That’s not bad!!! I don’t know where I’d put it, lol

[@vidiotsyndrome]

Fastest way I've found to knock out motor coils... An air hammer and punches! Cut both ends off, then punch the strips out with ue air hammer

[@trumpzilla4193]

Great info!

[@calmclam7638]

Another great video!

[@randalamerson5478]

Big Brain On Bread. Hahaha. 🤘🤘🤘😎🤘🤘🤘 You’re college educated & rich with Info on Scrapping. Awesome Man. I appreciate you for the knowledge your share. It helps me put food on the table

[@thubprint]

More than happy to help!

[@randymills4351]

I agree save a pile and you will get faster at them. Im a welder by trade and i get to take home all the dead grinders. Ill fix what i can and scrap the rest. Takes me id say maybe 5 min for one

[@thubprint]

Nice! I clearly just need practice lol

[@mehowshorts]

Awesome video 👍👍 Can you make P.O Box what you got video.

[@thubprint]

That’s the next one 😁

[@UrbanMiningWithGearHead]

Nice take on scrapping! When I get the motors with the heavy coating on them, I like to cut both sides and then punch the rest thru. Seems to do away with all of the binding that you just experienced. However, I did get a few tidbits of info about checking them to see if still good. Thx! GearHead!

[@davidhalliday5991]

Good job m8 love these videos

[@joehickman4823]

You have a tattoo on your left palm. Why here, what is it, what does it symbalise. Awesome video as usual n pleasure to watch. Extremely informative for here in Blighty (UK)

[@scotthoward4836]

Never had to use a vice don't need it. Place copper side up on a tin or anything round and high enough to clear knocked out copper and diameter slightly wider than the windings and use your tools hammer punch it down and out.

[@thewaterborotrashguy1002]

The fun part is figuring out how to do it and becoming more efficient.

[@gododgers16]

I need you to do a water heater thub, I just picked one up and I found out there are parts I can sell on it, but I'd like to see how you do them. Thanks man your content is A1.

[@thubprint]

I hadn’t thought of selling water heater parts, only ever considered them for a small handful of brass! I’d do a video, but it will be a learning experience for both of us lol

[@gododgers16]

@@thubprint thanks man I know there is at least one part that can be sold on the rheem guardian fury (thermostat)

[@jeanchery7246]

Great 👍

[@JB-wx4wo]

Thanks man great video and channel 👍

[@florinbalan5153]

I scrapped a electric motor big like a 200 l barrel , about 400kw motor with electric brake, i work 2 days, about 20 cutting blades and 10 kg sledgehammer. And the payment was about 1200 USD,în my country.

[@thubprint]

WOW!!! I can hardly imagine a motor so large!

[@florinbalan5153]

Was a motor from a big steam pump from an old power plant.

[@derektrafford2911]

Copper price has skyrocketed in my area (4.50 a pound Canadian for #2) 2- 2.5 pounds of copper per motor is definitely worth it especially if you can do multiple an hour

[@thubprint]

I’ve been stacking mine up for a slow winter day 😎

[@tonylittle1387]

Love your channel!

[@kathykindsvater1381]

I think it was Okie Scrapper that made a snake tongue looking piece out of a chisel for his air hammer and it worked well.

[@thubprint]

That sounds cool!

[@tghepburn1390]

White Squirrel Enterprises did the same thing.

[@derekelliott6098]

You explained it differently, but its the same as: Any circuit with ohms is a short, all wires have very low resistance and are just a short, sometimes with a bit more resistance. Open circuits have infinite ohms always (no continuity for less ohms).

[@Swagmaster65]

I feel like if you're doing it for fun and have a way to melt it into something better, you might have a better time than if your focus is on cash per hour.

[@danieljohnson8855]

I miss your can picken

[@thubprint]

Me too bud...

[@chewdognrambo]

Apologies. As far as paper and string I turn on a torch and hit it using fork to scrap it off as I go. Bigger the torch the faster.

[@alierrtrillo9368]

It would be worth it, if you crush it all into tiny bits and separate it by magnets and or density difference. But that will take probably 10k+ to get set up

[@thubprint]

That would definitely pay off for someone who has the volume to justify it

[@FunDumb]

How about taking a plasma cutter to the motor casings. Or a wire edm machine to cut directly through.

[@thubprint]

If I could get a plasma cutter that would absolutely be the way!

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

Plasma cutter works fine but now you need more tools to do the same job. Grinder with the thin cut blade is simpler and more straight forward.

[@MrLakers323334]

I don’t have the cutting tools or a mull. With salvage yards take engines with copper exposed or will be the same as a motor and I did all that work for nothing?

[@mmerkley402]

For us hobby melters...it's all worth it!

[@edwinsmith1774]

Can you do a video on the silver wires in stuff please to tell the difference from silver color and tin insulated

[@thubprint]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a silver wire in anything, where have you seen some that could be silver? I think the closest I’ve found is some wires inside breaker box fuses that were copper but coated with a silver colour metal that looked like silver rather than tin. Even then though, the recovery process would be pretty involved for a very small amount of it

[@edwinsmith1774]

@@thubprint they say there's to kinds tin and something else

[@edwinsmith1774]

@@thubprint or are they silver colored copper ?

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

These wires that are silver in color are usually #2 grade.

[@chriswhite2151]

At 1:28, when you were saying you had a degree in motorology, it looked like you had your fingers on a large capacitor! Which could give a large ZAP! You might want to give a warning about capacitors

[@dylanstraub9612]

You need to hold on to that scrap so you can get the best amount of money for your work. Did you purchase these motors online or did you get them locally? FYI I just saw another scrapper pry the copper out with a wrench and hammer. He hooked the top of the wrench into the loop side of the copper and pounded it out little by little. It took some time however you end up with less mess in the long run.

[@thubprint]

Less mess is great but I think the only sensible way is to get through them as quickly as possible

[@wesduke8597]

Great video man🤙👍

[@thubprint]

Thanks! I’ll probably do motors again and show how to do them super fast, now that I finally know haha

[@ironangel667]

Did you try punching the wire through where you cut it? That's how I do it.

[@thubprint]

The main thing I learned doing this is I need practice 🤣

[@SirAfk11]

You can open it easily with an air pressure hammer

[@villeveikko1]

Pull those plastic or cardboard things with plyers

[@kameljoe21]

I wonder if you were to cut just the ends off and leave the middle part. How much of a loss do you get. Time vs copper weight. I can see someone who has a 100s of electric motors who spends a day just stripping them apart and saving the windings. Scraping the housings and then one day cutting the ends off and scrapping them. If a person scraps enough motors building a small press would not be too hard to press out the windings from the core. Electric driven press would be really all you would need along with a hand full of custom shapes and sizes.

[@thubprint]

Oh I’d love to get more serious with them, I don’t find them often enough to build some kind of press but I’ve seen videos of some that go through them in seconds

[@user-uh2tw8ym9n]

The pros pull them out There are videos of purpose built machines that pull them in seconds flat no exaggeration.These machines are not for average persons.The point is pros pull.not push.