Scrapping out a Washing Machine Motor for Copper and Aluminum

Scrapping out a Washing Machine Motor for Copper and Aluminum
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[@SkullerMetals]

I will always take apart motors if there's copper in them. I'll never be THAT busy that I can't do it. Nice work, Okie!

[@Okiescrapper]

some scrappers won't break any motor down, some will only do copper motors, I do most all of them, sometimes I will toss an aluminum one, but I scrap most of them

[@SkullerMetals]

@@Okiescrapper Well, you got me on that one. I don't do the aluminum ones. Project Shop FL did a vid recently and there's basically no money difference one way or the other. Just sent 2 microwave transformers to shred. Bummer that micros basically only have aluminum ones now.

[@duanekennard3298]

About 20 years ago the strip mall next to me had a crew go in and remove ALL wiring as they were going to rewire and replumb the entire mall. Outside was a bunch of roll off dumpsters filled with every kind of insulated copper wiring you could imagine.Probably enough to put in a semi tractor trailer and have it about 3 feet deep. Some was the main copper wire for the main electricity. I asked the job foreman if they were going to recycle it and he said,"Take what you want of it...the rest is going to the landfill." HOW OH HOW I WISH now I would have taken all that ! I can only imagine how much that would be worth today.I still cannot believe NOONE recycled it but they didn't. I spoke to a couple workers later on and they said it definitely went to the landfill.

[@Okiescrapper]

that would have been a good score for sure, if you had a way to haul it and a place to store it as you cleaned it up. that much would have worth renting a mini storage unit

[@leechjim8023]

I see a cat playing!😺

[@joestalin2375]

Air chisel move is ballet, thanks!

[@bernmay6650]

Awesome job , thanks for what you do ,totally. Thank You !

[@rickyscott9019]

Okey i sure enjoy your videos. I’m a scraper to and just like you I do it for fun and too supplement my retirement. I have learned a lot from watching your videos. Thanks Scrapman 1 here in Tennessee

[@Okiescrapper]

That is awesome! Thanks, I have learned a lot from having this channel. never too old to learn, a lot of knowledge from other scrappers in the comments

[@wannabescrapper72]

I just got myself a copper washer motor and 4 hours later, this video shows up in my feed. Great to see the hammer is the tool.

[@Okiescrapper]

the air hammer works great, if a guy doesn't have a good compressor he can get an electric rotary hammer, just have to make sure it has the option to drill, hammer, or both at the same time, and for this just set it to hammer

[@bernmay6650]

You are totally awesome to watch your commentary is the best ! Please keep doing what you it is totally amazing!!!!

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank you, I am glad you like it, until next time take care.

[@ScrappingwithGrandpa]

Awesome video my friend. Watched all the way threw

[@Okiescrapper]

Thanks for the visit

[@MoDave82]

You clean up your scrap good I know the scrap yards like that

[@Okiescrapper]

yes they do, I try to get it as clean as possible keep them happy

[@stickhillfarm]

Great tip with the label, also you are right about wieght, aluminum is so much lighter, its a pretty sure giveaway

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank you

[@BushDogScrapper]

Cheers Okie great video i gotta get to my motors here one day more just to make space as I'm hanging onto my copper for now!

[@Okiescrapper]

I am selling a little copper here and there for cash flow. but I have 2 55-gallon drums that are filled up to the second ring, I am guessing about 400 lbs. in each barrel

[@BushDogScrapper]

@@Okiescrapper oh wow that will be a nice pay out one day Okie!

[@bigcountryscrapper6885]

Great video my friend

[@Okiescrapper]

Thanks for the visit

[@hartfam3037]

I tend to cut one side of the winding with side cutters, clamp it flat, then pull it through the casing with a pry tool. Unfortunately i havent gotten a copper bearing motor in a while. Mostly aluminum. Also, blue lines on the label are for aluminum motors also it seems.

[@BushDogScrapper]

interesting info on the blue line on motors I'll have to look into that as I got a bunch laying around to tear down! Cheers

[@Okiescrapper]

I used an air chisel for years to cut the windings on the first side. it works well but slower.

[@SilverScorpion]

Great video

[@Okiescrapper]

Thanks for stopping by

[@anthonycolangeli4133]

The use of the blue tape is a really nice tip. I never thought of that. I never knew about the yellow lines.

[@Okiescrapper]

glad I could help make things a bit easier for you. that is what this channel is mainly about, and knowing about the yellow lines if you want the copper you can get it and pass on the aluminum one's if you chose to, thanks for the sub. and for watching

[@elgatol4203]

Awesome

[@user-lo8oo1no1o]

hats off for doing it wth bare hands

[@Okiescrapper]

sometimes I ware gloves, but for the most part gloves make things harder.

[@THEATREGOD3]

The tape so obvious i never thought to use it. Nice!!!

[@Okiescrapper]

it's just one of the many tips that we pick up along the way. glad I could help

[@Supercheeseburger666]

Good to know about that label identification. 👍

[@Okiescrapper]

Glad it was helpful!

[@maritimescrapper]

Nice break down!!!!

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank you, and thanks for stopping by

[@johnkranz4004]

Nice job

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank you

[@scrappingonthefly77]

Thanks!

[@scrappingonthefly77]

Thank you for explaining the tear down ! I've done a bunch but there's several out there that need the tutorial!!

[@Okiescrapper]

always new scrappers out there, and good to help them learn, even if we had to learn the hard way

[@NackDSP]

The switch is the only thing that actually wears out in these motors. File the contacts and bend the leaf springs so they have the correct spring tension and reassemble. Oil the bushings and you're good to go for five more years. Unless the windings are burnt you are destroying a motor that could last a lifetime.

[@Okiescrapper]

yeah, but how many motors does a guy need, although I may be able to sell them on Ebay. but I may be parting out outboard motors soon and selling parts on Ebay

[@georgeherndon4436]

I just did a bunch of moters ... Pool pump moters and a transformer. Got good copper money. 💯

[@Okiescrapper]

I like the copper motors, there is good money in them and they don't take to long to do

[@Onemanstrash1]

Nice tip on the yellow stripes

[@Okiescrapper]

thank you, I haven't seen any for a while now. but I keep looking

[@user-ei3gp3mx1f]

Thanks I have two air pistols and I used one once about 16 years ago on concrete never thaut of using again I get lots of motor.washer ,drier I got a guy who buys from me if they're clean and not too old,he gives me 30 to50 a peace.but I have been selling Motor's for about 5$. I've been robbed 😢 thanks 🎉

[@Okiescrapper]

glad I could help

[@prisonersforprofit]

good tip on the yellow lines and break apart the al. cage. have you done a video on separating fan wheels from the motors on dryers? washers are easy, usually 3 bolts and they fall out, i have the hardest time with dryer motors, i know they spin clockwise but rarely do they separate and i end up taking a sledge to them.

[@Okiescrapper]

sometimes a hammer is the best tool to use

[@backporchfoundryandforgeus900]

I use a 7” cutting wheel and it works nice to get all the way through.

[@Okiescrapper]

I do have a 7-inch angle grinder that I could use. thanks for the tip and for stopping by

[@midwestmotorman8547]

I put a 5 to 8 inch wheel on the 4.5 grinder. I have found it is best to buy the offset cutting discs with the dished center when going oversize. This keeps the cutting wheel edge away from your fingers on the grinder handle... otherwise you might cut a small notch into your pinkie finger if the grinder bounces.

[@backporchfoundryandforgeus900]

@@midwestmotorman8547 hahaha got lots of skid marks on the pinky lol

[@deanharbord3591]

99 out of a 100 washing machine motors these days are aluminum wire so i sell whole thing for breakage aluminum about 12 cents a lb 2.40 per aluminum wire motors

[@Okiescrapper]

good way to do it, dryers are the same way,

[@huckstirred7112]

when you started beating on it with a hammer ,I thought you were doing a repair video and was going to fix it

[@swflscratcher5893]

Nice

[@Okiescrapper]

Thanks

[@neillodge9130]

Mate I'm a Western Australian here in OZ and your breathing has me concerned . Mý Miss is on home oxygen because of COPD/emphasiema . Great video , cheers .

[@Okiescrapper]

the doctors and hospital checked out my lungs, did not find any issues, then checked out my heart, many tests, in the end they said maybe if you loose some weight you wont breath so hard

[@bernmay6650]

Drexel blade (circular)is really small so wouldn’t lose much copper .

[@cathykaiser6633]

👍

[@curtispederson9390]

I tried my chop saw thinking it would be faster but it spit out more copper and i went back to angle grinder more profitable in time and copper.

[@Okiescrapper]

interesting, I have had people recommend using the chop saw. I always thought the blade is wider and will waste more copper. and you can't just vacuum up the dust because you will get the grit from the blade mixed in with the copper

[@jamessinclar6118]

Thank you for breaking this down. I have a pile of those to do. Do you separate this copper from your other coppers, such as copper pipe? Is this considered clean copper? I always learn and pick up something new fom your videos!

[@Okiescrapper]

you are welcome, first make sure you have copper wire and not aluminum, you can keep your #2 copper wire separate from your #2 copper pipe, I mix mine and the yard I use is good with it, I would ask your yard, your buyer, and see if they care, they are the one's that matter

[@sonnyc3826]

i never used to take these apart i didnt care much or think it was much worth it i hand them in as is ( the washers and dryers) and stoves but i think i might start taking these out. theyre kind of neat to take apart its neat to take soem things apart to see what sin them. and you get a few extra bucks i guess.

[@Okiescrapper]

if they have the yellow diagonal lines on the label they should have copper windings, and will be about 2 to 3 lbs. then the cast aluminum adds up quick. about .40 per lb. it adds up

[@sonnyc3826]

@@Okiescrapper yes i noticed that also just form watching your video..i have one outside i cut into before i watched and just to check i checked the label on the side and sure enough there were no yellow lines.. also a good thing is air conditioners and it appears tehres 2 motors in each air conditioner

[@richardroyles1423]

God bless

[@Okiescrapper]

thank you,

[@miketaylor8571]

Great video did you make the chisel too push copper out or can you buy them like that ?

[@Okiescrapper]

Thank you, I took a flat chisel and cut a v into it with the angle grinder

[@deanharbord3591]

I do check every motor I get from washers and dryers find that one that's copper I will sure scrap it for copper

[@Okiescrapper]

always good to check, only takes a minute.

[@deanharbord3591]

@Okiescrapper yes it is I been metal scrap recycler all my life just got done scrapping 170 electric motors and 24 transformers and 30 ballist from florescent lights I baked all them in a fire had 426 lbs #2 cop 92 lbs #1 cop and 2100 lbs of shred

[@Stalkerrob20]

i broke down some motors and a big transformer from a huge battery charger, after i got it a nice bucked of copper the yard tried to give me transformer and motor price for my copper... so i don't do motors / transformers anymore.

[@backporchfoundryandforgeus900]

They should at least give you #2 for it

[@_spider_jeff]

You need to remove all the strings

[@Stalkerrob20]

@@_spider_jeff oh I did, they just don't want me breaking down motor's because their Chinese contact wants too. They just tried to rip me off. They did give me #2 because it was clean but still I'm not selling to them now. They are known for ripping people off and accepting stolen things like catalytic converters. They are a very small yard.

[@_spider_jeff]

@@Stalkerrob20 All yards will rip you off if they think you don't know!

[@Okiescrapper]

I see on you comment on this post that you now use another yard, good deal. don't use that yard anymore if you can help it. if the motor has copper in it then you can make a good price tearing them down. we will lose money sometimes as we scrap but we learn what to watch for from the scrap yards.

[@sticksandstones1885]

You're using the wrong blade use a diamond wheel you won't get all the dust you will not get any Sparks and you will get cleaner cuts and they also will last a lot longer 10 times the amount longer.

[@Okiescrapper]

another plus to the Dimond blades is they don't get any smaller. I used one for a while I need to get another

[@teamSHTF]

#teamSHTF

[@georgeherndon4436]

That was close 😮. Cord underneath your foot

[@Okiescrapper]

Yeah, they jump under my feet all the time. they can be laying flat and still jump up to trip me

[@jeffkiehne2545]

You need to get a better table to hammer on as its too light and not getting full impact and have you looked at melting the copper dust or could put in copper pipe and crimp ends so can not come out.

[@Okiescrapper]

melting it would be a good way to go, the impurities would rise to the top and be scraped off, it's easier to move a light table then a heavy one, I have a good solid surface for pounding if I want to use it. the table gets it done and I can move it out of the way if needed

[@bernmay6650]

Use a cut off saw would be much quicker !

[@ViperRecycling]

I don't even cut mine off I found a better way of doing it without no copper loss I'll be doing a video on it shortly

[@Okiescrapper]

Ok looking forward to seeing the video, always ready to learn something new.

[@ViperRecycling]

@@Okiescrapper I will be either doing it today or tomorrow hopefully today. I'm getting ready to go to the dump and then I got to do a radiator pickup when the gentleman calls. But I definitely do like the air chisel part of your video I never thought of that. I will be watching more of your videos when I have some free time today

[@larrycresse753]

Is copper coated aluminum worth saving? And I use a Rockwell tool to cut off the copper.

[@Okiescrapper]

check with your yard, I have heard that some yards pay around 80 cents a lb. for aluminum wire

[@imapiledriver2462]

most have aluminum winding now

[@Okiescrapper]

if the label on it has yellow stripes it is copper

[@richardshiffka1110]

There is also motors with green writing on also has copper wiring

[@Okiescrapper]

I am not sure about that; I will have to keep an eye out for that.

[@richardshiffka1110]

@@Okiescrapper I redo the washers that have them motors on them and the aluminum motor is the one speed motors and copper is 2 and 3 speed motors so you know

[@richardshiffka1110]

But since I see the difference I'm going to start breaking the motors down instead of just cashing them in how they are

[@Wreck-Gar]

Would you recommend using a Sawzall to cut through the copper or is the grinder the best tool for this? Thanks!

[@Okiescrapper]

the Sawzall tends to grab the wire and pull it, makes a mess. I have cut them for years with an air chisel. but it's slow

[@Wreck-Gar]

@@Okiescrapper Thanks 👍

[@TruckDriver326]

How can I set up a Amazon page. I like to know how that done. People al was asking about think I have.

[@Okiescrapper]

it's been a few years since I set mine up, best thing to do is search KZbin for how to set up an amazon affiliate page, it's not that hard but you do have to jump through a few hoops. like verifying your bank account

[@TheStarforce2]

what about the aluminum wired ones? do you throw them in the furnace?

[@TheStarforce2]

most of the ones you are showing there that I have are alum

[@Okiescrapper]

I pull the aluminum wire and put it into a barrel

[@TheStarforce2]

@@Okiescrapper is alum wire generaly a higher price than sheet or extrude?

[@bryansantamaria1125]

is there another way to get the copper out.i’m kinda young to be using power tools yet

[@Okiescrapper]

cut the wires on one side with a hack saw or use a hammer and chisel, then pry the copper out from the other side

[@ThreeWheelJr]

Just sweep it al into.the bucket

[@Kreacher1974]

What type of scale is that and where are they sold.

[@Okiescrapper]

not sure witch scale you are talking about without watching the video, but I have them on my amazon page. link in the video description, under tools I use. I have the small scale and the bigger one goes up 440 lbs.

[@stephenfiore9960]

1x(1/9/24)……done thank you

[@marcroger8367]

Most washers and dryers have aluminum winds and aren't woth the time....

[@Okiescrapper]

they may not be worth your time, as many others say the same thing. yet many people break them down, so it is worth their time, some do it for something to do, it's not always about the money, if it was people would not watch football, go fishing, golf, some scrap as a hobby, and most hobby's cost.

[@onefixitman]

That motor is considered a universal motor. Can operate on AC or DC.

[@Okiescrapper]

I did not know that, I will have to keep the next one I get and see what I can do with it, thanks for the info

[@jasonsliger5430]

I know of some ole timers that made trolling motors for fishing out of them.

[@artstrology]

Interesting.

[@patmax9005]

*Can Any1 **_Please, Please_** Tell Me* i've Got Lots Of Wire That I Stripped Both LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME BOTH WERE WRAPPED/INSULATED IN THE SAME PLASCTIC TYPE COVERING BUT The MAGNET STICKS TO ONE & NOT THE OTHER🙈🙉🙊 *_One Is Definitley COPPER & The Other Looks Identical But A Magnet Only Sticks To One_* Can Any1 Please Tell Me Is The Other Wiring (Not The Copper Wire) Worth Anything & Or Even Worth The Time Stripping The Rest? Thank You & Godbless You Guys Making Videos & in The Comments I Appreciate Yall So Much 🙏☝💚🌍✌

[@Okiescrapper]

if your magnet sticks it is shred, not worth much

[@Rs-bt3ev]

Kg

[@ronald6138]

it is a chipping hammer

[@Okiescrapper]

it may be,

[@williamwoodward670]

Your a good candidate to have a stress test or at lest a doctors visit. 😊 your breathing is way to labored

[@Okiescrapper]

funny, they did every breathing test they could think of, and then they did a lot of testing on my heart, only to tell me maybe if I loose some weight my breathing may get better.

[@stephencrockett1277]

What make machine, in the uk 99 percent ally

[@joestalin2375]

Have you ever tried a deep throat band saw instead of the angle grinder ?

[@Okiescrapper]

no haven't tried the band saw, may need to give that a try

[@frontlinemedia4270]

What about the guillotine method?

[@Okiescrapper]

I saw a video a few weeks ago, the guy used a machete and a hammer to slice the stator in two, I need to try that and if it works good for me I will make a video of it. thanks for watching

[@cognac8297]

I wouldn't buy an expensive washer dryer with an aluminum electric motor . That's a scam

[@Okiescrapper]

most of them have them

[@jeremymettler2785]

Makes me wanna quit smoking hearing him breath

[@Okiescrapper]

you should quit. save a bunch of money. I quit about 35 years ago

[@santafemyco5113]

Yeah, right….. make like 3 cents an hour for all that effort. Get a real job.

[@Okiescrapper]

I don't want or need a real job. it's a hobby, how many hobbies can you make money from?

[@Isupportisreal2023]

WASTE OF TIME!

[@Okiescrapper]

Yeah, that's what I say about football