Are Small Motors Worth Scrapping For Copper?

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  • Опубліковано 11 січ 2024
  • Honest question! Electric motors are totally worth processing down into clean scrap copper, but what about the little ones? The small ones from fans and motors? I always just bring them in as-is because they're so small and fiddly. But what if... So that's today's video! How much do you make processing the small stuff for copper? Check it out, I was surprised.
    Wire stripper I use: amzn.to/3sirg18
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    (If you make a purchase on amazon through the links above, a small amount of what amazon makes on the sale is shared with me. It's a great way to help support my channel, at no additional cost to you. Even if you buy something other than my tool recommendations!)
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 191

  • @lorrainemcdonald7332
    @lorrainemcdonald7332 6 місяців тому +16

    I don't scrap, have never scrapped, likely will never scrap. So, why do I find your videos so interesting? I watch all of them and even watch the ads (because I understand that helps you a bit) .

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому +7

      I don’t know, but I’m glad you do! To me it’s fun because it’s interesting and I’m curious. It’s like science, with smashing!

    • @paulcoenen7918
      @paulcoenen7918 2 місяці тому +1

      Because you secretly really want to scrap. 😊

  • @matthewelliott2213
    @matthewelliott2213 6 місяців тому +17

    As always, a fun, fact-filled, non-judgmental, informative episode--full of smart and thorough processes to help people maximize time for the most revenue. Best scrapping channel on UA-cam!

  • @vidiotsyndrome
    @vidiotsyndrome 6 місяців тому +10

    For the motors with the winding on the rotor:
    Cut the ends of the axel off right at the edge of the winding plates with a grinder (Dremel); leaving a barrel shaped core and 2 axel pieces with domes of winding still attached to them.
    Vice up the barrel cores, and use hammer/punch to remove the copper runs.
    Still takes a while, but if you have several of these stored up, you can kinda run the process on all of them fairly quickly...
    I've also used an air-palm-nailer and punches to push the copper out, especially on larger motor cores

  • @amogusenjoyer
    @amogusenjoyer 6 місяців тому +6

    That was surprisingly more worth it than i thought. I guess i thought the prices for motors would be a bit higher versus the one for pure copper

  • @vinecat8451
    @vinecat8451 6 місяців тому +6

    Awesome video Thub! As a student scrapper (scrapping on the side) with no acces to a car and with only a bike, most of my weight and money comes from motors from small electrical appliences. It's rather hard to find factual videos such as these on the web for my specific situation, as most yt scrappers care more about the big things they can haul in their trucks. I love the fact you take your time to show us this, thank you very much!
    Also, before this video I never really had an interest in getting power tools, but I think this video actually convinced me. After doing some quick maths with local prices, I'd make back the money i only a month or two!

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому +3

      Thanks so much! I love any opportunity to make some huge exciting scrap haul video too and doing big truck things and getting big truck payouts is fun, but scrapping really is a perfect side-gig for anybody who could use some extra funds. Of course that means there’s a lot of people who don’t have a whole workshop with thousands of dollars in tools! I would recommend a couple power tools of course, the cordless drill is #1 but a corded angle grinder will put in a ton of work for you if you can manage the dust and noise and the electric demo hammer is way more niche but when it’s good, it’s very very good. Both can be found for less than $100 secondhand if you keep an eye on fb marketplace

    • @dr.a006
      @dr.a006 6 місяців тому +2

      Definitely worth reinvesting your “free” scrap money back into efficient tools as @Thubprint mentioned. Especially a drill with a set of bits: torx, security torx, hex/allen, nut drivers, etc. They will pay off quickly!👍

  • @thadofalltrades
    @thadofalltrades 6 місяців тому +6

    It's definitely best to strip the motors down to the copper during the general teardown and then throw that in a bucket to be processed later all at once. That's definitely the most time efficient. You could definitely increase the per hour pay above $25/hr once you figure out which motors are the easiest to process. Those stator types, don't even bother.

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому +4

      Enthusiastically agree. I have a habit of putting things that need processing into a pile and doing them at once for the sake of a video, but it’s definitely more efficient to crack the motors and clip the wires as soon as I get them unloaded

  • @williammeeks1283
    @williammeeks1283 6 місяців тому +4

    Nice breakdown Thub. I always strip out the small motors I find it enjoyable and I get more bang for my buck when I take it all in.

  • @ericprater4017
    @ericprater4017 6 місяців тому +2

    Waaaaaay off topic, I'm looking at bare studs and no insulation..in your shop... Yup, it's that dam foam board guy, every time you go by a construction dumpster, check for 2" foam board, bring it home, put it up using screws and caulk and you have another form of heat! I've foam boarded almost my entire house and am saving literally thousands of dollars in propane. But great vid! Freaking cold down in Central Wa. State! Keep warm by the fire!

  • @mikeweddleton2489
    @mikeweddleton2489 6 місяців тому

    Really like these one's thub. I appreciate the insights. Keep doing the thing brother. Happy New year

  • @mollynakamori
    @mollynakamori 6 місяців тому

    Fun episode. Thanks, Thub!

  • @onemanclan7248
    @onemanclan7248 6 місяців тому

    Personable, Informative, and Entertaining; I think this guy is the true Markiplier of the scrap world.

  • @terahsmith7588
    @terahsmith7588 4 місяці тому

    Great video! Big fan of all your scrappin videos 👍 I learn something new every time thanks to your simple step-by-step instructions 😁

  • @tghepburn1390
    @tghepburn1390 6 місяців тому +1

    I liked this one. You said-20 when filming - while watching it's -38! I never mess with the stator-wound ones but if I was starving punch out the axle first by setting over pipe/hole what have you, then you can use machete on remaining piece. Fan motors are my favourite small motor and I find lots of 'em. Oh and plastic shatters really nice at -30C !🙃⚒

  • @ejtkc3
    @ejtkc3 4 місяці тому

    wow! good video and process

  • @Warpcaller
    @Warpcaller 6 місяців тому +1

    Great job as always, wish I had time and space for experiments like this...

  • @DumpsterMarcus
    @DumpsterMarcus 6 місяців тому

    Great Video Man!!!! Hope you have a great weekend!!!

  • @Kaowh38289whdbd
    @Kaowh38289whdbd 6 місяців тому +1

    Wow, I just did some motors yesterday for the first time. I have just stripped wire previously. Very messy and I smell like metal, but it's fun. I gave up on the little top looking one I had.

  • @ZAPATTUBE
    @ZAPATTUBE 2 місяці тому

    Excellent video.

  • @adamdaley8090
    @adamdaley8090 6 місяців тому

    Knowledge is power! Stay warm broham. She's dipping into the negative 20's to 30's for us this weekend as well.

  • @benhumphregys3087
    @benhumphregys3087 6 місяців тому

    Amazing video! I appreciate these videos more than you realise thank you so much thub this has helped get me prepared to open my motors and also thanks for the great entertainment and escape I really appreciate it as my mind is not good right now.

  • @gravitybear
    @gravitybear 6 місяців тому +1

    I always love these time/$ breakdown you do. My calculus is different, of course, but you really break down (ha!) the relevant issues in a way I appreciate.

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому

      Thank you! I like doing them too, I’m curious about this stuff but two things seem to remain consistent: 1- the things I’m hoping will be a waste of time end up surprising me. And 2- processing scrap generally pays around $15/hr.
      I keep hoping to find outliers but all the tools and tricks seem to end up in the same place!

  • @Mr-Mojo92
    @Mr-Mojo92 6 місяців тому

    Another great video 👍

  • @Jalfuris18
    @Jalfuris18 6 місяців тому

    Love your videos ...eastern canada here and i learned quite a lot from you and other yt scrappers like you said it depends on how you value your time and also the space you got for storage i personnally like to keep those harder ones for rainy days when i got nothing better to scrap also the machete trick works decent on rotors if you can remove the shaft beforehand....half of them are easy with a hammer and a punch ...other half are impossible, its an adventure!

  • @daleh645
    @daleh645 6 місяців тому +2

    I enjoyed your “fireside chat.” 😎
    God bless 🙏🏼🇺🇸🇨🇦🇮🇱

  • @VetvsWorld
    @VetvsWorld 6 місяців тому

    I like these numbers breakdowns. ✊🏻🖤

  • @PostMeridianLyf
    @PostMeridianLyf 6 місяців тому

    Love your videos ❤

  • @user-nk4eb1fr1w
    @user-nk4eb1fr1w 6 місяців тому +1

    You do alot of "is it worth it " videos. I suggest a summary video where you put those limits in one video for beginners.

  • @sleepybadtzmaru
    @sleepybadtzmaru 6 місяців тому

    Always informative and fun. I have a small cold forge chisel that works for "starting cut" then i'll either saw through small motors or bolt cutter the copper on one side and pry apart. I haven't tried it on medium motors yet.

  • @ryanthescavenger
    @ryanthescavenger 6 місяців тому +2

    Love your videos

  • @SollersScrappingandDiving
    @SollersScrappingandDiving 6 місяців тому +4

    Now you know I'm a copper woman, but even I don't strip armature motors!😂 I have a plan to experiment when I get my furnace though, I think they could be put straight in as the copper will melt out of the steel, but that is a way down the line thing for me. Looks like I need to get a machete!! That worked a treat!! Another fab video, thank you 👍

    • @thomasvail9914
      @thomasvail9914 6 місяців тому +1

      Big StackeD does that

    • @SollersScrappingandDiving
      @SollersScrappingandDiving 6 місяців тому

      @@thomasvail9914brilliant and he is incredible so that must be a great way👍

    • @dr.a006
      @dr.a006 6 місяців тому

      I’ll work on that machete thing when I get to it 😅 I tried after watching Scrapitall and Thubprint, but I think my blade needs to be a little sharper to wedge between the metal plates, otherwise it bends them and doesn’t get a clean slice. I have a few buckets of transformers and motors waiting for me.

    • @tghepburn1390
      @tghepburn1390 6 місяців тому

      Machete or big clever.

    • @SollersScrappingandDiving
      @SollersScrappingandDiving 6 місяців тому +1

      @@dr.a006 good luck 🙂

  • @jeffshackleford3152
    @jeffshackleford3152 2 місяці тому

    Abrasive chop saw is the best way to do a lot of these.
    You can slice throughthe metal casing and copper at the same time, and it is pretty fast

  • @westvalley411
    @westvalley411 11 днів тому

    Took me three hours for my first attic fan motor and made 18 cents locally in california for .25 pounds of copper. Wear and tear on my tools and two dollars in gas. Oh well I learned something.

  • @iffy9776
    @iffy9776 6 місяців тому +2

    I take the copper from all small motors, and each month, I end up with 30kg approx . The stator is in weight 1/3 copper those I burn I. My
    Girs pit. Then it's easy to take the copper windings.

  • @allthingsjack89
    @allthingsjack89 6 місяців тому

    That last motor you talked about. Lay flat on bench, cut the copper with cold chisel or grinder, flip over and pry copper out from other side. Pretty efficient

  • @tomandeleea6705
    @tomandeleea6705 6 місяців тому

    I really needed to see this vid as I have been taking apart every and I mean every single motor I run into and processing it until all metals are in their respective piles, but then I quit and let them stack up. I also struggle to get every piece of brass/copper or other nonferrous metals free of particulates because I am 100% sure that every small piece will add up as others on UA-cam have mentioned. I have to say my wife is right. Now I can see, my personality causes me to be too hyper focused on completely sorting out every piece of metal no matter how small.
    Thank you very much for your detailed information, it is greatly appreciated. I love watching, now I can go work on my own bin full of small motors, cold snap here too in Portland, Oregon....

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому

      It’s been so so cold out!! Wish my garage was heated, but maybe there’s something to be said for bashing scrap parts apart while cold. I was happy to do the math and see what the value was too, although I may still skip the smaller ones from time to time lol

    • @tomandeleea6705
      @tomandeleea6705 6 місяців тому

      @@thubprint I watch you smashing that metal and I get so envious. Living in apartments I have to go easy with everything tiptoeing around haha. It all comes apart so much easier with a little smash.

  • @MarkShatter
    @MarkShatter 3 місяці тому

    Drake, for the round motors that keep bending under your machete, next time after you knock the machete blade in between the steel plates with 1 or 2 taps of the hammer, begin the serious hammering (NOT dead center over the motor) at the for and aft points instead. By striking the back of the blade just ahead of the motor then striking the machete a few times just behind the motor effectively see-sawing down the motor instead thereby avoiding smashing the steel plates and wedging down the middle instead, that's the trick with it. Good Luck and happy scrapping!!

  • @scrappirateroberts
    @scrappirateroberts 6 місяців тому +1

    Excellent and informative as usual! Just a note. The part on the outside (usually containing the copper) is the stator. I remember this as, this part "stays". The rotating center is the armature. 🙂 🏴‍☠

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому +1

      Oh that’s not only good information but a great way to remember! I feel a little silly now that I didn’t look that up beforehand lol

    • @superdud124
      @superdud124 6 місяців тому +1

      The rotating center part is also known as the "rotor." That's even easier to remember.

  • @BushDogScrapper
    @BushDogScrapper 6 місяців тому

    I absolutely have to agree with you on this! So many types of motors they all scrap a lil differently I do find the ones with the steel pins in them I just grind them through then use a hatchet and a hammer to split them ♻️🪓🔨 Awesome video as always Brother thank you!

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому +1

      Oh that’s worth a try! Can’t believe I never bothered to try the hatchet, I’m bad for always over implicating things haha.

    • @BushDogScrapper
      @BushDogScrapper 6 місяців тому

      @@thubprint I use a hatchet cause I don’t have a machete haha I over implicate a lot of things as well I think that’s where I really cherish watching other scrap channels everyone looks at thing differently to come out with the same end result! This weather is just absolutely amazing! Hope you have a great day Brother!

  • @stuartsmg1
    @stuartsmg1 6 місяців тому

    I have always used tin snips on my smaller motor winding and pry it out on the other side

  • @MarkShatter
    @MarkShatter 3 місяці тому

    Nevermind about the previous comment, Drake, I just watched your "Scrapping Hacks" episode in which you definetly had a handle on the see-saw method i previously described. Thanks for the visual demonstration though and loving the series as is.

  • @mattpettijohn5710
    @mattpettijohn5710 4 місяці тому

    Thub you need to go get you a 18 volt Ryobi mini grinder. Those motors you don't like doing is a breeze with it. I even use mine for checking brass and unknown metals. I have no need for a file anymore, did I mention it makes short work of stubborn stripped nuts and bolts, and cuts plastic up super fast. I love mine I have a lot of grinders but that's my most versatile one just one hand to use it comfortably and safe. Keep up the great videos, I love learning new stuff.

  • @trench124
    @trench124 6 місяців тому

    Treadmill motors. Glad you've done one as got a couple of those sat and was wondering if worthwhile. Many thanks @thubprint

  • @richardwarnock2789
    @richardwarnock2789 6 місяців тому +1

    Thub grind it up it's the lastest faster separation at incredible speed!!!

  • @ltdan2990
    @ltdan2990 6 місяців тому

    Thub, use your machete method on a concrete floor if you can. The motor won't bounce as much on concrete. Also, I use a meat cleaver I bought from Wallmart, for cutting the steel/copper motors. There is a lot less bouncing with a cleaver. I run duct tape along the top of the cleaver to prevent spalling. Also, on the two copper winding motors, cut the center instead of the side, they will pry out much easier. Thanks for another great video

  • @thebadgeofshame3994
    @thebadgeofshame3994 6 місяців тому +1

    I've been spending the winter pulling the windings out of (4) 55 gallon drums of pre broken down motors. Been agonizing to get through half way. Still have plenty to do. I think the payoff is worth it though, idol hands and such. #Keepdoingthething

  • @larrybuckles5180
    @larrybuckles5180 6 місяців тому

    Wow, that was very informative, thanks for letting us know. I have a pile of motors I've been sitting on. By the way you have my permission to take next week off from dumpster diving, don't want you to freeze to death. And thanks for sending the cold weather my way, after all the weather people refer to it as an "Alberta Clipper". (I wonder if there is a red eye to Florida tonight)

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому

      Lol, thanks boss! 😁 it’ll be warm again soon enough, and I’ve got plenty of videos I can do from the house. Nice to have the fireplace as an option

  • @Just_Chuck_It
    @Just_Chuck_It 4 місяці тому

    When it comes to cutting these motors, capacitors, transformers, and other copper windings I have found that using a portable band saw works best.
    I purchased a Harbor Freight Hercules 5" band saw to use as it was not only on sale but was not overly expensive. I already had some other Hercules 20v tools so batteries were not an issue.
    This thing zips through them like butter. And the 5" wide deep cutting slot allows for you to cut through most of these motors. Sometimes I find myself having to make ½ cuts.
    Also, the saw blade rarely needs changing. It's meant to cut metal. Plus, it is quiet.

  • @westcoastSRT4
    @westcoastSRT4 5 місяців тому

    Normally, i use an air hammer with a nice flat chisel attachment, but now i think i need to adapt a few of your methods

  • @metalost6016
    @metalost6016 6 місяців тому

    As soon I like to scrapping Copper, for me it doesn't matter how big or small motor is, the most important for me that my Copper collection is growing

  • @empirefinds
    @empirefinds 6 місяців тому

    Absolutely awesome brother - 19 omg I was moaning about - 9 on the way stay safe brother

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому +1

      It’s worse out there today haha! Of course that’s in Celsius but the -30 we’ve got right now is the same in either

    • @empirefinds
      @empirefinds 6 місяців тому

      @@thubprint absolutely freezing I feel for you but you Canadians are a hardy bunch of humanity. Awesome brother catch you in the next episode awesome job by the way awesome

  • @publicjeremynumberone
    @publicjeremynumberone 6 місяців тому +1

    You should invest in a horizontal bandsaw for steel and a small tabletop bandsaw for aluminum and plastic, etc.

  • @davehood6600
    @davehood6600 3 місяці тому

    I am retired so I have nothing but time so I break down all of my motors .
    I have just started scraping but I see the value of copper going up.

  • @Wreck-Gar
    @Wreck-Gar 4 місяці тому

    Hi Thub! The Scrapitall channel has a recent video on how to scrap copper armatures. It's a really good method and I'm going to give it a go rather than put them in the small motors bin 👍

  • @nachostuff
    @nachostuff 6 місяців тому

    I think whether it is worth it or not needs to be zoned based on where you are located. Not only does price factor in but weather does too. Most "norther" scrappers have multiple days from Nov-March that are not the best days to hunt for treasures - having a stock pile where you can still makes money - to me makes cents (sense). But for me I like the large more stock style - but I have very very few days where I can not run the streets. I prefer the smaller motors of the stock style since the yield is about the same and pulling copper is easier with the smaller ones. Great info though. Stay Warm!

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому

      Good point, if everything wasn’t frozen to the ground and covered with snow I may have been better off just hunting for new material! It is a bit counterintuitive that it seems the smaller motors are better to strip out but I’ve tried the big cast iron ones and they can be a real chore

  • @drp6574
    @drp6574 6 місяців тому

    Another great one! Enjoyed it. Hey, what brand machete? Thanks, Dave

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому

      Oh I got a super cheap $20 one from a tool store

  • @zero-waste
    @zero-waste Місяць тому

    I never scrap electric motors manually; too time consuming! I just pour 50 kg of those motors in the reaction vessel of one of my four pyrolysis units. The process is completed in a couple of hours, but it is an almost self-sufficient process so the actual working time is only 10 minutes.
    The yield is not only the fully cleaned metal parts, but also a nice quantity of Raw Pyrolysis Oil from the plastic/lacquer/epoxy-resin/grease.
    The majority of the motors can now be taken apart with the bare hands. A minimum of work and all is sorted in correct fractions.
    Ferrous is separated in: Small "melt ready" iron (worth 2½ times more than shredder iron), heavy iron over 6mm (worth 3 times more than shredder iron), magnets (worth 4 times more than common iron), neodymium magnets (very valuable, always sell them separately).
    Brass parts are inspected for solder. If any, the Tin (worth 5 times more than Copper) is recovered hydrometallurgical.
    Any Tin- or Nickel-plated wire strands are put aside for recovery of the plating.
    All Copper (always together with 5% Brass) is melted into a flat anode, and then run through one of my electrolytic cells. Electrorefining results in 99.9% pure Copper, reaching the highest sales price.
    The bottom slime of the cell will contain all Silver, Gold, or other metals that were present in the starting material. All values are recovered.
    Pyrolysis is also the only profitable way to process the very tiny motors from electronics.
    My workshop is heated with free fuel oil, homemade of course! Plastic parts marked with the recycling number (#1 to #7) are sorted and sold. All other plastic (dirty or broken pieces, floor sweepings, crumbles, and plastic insulation from electric wires) is pyrolyzed, yielding lots of Raw Pyrolysis Oil. This oil is then purified by removal of Chlorine/Bromine/heavy metals, and then cracked into free Petrol/Gasoline for my car, free Diesel for my truck, and free fuel oil for my metal melting furnace/heating of my workshop.

  • @scorpnz4433
    @scorpnz4433 2 місяці тому

    Scrap any ally type or low value windings by doing it in your down time. I scrap them while watching vids assuming any ally or copper can be removed by hand. Even magnatrons etc. This way i don't waste time in main part of the day. For small motors like microwave type all that's required is a side cutter & thin screw driver & same goes for stator windings . A thicker screwdriver may be need to leverage windings or use sidecutters to grip & twist against the steel stator. Small carbon tranny's can be done as well + plus other stuff i.e lpg nozzles

  • @kentieber7309
    @kentieber7309 6 місяців тому

    Thub, im not sure what you can do in Canada but i take all my stators, throw them in a barrel with wood and light it. It cooks the enameling off then angle grind one end of winding and wire falls right out

  • @mattyal9347
    @mattyal9347 5 місяців тому

    Scraping for your first ton seems impossible but like the thousand miles journey, it begins with that first step.

  • @westermanneric
    @westermanneric 6 місяців тому

    Hahaha, I was wondering how you’d contend with the cold! The rest of the country has been hearing about the temperature there for the last few days. I half expected you to drop a video called dumpster diving in minus 50!

  • @austinhernandez2716
    @austinhernandez2716 6 місяців тому +1

    I think it's only good if you pile up the small motors and then have the time, tools and knowledge to take them apart efficiently. It takes experience to learn how. But once you do then it becomes decent profit.

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому

      Totally, fiddly stuff like this is best to do in a batch. Although peeling the steel off the outside as soon as you get them is good practice too so they take less storage space while you’re saving them up

  • @sagelikea6130
    @sagelikea6130 6 місяців тому

    Try using a hatchet instead of the machete. It can take more of a pounding and works reasonably well. One change I'm thinking of making is to grind back the taper which bulges out quickly from the leading edge and makes it a little more difficult to slice down through the layers. Giving it a linear taper and making it a little thinner may help it slice easier.

  • @michaeldenison7339
    @michaeldenison7339 6 місяців тому +4

    Microwave turnstile motors are one of my favorite to scrap out. You went about it the wrong way. What I do is grab 2 side cutters, use them on the two tabs on the sides used to screw the motor to the base. I use the side cutters to pull just enough to get a small screw driver into the gap. Pop that steel plate off. Scoop out the gears. Now there will be 2 more tabs. Small screw driver to push one of the tabs away from the steel body. Use a side cutter to pull it out by that tab. Pull out the magnet. Small screw driver between the plastic and the steel at the bottom to push the plastic housing the copper out. Then once again back to the side cutter to cut through the copper and plastic on one side and done. Not a lot of copper in them, but once you get the hang of it, they are so easy to do.
    I am curious. You didn't mention how many, if there were any, of those motors were aluminum windings. I assume the vacuum motor was aluminum. Did you luck out and find one that was copper?

  • @shaystern2453
    @shaystern2453 6 місяців тому

    always worth doing

  • @incredible5587
    @incredible5587 6 місяців тому

    If you heat up the ones with all the plates pressed together, mostly seen in transformers but i seen some motors with them. If i just put in my smelter for a min tops when you pull it out just drop it and the pieces will all come apart.

  • @maxcloutier5285
    @maxcloutier5285 6 місяців тому

    I agree with your points of view about the small motors, probably because I also have only 15 cents per pound for them. Phil in Vancouver sell them for 48 cents, that bring another way to go.
    So, if I feel that a motor got a lot of weight compare to the amount of copper I can recover, I sell it as is.
    If a motor processing look like an ultimate fight, sell as is.
    I actually stack the small motors with the copper "inside" as you say. Not sure yet, what I will make with them. Sell later at Zubick for a better price ? 42 cents per pound today. Or I might be interested to melt them to recover the copper and discard / sell the iron.

  • @matthewjones2393
    @matthewjones2393 6 місяців тому

    Cheers Thub, so interesting and entertaining..as always. I've commented this before but I would love to see what a pneumatic log splitter would do to these or some type of small pneumatic press that just squeezes all the good stuff out. I would donate to the channel to watch this experiment..no pressure 😋😛

    • @matthewjones2393
      @matthewjones2393 6 місяців тому

      Or even a block paver splitter. You can pick them up for under £200 in the UK

    • @matthewjones2393
      @matthewjones2393 6 місяців тому +1

      Oh jeez, I've just replied to myself in a comment section..😅

  • @nvragn
    @nvragn 10 годин тому

    I've been watching some of your video's and I just had to ask. What is with the Panda's. And ya I'm definitely enjoying your content 👍🇨🇦

  • @dizzygardener562
    @dizzygardener562 6 місяців тому

    Thank you Thub! I thoroughly enjoy your videos. I have watched many of them already, but still have lots to go. I am learning a LOT about how to view the stuff around me.
    I am still just stuck scrapping and eBaying (dos-days) the (not 100% metals) "stuff" I have acumulated in the past 60 years - a few dozen 1987-2000 PCs mixed among the stuff. I am at a stage in life where the value of my time is somewhat reduced, so I end up microscrapping all sorts of things because it's fun - and smashing things with a big hammer is a gas!
    I have only one question for you today:
    I have a 1/2hp motor that started smoking heavily before I could cut the power to it. It is pretty crispy inside. Would you attempt copper retrieval on that? Or just toss into the motors-as-is bin?

  • @mapleleafsfan27
    @mapleleafsfan27 6 місяців тому

    With me it comes down to time and space. If I m running out of storage I will take the hard to clean ones in as is.

  • @wszechmocnieuzdolniony
    @wszechmocnieuzdolniony 6 місяців тому +1

    Dobre robota 👍👍👍 pozdrawiam serdecznie 👍👍👍

  • @georgepppp533
    @georgepppp533 6 місяців тому

    love to hear the cool temps. i cant sleep in the heat sitting here in just undies at 4am

  • @kevinclark3557
    @kevinclark3557 6 місяців тому

    I opened up a small motor the other day and on the inside of one end it looked like there was a circuit board attached to the housing with a thick rubber poured into it and I could see some of the transistors protruding up through it...have you ran into any like that and if so what did you do with it...I can send photos if needed

  • @johnchristie1423
    @johnchristie1423 6 місяців тому

    Boy if Iscrape picks this one up to do a review you should hit 1/2 m views. Keep it up even at -40c. Those small fan motors just unwind and let them pull themselves apart. 45-60 seconds/ motor, find the large wire first is the trick

  • @SocialRecycling
    @SocialRecycling 5 місяців тому

    Nice. I probly going make soon a little system that could pull it all out. With a oil piston or some like that. And i am thinking of buying a small hydraulic press system and add a blade or some like that to it to just cut it trough with force 😁. BUt that whil happen when i get more space after cleaning the heritage of my dad whice has died last year august.

  • @eldias5387
    @eldias5387 6 місяців тому

    I dig the machete trick, I've used cold chisels for opening up transformers for a while. Have you considered something like a "Painters Multitool" instead? It would get around your 'bouncing angle' problem of slice through large motors because you'd be hammering straight down every time.

  • @ABrokenSociety
    @ABrokenSociety 23 дні тому

    I scrap everything that has copper in it, no matter how little because in the long run it profits more. Sure it's more time, but if you truly enjoy scrapping as a hobby, it's a joy!

  • @user-fu2lh9yu8o
    @user-fu2lh9yu8o 6 місяців тому

    I use a hatchet instead of machete, works great.

  • @mr.zardoz3344
    @mr.zardoz3344 6 місяців тому +1

    I would think that after so many years of experience doing this, that at some point, you could just put on a few albums in the shop and jam the work away. Or, learn the Spanish or Arabic language while working. Rosetta Stone can help.

    • @dr.a006
      @dr.a006 6 місяців тому

      Scrapping with music is my therapeutic outlet😅

  • @ethanhumphrey5758
    @ethanhumphrey5758 6 місяців тому

    -19 degrees makes me glad I live in Sydney! Coldest it ever gets here in winter is about 2 degrees Celcius and that's unusual. I am 15 and am now making a fair bit of money scrapping. Your advice has been very helpful. Could you suggest any good tips for getting the most money out of a 1960s house in about 8 hours? I will have 1 day to tear out as much metal as I can before it gets torn down. I am particularly unsure about whether to focus on copper plumbing in the crawl space/walls or aluminium window frames and sliding doors? I inherited a few nice Ryobi battery tools from my grandfather, so I am not limited to hand tools.

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому +1

      I actually did a whole video recently where I did exactly that! I’m not sure what houses are like down there but I would definitely focus on the copper pipes first. Aluminium from doors and windows can be pretty valuable too so good on you for thinking about those parts, the wiring can be good but it could take a lot of time pulling it all out so I would do that last. If there’s any cute vintage pieces like storm doors or vintage brass knobs and faucets those can actually be pretty good money to sell as-is, so keep that in mind too 👍 be safe and have fun!

  • @qwer123211
    @qwer123211 6 місяців тому

    Question: How do most scrap yards define the copper that is used in these motors which contain copper and resin? Also, is there a way one could remove the resin quickly?

  • @skrrtskrrtallday490
    @skrrtskrrtallday490 6 місяців тому

    I find it always worth it unless they are like super small motors but clean copper is clean copper. Also beware some of those motors can have aluminum wires as well gotta check.

  • @dane9773
    @dane9773 19 годин тому

    Would a press to crush them help?

  • @mrMacGoover
    @mrMacGoover 6 місяців тому

    Totally unrelated but... Have you ever tried being a pallet broker? You collect pallets that companies want taken away and directly bring them to companies that want them. I'm pretty sure it pays more than Scrapping metal per day.

  • @whatcouldgowrong8323
    @whatcouldgowrong8323 3 місяці тому

    Good video, can you please also show your weight in metric. I’m from Australia and it would be good to know and compare to the electric motors that I pull apart.
    Steven

  • @davea5150
    @davea5150 6 місяців тому

    Have you ever been able to get to get the copper out of a ceiling fan motor? Is it really worth it also? Thanks Thub😅

  • @bluejay3369
    @bluejay3369 6 місяців тому

    Grinder and a rotary hammer drill does them quick I do this all the time or the old fashion way machete or butcher knife cut theought the middle tiny ones just cut in half and pull the windings

  • @colehagglund4259
    @colehagglund4259 6 місяців тому

    It’s only -19 in cowtown? It’s -35 up here in the capital region. I have motors and bx cable that was was saving for the “great freeze” happy scrapping my fellow ‘bertan’

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому +1

      Well hello from a couple hours south! It was -19 when I did this earlier this week but today it’s -30 (-40 with wind) so no worries, it sucks here too haha!

    • @colehagglund4259
      @colehagglund4259 6 місяців тому

      @@thubprintidk if this is weird or not but is there anyway I could possibly contact you? Super curious how the prices compare north to south, also I have somthing that I could use some advice on if it’s something you’ve scraped out aswell.
      Also that cold snap only lasted an entire weekend, I know y’all are lucky to have warmer winters then we do but shit it was 10° out less then a month after the -47(before windchill)
      Sure makes me worried that it’ll be another Smokey summer! Only time will tell

  • @richavic4520
    @richavic4520 6 місяців тому +1

    It all comes down to what you're doing at the time.
    I've wasted a bunch doing a lot of other unproductive things.
    Edit: production improves when done like this. You have everything at hand.
    I haven't reached the copper harvest yet. Did you go with the machete technique?
    Edit 2: get a better machete
    Edit 3: I use side cutters for smaller windings. It eliminates dust.
    Edit 4: $16.22/hr not recorded as income...

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому

      I definitely need a better machete, at this point though I think something custom fab for this purpose would be the best

    • @richavic4520
      @richavic4520 6 місяців тому

      @@thubprint You might be right. Scrapitall had his on hand, so there's no telling where it came from.
      I was just riffing on it.
      Is there a market for an item like this?
      Edit eleventy skadillion:
      Dang. Look at my manners.
      Thank you for your response, Mr. Thubprint.
      It truly makes me feel special.
      Keep doing the thing!

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  6 місяців тому

      @@richavic4520 lol, I don’t view a reply as anything special! I wish I could reply to every comment I’ve ever gotten but there’s not enough time in a day. There may be a market for it but if I were trying to make something purpose-built to sell I’d probably come up with something to attach to a standard hydraulic press which just happened to work well as a hand tool also. There may be a suitable tool already that is made for something else?

    • @nomadsteve5297
      @nomadsteve5297 6 місяців тому

      Each time you have that log burner going I would throw in a couple of small of them awkward little coils in the fire, there’s not much plastic on them so there is very little black smoke

    • @richavic4520
      @richavic4520 6 місяців тому

      @@thubprint Oh, yeah. Project Shop FL seems to have all of the cool toys. Having his connections to the volume of (s)crap that he gets...
      He doesn't seem to get much sleep.

  • @andrewwill5385
    @andrewwill5385 2 місяці тому +1

    What is the impact hammer/hammer drill type power tool being used around 10:17 of this video? If you have an amazon link too, I'd be happy to use that so you can reap a small bit of money. Keep making awesome videos!

    • @thubprint
      @thubprint  2 місяці тому +1

      No problem! It’s called an SDS rotary hammer, or demolition hammer. The trick is finding one that has at least three options on the function selector dial, I bought mine used and found that many have two functions: one marked by a picture of a drill bit, and one marked by a picture of a drill bit with a hammer. You need one with the third function, marked by just a picture of a hammer. (That means just hammering with no rotating)
      I don’t have an affiliate link for that specifically (I’ll get one) but for now if you click on any of the affiliate links in the video descriptions and navigate from there I’ll still get a kickback. Thanks, and all the best!

  • @Princesszelda_twitch
    @Princesszelda_twitch 6 місяців тому

    Badass

  • @shellez101
    @shellez101 6 місяців тому

    Gday mate , if you were out collecting more scrap and cashed that in for 2.5 hours would you have made more ? Cheers from OZ.

  • @bearcoyote9170
    @bearcoyote9170 5 місяців тому +1

    I think takes to long to take apart I try on a generator it took me almost 7 hours and at the end I got frustrated and scrap the whole thing for metal
    Know I scraped thousands of dryers. Washer motors etc I don’t bother

  • @remilareau1912
    @remilareau1912 6 місяців тому

    Hi thub! Its been a while since i watched you! Ive been thinking about how youve been and whats up

  • @zahne1235
    @zahne1235 6 місяців тому

    Stay warm

  • @joshp6061
    @joshp6061 6 місяців тому +1

    Hey Drake, are you happy?

  • @dr.a006
    @dr.a006 6 місяців тому

    Minus 19°?! Fahrenheit or Celsius? You know what, doesn’t matter, that stove looks toasty and cozy 🔥

    • @tghepburn1390
      @tghepburn1390 6 місяців тому

      That's celsius! it's way colder now.

  • @kevinsturgess1475
    @kevinsturgess1475 6 місяців тому

    👍

  • @tommymadden9746
    @tommymadden9746 6 місяців тому

    A cup of coffee, a radio a warm garage makes for a great day of stripping motors

  • @panteleon1
    @panteleon1 6 місяців тому

    You put the stator inside the cubicle in the furnace and when the copper melts you take the steel out of the melted copper