Question

Breaking down an electric motor for copper?

Are electric motors worth breaking down for the scrap copper or should I just sell the scrap electric motors as motors instead?

Answer 1

I do scrap metal as a hobby and do break down some motors for the copper wire but others I sell as is for electric motors.

Motors such as refrigerator compressors or A/C compressors I cut open to remove the copper and those are easy to do.

But other tiny motors such as fan motors or some larger electric motors where the copper is stuck in there really good then those aren't worth it to me to break down since it takes so much work and little return on the money.

Here's my thoughts.

If the copper comes out of the electric motors easy then break the motor down and remove the copper but if it takes longer than 20 minutes to 30 minutes to remove the copper from the electric motor then sell those electric motors as electric motor scrap and move on.