stripping moters

[whitesid]

does anyone know a easy way to strip the copper out of moters. i tried today to get the copper out. it took me 30 mins to get 1/4 of the copper wires out i know theres gotta be a easier way. anyone know a easier way?? please help
thanks

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[skippy]

Get the main piece of iron that the wires thread through out of the motor shell (the stator) - now cut the wires off one side of the iron stator with a junky old wood chisel (wood chisel much better for this than a cold chisel). Now you can pry the wire loose with some sort of prybar - and it usually will come out in one big laquered chunk. If it won't pry out, it can be rammed out by hitting on the cut wire ends of the windings with a steel rod in order to force the windings through.

It helps alot to have a big vice.
This works well for transformers too.

 

[hyderconsulting]

Besides skippy's good suggestions I have also used heavy duty wire cutters and boltcutters to get at the copper wires to cut them up. Vise grips also help at times to grab hold of the wires and pull them through. Regards,Chris.

 

[whoknows52]

if you have a grinder, get a cutoff wheel to cut the end off, its alot easier on your fingers than a chisel

 

[whitesid]

How much copper is in one..such as a 1/2 horse? Are they worth the effort? I can get about .95 for tossing a motor off so is it really worth the time to strip one...Just wondering
Don

so far i only did one moter and it was a small one. but i got a half of a pound out of it so about 1.25

 

[FISHEYE]

its simple.get a 55 gallon steel drum.get a good hot fire going in it.drop your motors and transformers in it.also you can cut a hole in the bottom side of the drum,use a electric blower or gas blower to get it real hot like a incinerator.after everything is all burned up,like all the glue and shellac that holds all the windings together.after it is all cooled off.just hit the motors and transformers with a sledge hammer.they fall apart.seperate your copper from the steel.so now you have burnt #2 wire.heres another trick.get a 5 gallon bucket.fill it with muratic acid.or pool acid.same thing.dip your burnt wire into it for a few min.now your wire is nice and shiny like #1 copper.wash it with fresh water.then go to the scrap yard as fast as possible cause the wire will turn back to #2 soon.you can do the same for #2 copper tubing too.

 

[snake35]

I have three five gallon buckets of copper stripped from motors. I am going to take it in with a load of steel tomorrow. I wish that I had kept track of the time involved, oh well. I will post prices tomorrow. good luck all.