Do small transformers have copper?

[EMP]

I have some electronic items where the heaviest item inside is the transformer. I also assume AC adaptors have these. My old microwave had a really heavy one. They look pretty much like this: http://www.asia.ru/images/target/photo/50594645/Power_Transformer.jpg and this:
http://www.o-digital.com/uploads/2179/2225-3/Control_Transformer_516.jpg

Are these good to hang on to?

[cpthnsolo]

I have some electronic items where the heaviest item inside is the transformer. I also assume AC adaptors have these. My old microwave had a really heavy one. They look pretty much like this: http://www.asia.ru/images/target/photo/50594645/Power_Transformer.jpg and this:
http://www.o-digital.com/uploads/2179/2225-3/Control_Transformer_516.jpg

Are these good to hang on to?


Yes. If you have a quantity available think 200 to 1000+ pounds than the scrap prices are even better. You don't want to mess with stripping them as it's not worth your time IMO, so I would simply hang on to as many as possible if space isn't an issue until you have a sizable stash. That may not be feasible for many, but if you have the space and don't mind storing them while you gather more than it's a good idea IMO. However if you're only talking about a small pile of these and don't plan on scraping junk as a hobby on some level than I wouldn't bother. I used to break stuff down/scrap as a part time hobby over the years simply to fund metal madness, but lately there are soooo many people looking for, collecting, and sometimes stealing stuff that I've pretty much given up.

[Ragnarok]

Much of the weight in a conventional transformer is in the laminated iron core. You might get more for the copper by cutting opposite sides of the winding(s) with a hacksaw to form two more readily removable "C" shape pieces.

2c, R.

[glockngold]

Ok, I'll admit to being a bottom feeding scrapper.
By that I admit to trying to pull every penny out of stuff before it heads to the landfill.

Wall wart transformers:
They can be sold as electric motors for not so much money.... or

Cut off the cords & they go in the tub of insulated copper scrap. That usually sells at about 1/2 the price of #2 copper.
(Copper is down right now so I am just stacking the tubs. I own an old tobacco barn, so space isn't an issue.)

I take a hammer & pound & break off the plastic body on the anvil on my bench vice.
Stick the transformer in the bench vice & using a sawzall (electric saw with a metal blade) cut off one end of the copper windings.
then using a punch, tap the copper through & out of the steel.
Steel goes in a bucket & is worth next to nothing till it goes along with a washing machine to the yard as light steel.

The copper windings are now #2 copper scrap.

If you have a "real job" or a "real life" none of this is worth your time. :biggrin:
Good scrap links:
http://www.scrapmetaljunkie.com/forum/index.php
http://www.realcent.org/viewforum.php?f=11&sid=717a043ff0b542569fa132b0e5030258

[Lugnutzpop]

My brother and I get the opportunity twice a year to clean out our company warehouse. We get to keep whatever scrap money we make. Over the years, we've learned to break down:

Pumps - Copper motor windings, steel, and in our particular pumps, the impeller is usually brass

Motors - We cut the copper windings off

Semi-hermetic compressors - big cast iron pigs weighing approx 300# each. Scrap yard gives us about .30 per pound, drained of oil

Contactors - copper windings, 90% or higher silver on the contacts (we get some pretty big contacts in our industry)

Disconnect switches - crack them open and they have either silver plated contacts or the higher end ones have solid silver contacts

Solenoid Coils - Crack off the outside plastic, and there's a fair amount of copper if you get a hundred or so. (We get TONS of these, so we have our kids take these apart and "ball-up" the copper wire

Refrigeration coil - cut the u-bends off for copper scrap, remove the tin housing, scrap yard pays us $2.60/lb for the coils

We also get a fair amount of extruded aluminum, and every couple years a good amount of aircraft aluminum... That pays well also.

There's money in scrap if you have time and a constant supply. Scrap money has paid for our Xmas and more this year. Nice to be able to pay for everything with "worthless FRN's" .

The silver we've been able to collect has been a bonus (7.5oz so far).... :elefant::565::elefant::565:

-L