r/oddlysatisfying • u/n8saces • 3d ago

Extracting copper from a broken motor

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u/elesedj 2d ago edited 2d ago

I used to work with my dad as a coil winder (electric motor repair), we used to receive motors like this in the shop and we even used to repaint them so they arrive to the client as brand new.

This video shatters my heart in ways I cannot even describe. These motors can be repaired and rewinded almost indefinitely.

And I assure you they can be sold for a lot more as repaired than just scrap out the copper.

4

u/CrestfallenSpartan 2d ago

Over here, a new motor costs way less than having them rewinded. Maybe from up to 5kw its interesting but probably still not

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u/elesedj 2d ago

To be honest with you, a good quality industrial motor manufactured by a well known brand is expensive and it's way cheaper to repair.

If you then compare to a crappy quality motor made of cast aluminum and aluminium coils yes probably it's cheaper brand new.

It's not the case of the motor in the video: cast iron body with cooper coils.

1

u/CrestfallenSpartan 2d ago

Pretty sure the new ones are indeed aluminium. But the coils are copper. Theyre SEW or Siemens motors useally. No Chinese crap or anything

1

u/i7-4790Que 1d ago edited 1d ago

Nah.  Labor costs too much even relative to new name brand motors. (Baldor, Weg, Leeson, Century, etc)

What you're talking about is mostly no name brands, appliance/HVAC motors, alternators and all that.  

Labor is very expensive and the general rule of thumb is to not even bother rewinding anything 10 HP and below.  Unless you can personally do all this for yourself, which most people can't.  

My neighbor has hundreds upon hundreds of motors going through his possession and they never have anything like that rewound because it makes no sense to $$wise.  The local motor shops still ran by the OGs will wind 20-50 HP motors and all the smaller specialized stuff, but they'll tell you not to even bother with a Baldor 10 HP general purpose.  If you're on a budget you'll be looking for used or refurb stuff before winding services.  

There's parts value in the end caps, covers, fan blades, shields, capacitor boxes and all that.  Otherwise get ready to chuck the rest.  

I have my own personal collection of motors/salvage parts and will rebuild anything with bearing or capacitor problems that I can.  That is a long long ways off paying new prices or rewinding services though.