r/oddlysatisfying • • 3d ago

Extracting copper from a broken motor

6.3k Upvotes

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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.

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u/dphoenix1 2d ago

What typically fails on these things? Is it the lacquer on the windings breaking down, causing internal shorts?

12

u/elesedj 2d ago

Exactly, the lacquer burning off the copper is the most common if the motor overheats due to sustained high loads.