Where I am at here in Alabama people don't trash as much stuff so I can't find as much scrap as most. To me the time is not a factor, I try to squeeze every penny out of every piece I find. I would take the time to cut them off and separate 1 from 2 it does add a little more. And use a hand wire cutter, no need to waste cutting blades on copper tubing.
Thank you very much, this is the exact question I was looking to answer. I really appreciate how carefully you performed your test to thoughly answer this question for us. Nice work!
Nice timing on the vid, I've found a bunch of air conditioners all in the past two weeks after finding none for months. Was contemplating breaking them apart for the copper, but not for approx $3 per hour! And the copper prices are nearly the same there as Vancouver, #1 today was $4.60 and #2 was $4.31. And once again, copper transformers were over .50 at .53 per pound.
In Tennessee USA scrap yards are not allowed to buy copper/aluminum radiators from you unless you are a licensed HVAC technician/business . I learned that the hard way after spending a few hours disassembling a large A/C unit. Also in Tennessee scrap yards are suppose to hold your money for at least 5 days after you sell them your copper, they mail you a check 5 days after the transaction is made.
Thanks for the comment. Interesting way of doing things, but good to hear since there is definitely a lot of illegal copper cutting with ac units going on. Stay well and thanks for sharing
You need to come south, have never had a problem here in Alabama. Just need a current DL but unless you have proof of ownership they won't touch a catalytic converter. Ours pay cash for all scrap copper.
Wow guess I'm lucky here in Indiana USA no probs with ac rads took in over 100lbs no probs. I even took in 140 lbs of aluminum ec wire. And 100lb of copper wire no probs. Aluminum boat u need paper work idk why kinda odd.
Yup Not worth the time!! Just cut the noodles off for a clean rad!! I use sawsall for this job, i was thinking of doin mine today since my trailer is M/T , good place to do it , keeps the stuff contained in one area!!
Not even that is worth it. Did it today and made 53 cents more for 5 minutes of work. Lost the weight of the ferrous brackets amd the little extra for the nooodles vrated that little.extra profit. Admittedly.it was a small radiator from a window ac
Thanks for the video! I tried stripping the copper out, and even came up with a quick and easy method, but the time involved, the mess, sorting, cleaning is just not cost effective.
Good to know - always looking to maximize without killing myself in the process. Sometimes you take less and enjoy the extra time and less hassle. Happy Hunting.
dont you need a ac or plumbers license in Canada?? you do in America...FYI dont waste a cutting disc on soft metals tubing , take a bolt cutter and crimp it and use pliers to bend apart the tube.i get copper wire alot more than i do old ac units, so i take in a few ac lines in with the CU wire and my scrap yard takes it,, just like i had a 5 gallon bucket of junk keys from a key shop ,, ii couldn't take it in all at once ,but i put 10 junk keys in with the brass and they take it..i got a roll of burned CU wire doing a rental cleanout, i cutoff a few pieces and put it in with CU wire and they take it..
yeah, I don’t take them out all the way either, but wanted to show people so they could decide for themselves. Thanks for the comment. Stay well and happy scrapping
Got a couple of these. Was wondering about this. Ill take your word for it on it not being worth the time. My yard pays $1.50/lb us for alum/copp rads. $2.85/lb for #2 Might have to do some math tho
i have over 2000lbs or condenser coils i was looking to buy a machine fro china that mechanically separates the cooper from coil but its cost 5k plus 3k fr shipping, i do hvac so this wouldn't be a full time business but a good idea for scrappers you can charge other scppers to separate their stuff or buy nd separate make a profit
Yup, here luckily we don’t. That is why you find a lot dumped in the garbage because people don’t want to pay to get them removed or don’t know where to drop them off.
IMPORTANT Since this video was published many states have passed new laws on HVAC components and scrap-yards will not take copper/aluminum radiators, condensers or any copper tubing suspected of being from an AC/heater unit....The seller's next idea is to remove the copper tubing like you are doing but what they don't realize is.... this tubing is marked with thousands of embedded rings where the aluminum rubbed against it and the the scrap-yards can easily tell it's from an AC radiators and they STILL will not take it.... sadly. The political justification for these laws is: they create a theft-demand and people are stealing entire units off houses and businesses. Their ignorant solution is to treat all scrappers like guilty criminals. This is a result of scrappers having no legal representation and no power. I am sorry and I suggest that you carefully research your state and scrap-yard's websites before even picking up an AC/heater unit.
I have an outside ac unit that I want to separate the copper and aluminum because they dont take them whole done here in florida but I cant find your video on it I know it wouldnt be worth it if they would buy the copper reefer as is but they wont I would have to throw in shred which is now 8 cents tell me how to find a certain video please thanks
Have not done a large outside unit yet, although I have 2 units still to do. I would actually leave the copper inside and just cut open the large compressor and take off the copper tube not inside the radiator.
I think your not correct you should watch my video on this. I think your method of scrapping them may be the time issue! I still liked the video and I'll share it!
Roe I got to ask if you were the one who gave me a thumbs down? I get one on every video and I am trying to see if it is the person I think it is who does it out of jealousy and personal dislike?
@@TinManScrapper every 1.8 lbs 1 on is copper. I've process hundreds of pounds by hand in one day. The ones you have were tiny. Retry you little experiment with big singl coils and use a sawzall for Christ sake. I wouldn't steer you wrong I'm not that bored! I like you and I want to see you realize the facts. If it wasn't profitable why do bigger companies by machin s to do this. Maybe take a minute and go watch my way of doing these, then try again
