Electric motors turn up everywhere. Pool pumps, washing machines, power tools, fans, compressors, garage doors, machinery. Most of them get binned as steel.
Why they are worth more
A motor is a steel case and a steel rotor with copper windings inside. The copper is a meaningful share of the weight, which is why motors carry their own rate rather than going in with general steel.
Alternators and starters off vehicles work the same way, and they are the ones mechanics throw out most often.
Should you pull them apart?
This is the real question and the answer is usually no.
- Small motors. Not worth it. The copper you recover will not cover the time.
- Large industrial motors. Sometimes. There is real copper in a big one and it comes out faster per kilo.
- Anything in between. Bring it whole. The motor rate already accounts for the copper inside.
- If you are not set up for it. Definitely not. People spend an hour with a grinder for a few dollars of copper.
What else is in this category
- Alternators and starter motors. Off any vehicle.
- Pool and spa pumps. Motor plus often a decent amount of other metal.
- Compressors. Out of fridges and air conditioners. These have their own rate.
- Washing machine and dryer motors.
- Power tool motors, if the tool is dead anyway.
- Garage door and gate motors.
- Transformers. Heavy and copper wound, worth separating out.
Keep them in their own pile
The main thing is not burying them in the general steel. A motor in a bin of steel gets weighed as steel, which throws away the entire reason it is worth more.
One bucket or one corner of the pile for motors, compressors and transformers. That is all it takes.
If you are in the trade
Mechanics, pool servicing, appliance repair and refrigeration all generate these constantly. Worth setting up a standing pickup rather than ringing each time, because they build up faster than you think and they are heavy.