Planning to sell scrap electric motors? This is a great way to make money without extensive scrap metal recycling experience. Many people don’t know the value of electric motors or their options to maximize the return at every stage.
This guide is for you! It will walk you through each step of the process so you can sell scrap electric motors for the most money possible.
How to Sell Scrap Electric Motors
This guide will show you how to sell scrap electric motors for the most money possible, giving you the knowledge you need to maximize your scrap.
Step 1: Finding a Reliable Scrap Recycling Company
Perhaps the most crucial step for maximizing your return is to find a scrap recycling company you can trust to act ethically and promptly.
As the metal prices have risen, so has the volume of scrap recycling, creating an array of options for disposing of your unwanted metal.
Start by researching online.
A wealth of reviews and price comparisons will help you find a local recycling center that suits your needs. Many companies advertise their prices, which you can easily compare with a reliable price reference.
Of course, you should also call the recycling companies you’re considering and ask them what they’re paying now.
Metal prices change frequently, and a difference of a few cents per pound can greatly affect your final take.
Ask about other services they offer, like pick up for bulk scrap, and whether they accept payment by cash, check, or wire.
Most companies offer a cash or check option, but you may have a wire transfer option if you’re selling large loads.
Step 2: Gathering and Transporting Scrap Electric Motors
Fortunately, scrap electric motors are everywhere if you know where to look. Every household appliance, industrial machine, and electronic device has them.
If you work in an industry that handles a lot of machinery, you could already have a steady stream of scrap electric motors.
Transportation can be challenging if you have a lot of scrap to sell, though some companies will send a truck to pick it up – particularly if you have bulk quantities – and others will expect you to bring it yourself.
For the best price, keep your motors stored so they are not damaged and lose value. Sorting and preparing them for transport makes weighing and pricing quicker.
Step 3: Sorting Motors for Maximum Profit
Sorting out your electric motors before you take them to the recycling yard will help you get the best price from the scrapyard.
Different motors have different amounts of copper, aluminum, and steel inside, and recyclers value each of these materials differently.
Sorting by type, weight, and composition will give you a better idea of the collection’s worth.
Copper is the most valuable material in an electric motor’s interior, so motors with a higher percentage of copper—such as large industrial motors—are likely to command a higher price.
Many recyclers will do it for you, but if you want to get paid a premium, you’ll want to learn to sort the motors yourself.
Large motors from huge transformers, for instance, tend to be mostly copper, while smaller motors might be mostly aluminum.
If you know the mix of copper and aluminum in your motors ahead of time, you’ll be better able to bargain for a premium price.
Step 4: Negotiating Prices Based on Quantity
You can negotiate the price if you deal with a large volume of scrap electric motors. Many recycling centers are willing to offer bulk pricing: the more you bring in, the higher the price per pound they’ll give you.
You can also ask for a better price if you deliver a large load of motors or want to establish a long-term relationship with the recycling company.
You may have several offers from several companies, which can help you negotiate harder. Pull out the pricing you gathered from various recyclers. Tell the buyer that others are offering better deals.
Haggling over a penny or two per pound can make much difference when dealing with thousands of pounds of scrap.
Step 5: Understanding the Scrap Value of Electric Motors
Electric motors are usually sold based on their weight and scrap metal value. The value per pound depends on the motor’s weight, the density of the copper and steel, and the current price of scrap metals.
For sealed unit motors, many scrap dealers and recycling companies will use $0.18 per pound as a general rule of thumb.
However, some sellers may get more for their motors depending on the market. The more copper and steel your motors contain, the more you’ll earn for them.
Scrap values vary by type of motor: AC motors have between 7-9% copper content, while DC motors have between 15-18% copper content.
Copper is much more valuable than aluminum or steel, so DC motors are typically more valuable to recycle. You may also come across fractional motors containing 9-10% copper.
Step 6: Maximizing Copper Value
Copper is a valuable metal in an electric motor. You can make much more money if you separate the copper from the other materials.
Many scrap yards will buy motors whole, but you’ll make more money if you separate the copper windings from the steel and iron and sell the copper. The price for copper scrap varies, but #2 copper will get you more than mixed metal motors.
While it does require some labor, especially if you need to take apart a large motor, it’s worth the effort if you have the time and tools.
To remove the copper windings from the steel core, you’ll need some basic tools, such as wire strippers, saws, and pliers.
Some recyclers will buy the motor without extracting the copper, but separating it and selling it as a material can yield a much better payout if you want to make the most money.
Step 7: Aluminum vs. Copper Windings
One thing to look for when sorting motors is whether they have copper or aluminum windings. Copper is worth more than aluminum, so motors with copper windings will sell for more.
The trouble is that aluminum windings are often used in smaller or less expensive motors, which can make them less profitable.
Determining whether a given motor contains copper or aluminum wire is easy. Larger and older motors are more likely to contain copper, while newer or smaller motors are likely to contain aluminum (which is cheaper to use).
Some large transformers are stamped with ‘marks’ indicating the winding material (e.g., ‘CU’ for copper and ‘AL’ for aluminum).
Step 8: Cleaning Motors for Better Pricing
If you clean up your junk scrap motors before taking them in, you can ensure a higher price. Dirt, oil, and other contaminants can lower the weight of your motors, and the final payment is typically based on weight.
Beyond that, a clean motor will also look more attractive to the recycling company, so your scrap motors acquire value simply because they represent less work for them.
A quick wipe-down or removing the external housing can also boost the value of your scrap. Some recyclers will offer a premium for unprocessed junk scrap motors.
Step 9: Removing Motors from Machinery
If the electric motors are still attached to other equipment parts, you must remove them before selling. This is usually straightforward; you can do it with basic tools like screwdrivers and drills.
In the process, you’ll get back the motor, plus other valuable stuff — such as copper wiring or aluminum parts that you might also want to sell.
You can disable the motors before bringing the machinery to the shop for pickup, enabling you to sort and prepare it and get a better selling price.
If you don’t know how to disassemble the equipment, many step-by-step how-to guides are available online.
Step 10: Other Scrap Items to Consider
Though electric motors tend to be the scrap’s biggest ticket item, don’t overlook other stuff. These can also add to your bottom line: copper-bearing material, transformers, and mixed copper scrap can be sold with your motors.
Transformers can be loaded with copper, and their metal constituents can be deduced from the transformer’s markings.
If you have a lot of scrap wire or other copper-containing items, call your recycler to ask if you will get better rates for clean, sorted copper versus mixed metals.
You can often sell them for more if they are separate and sorted, especially if the item’s content is primarily copper.
Step 11: Payment Methods and Weight Requirements
Different recycling companies have varying rules about weight and payment. Some might have a minimum weight requirement for what they’ll accept as scrap.
So, it’s worth looking into everything beforehand to avoid being caught off guard.
Also, scrap yards provide different payment options, so find out whether they pay in cash, check, or wire transfer (especially if you have a larger quantity of scrap). Make sure to ask about any minimum weight requirements.
Step 12: Environmental Benefits of Recycling Motors
Selling scrap electric motors has environmental advantages besides financial gain. Recycling electric motors helps save energy and avoid mining new raw materials, which can often harm the environment.
If you want to discuss how to sell scrap electric motors in more detail and maximize your profit, call Scrap Gators. The scrap metal removal experts in Fort Pierce, FL., have been the top name in scrap recycling for decades and are available to help.
