Recycle transformer?

[Muse]

I have a transformer from a good sized microwave that died. I'm estimating that this although no more than 4" any dimension is 8lb. Must be quite a bit of copper wire in it, is my thinking. I was going to toss it in the landfill bound trash, but am thinking, "can I recycle this, even get money for the copper?" What say you?

 

[lxskllr]

You can definitely strip the copper. You won't get much money, but every bit helps. Strip it, throw the copper in the bucket, and toss the rest. When you get a bucket full of copper, sell it. You're not gonna get rich, but it's something to do, and not wasteful.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Jaccob's ladder! If not they make great door stops. I have some old UPS transformers I use for that to prevent doors from slamming when I open windows in the summer.

 

[crashtech]

Could be worth $5-10 to strip the copper, well worth the effort to the environmentally conscious. Unfortunately, the iron core is relatively worthless.

 

[zzuupp]

Could be worth $5-10 to strip the copper, well worth the effort to the environmentally conscious. Unfortunately, the iron core is relatively worthless.

It won't be that much. Yes, there looks like there's a lot of copper, but....
COMEX is about $3/lb. A scrap dealer might pay 50%, if you'ved stripped and cleaned all the wire. That transformer most likely does not have a pound. The core/cabinet and any other metal might be 25 cents/lb for "mixed iron/steel" and most of that weight will be the core

 

[Muse]

Seems like it might not be easy to strip out the copper. I have about 4 other microwaves I intend to tear apart, garner the magnets from their magnetrons. I'll have a little collection of transformers and decide what to do with them. That little thing is unbelievably heavy!

 

[sdifox]

Selling the working transformer on ebay will get you more.

example

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Whirlpool-M...499809?hash=item3f98343c61:g:LmwAAOSwtNdav9r0

 

[quikah]

landfill? you can dump it at most e-waste recycling places.

 

[Muse]

Yeah, good ideas. If I can't sell it on Ebay, I'll recycle it at ewaste location.

Weighed it today, it's over 9 lb.

Gonna rip apart my other MWs before doing anything, have a small collection of transformers and many donut magnets.

 

[Red Squirrel]

You can also rewind the high voltage side with a couple turns of thick gauge wire and make a respectable high amperage supply. Good for spot welding.

 

[Iron Woode]

best recycled transformer ever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5x0FqWhZMM