I Scrapped All These Lighting Ballasts for Scrap Copper

I Scrapped All These Lighting Ballasts for Scrap Copper - Wire Was it Worth it?

Рет қаралды 204,443

Жыл бұрын

What a scrapping saga! I expected copper recovery from these fluorescent light ballasts to be completely straightforward, but there were some unexpected variables that you should be watching out for if you want to attempt to do the same. Even so, it was pretty worth it in terms of how much you can make!
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Пікірлер: 295

@matthewelliott2213 Жыл бұрын

Project Shop Florida is the scrap *quantity* king of KZfaq---you're the *quality* scrap king of KZfaq. Personality adds a lot my friend.

@joaogoncalofanha7284 Жыл бұрын

I follow both. Great scrapers!

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! 😊 I’m doing my best and just happy to be here. There’s no question PSF stacks like nobody else tho!

@sypher2049 Жыл бұрын

I am gonna have to check this guy out. He doesnt pop up on my reccomended thingy.

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

@@sypher2049 definitely do! He puts in the work and seems like a good dude

@adamlindkvist1721 Жыл бұрын

Very true, @thubrint is like a hybrid off my favorit scrappers, a hybrid of. @scrapandpalletman @uberism81 @eWasteben @mikethescavenger

@SWISS-it4tw Жыл бұрын

I have recycled thousands of light ballasts over the years. A facilities electrician would give them to me when upgrading the light fixtures to the new electronic type with the higher efficiency lamps. I simply brought them home and stored them until I had at least 500 lbs. Then I scrapped them for between .05 and .15 cents per pound. I always took them with other metals to make the trip worthwhile. I did not have them time, space, hammer, or desire to tear them apart. I did it more out of a sense of being environmentally responsible rather than just sending them to a landfill. To all those hard working people that visit the junk yard on a regular basis my hat is off to you. It’s not easy or lucrative but I think it’s the right thing to do.

@justinpennington7682 Жыл бұрын

You sound vaccinated

@jamesshelton1124 6 ай бұрын

As a 37 year scrapper, I have never open the ballast yet I do know what that I’m I just never opened one and I actually learned something from this channel. I greatly appreciate it.

@thubprint 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! I hadn’t cracked into them until now either but I had been curious, so this was a fun experiment to share

@tractors44 Жыл бұрын

I’ve been breaking ballasts up for about twenty years and I’ve always found it to be worth the effort. I get number two wire for it.

@PresstheButtonStudio Жыл бұрын

Do you run into a lot that are aluminum wire on the inside? I’m having that issue.

@qwertykevin1 Жыл бұрын

I got a job at a Junk hauling company. And they domt sort thier metal so I take it home and recycle it properly. All your videos hit all my interests!! Thank you so much fornyour videos!! California here

@rakuoanelabanelawrence1504 Жыл бұрын

I would make a killing there

@LastIberianLynx_GameDev Жыл бұрын

One of the best scrapping channels. Thank you.

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

@mainetje9027 Жыл бұрын

This is the first video is see. i really like it! Good video quality and filming. Perfect information and tought out. your speaking and voice are easy to follow and calming.

@choccie_chip685 Жыл бұрын

Appreciate the scientific approach and exploring individual specific items like this! Very thorough

@Paperghost Жыл бұрын

Brilliant information supplied in a well edited and presented video. Thank you.

@rakuoanelabanelawrence1504 Жыл бұрын

Him and Tin Man are worth watching because of how they deliver the information

@whatsgoingon1011 Жыл бұрын

i LOVE when you do this type of video. Helping everyone out

@gravitybear Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you did it, so I don't have to. That doesn't look like the kind of mess I'm interested in.

@tecumtrejo3342 4 ай бұрын

Definitely

@davem5308 Жыл бұрын

I have scrapped a pile of ballasts. I have never busted them open. Thank you for showing us what we are in for, if we choose to tear into them. I still have access to a huge pile of ballasts, saving them for remaining old light fixtures in the old building which I help maintain. A few years back, we tore out old school lighting for installation of all new LED lighting. Much of the old building still has florescent lighting. Ballasts fail, so we saved a big pile, for those instances, when we need to swap out dead ballasts. Useful video. Thank you.

@sypher2049 Жыл бұрын

Haha i just watched tin-man's video of scrapping light ballasts this morning and bam here you are with yours. Yours is much better. I watched his and I was all nope not gonna break them apart but now watching your video I am like hmmmm, doesnt look so bad and the payout is worth it. So ty ty once again sir. On another note, i thought all Canadians always said ey after everything they say. Just playing. Enjoy and many blessings.

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

Oh I’ve heard of that guy! I hope he had a good hammer 😁

@sypher2049 Жыл бұрын

@@thubprint hahaha nope

@mikezoltan3227 7 ай бұрын

Your videos are really good bro. You speak well when it comes to getting to the point of why we all do this. Thank you.

@timcolgan2699 Жыл бұрын

I'm very loyal to this channel. Always wanted to know what was in a ballast. Looks like the bigger one have close to a pound of copper.

@jrae6608 Жыл бұрын

Great informational video. Like the way you break it down for the scrapper with basic tools.

@TheFredfredd Жыл бұрын

Thank you sir!! Great video!!! 👍

@nixd0rf356 Жыл бұрын

Great video! Very informative

@guiseppecapritto7577 Жыл бұрын

gey buddy, good video!!! what you could do next time is the top clothe of those canapes or shades you could use them as tarps for top and floor to reduce mess and get the cheap hand gloves you use for kitchen at dollar store so you throw them away when done.always can get free scrap material to help reduce dirty wasteful time things like those ballast, just a idea and have a good night oh unsless you put in a pillow case and just bash the heck out them lol!!!

@Last_E_iz_A_thre3 7 ай бұрын

Good man !! I usually just scrap the ballasts as they are. I didn't even think of cracking them open but might in the next few days. Thanks for posting man and a very thorough way of explaining the subject matter.

@trasieinkersole491 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Thub. Wow that was so worth it, well done. 👏👏👏👏❤️💙

@Derbyhobbiescrapper Жыл бұрын

Great video mate nice information

@adamlindkvist1721 Жыл бұрын

You are awesome, and really helpful!

@tommymadden9746 Жыл бұрын

Thanks thub I've always been curious about the ballast.

@sypher2049 Жыл бұрын

Right me too. I have like 8 of them that have been keeping in a corner for like a year and a half now.

@ProjectShopFl Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the shoutout my friend. I don't mess with any that say "Electronic" on them just sell them off. The older ones are definitely worth it if you get the process down. Great video and info sucks they nit pick you on the #2 copper.

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

The copper king himself! You’re an inspiration to scrappers of all sorts bud. I appreciate the tips, funny that the word “electronic” would be a tell. I’ll look for it!

@mr.smileyken6364 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for the break down and examination of the process.

@andyweins Жыл бұрын

Love the experiment!

@xrhstosxatzhlamprinos7529 8 ай бұрын

im about to open my company for scrap. Now you openned my eyes with this one!

@gd2u2 Жыл бұрын

grahm diam good video , what i do is take the steel covering off and then put them in the freezer . After a day or so whack them with a hammer and the tar just falls off. Then melt them into bars. Cheers

@tatchley3049 Жыл бұрын

Nice experiment. Lesson learned 😉

@kyndadraper5694 2 ай бұрын

Saw you by accident. I had been watching scraping videos for a while. Glad I came across yours Today. I did like and subscribe. I enjoyed your content and we'll look back on the rest of yours😊

@thubprint 2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much, glad you found me!

@jayroxx2378 Жыл бұрын

I like when you go out scrapping

@blangstaff09 Жыл бұрын

Always love your videos Thub. 10 cents is a bummer for ballasts, I get 18 cents at my local scrap yard in New York. I am an electrician so I see a lot of them, I usually wait until I have around 40-50 before I bring them in. The effort involved and the mess involved (more this) in breaking them apart is not worth it in my opinion. I caught onto Project Shop after hearing you mention him a bunch of videos back and went out and bought the wedge hammer also hahaha it really does make a huge difference in breaking the seams on the bigger transformers.

@maxwebster7572 Жыл бұрын

10 cents is $200/ ton. What does shred sell for there? You are getting screwed royally. The garbage left over is 10 cents a pound!

@intheshell35ify Жыл бұрын

I would buy all those "little transformers" to use in my projects. They don't go bad very often and are pricey and inconvenient to buy new. If there is a me here, maybe there's a me by you that would do the same. Cut them off the board with some side cutters and call them "gate drive transformers" or "signal transformers".

@BushDogScrapper Жыл бұрын

Hey Thubprint great video! CheeRs Bro

@garyoliver9987 Жыл бұрын

Great video didnt know there was so much copper in a ballast and the info on how to get it out fits my style a big hammer will fix everything. As far as scavenger videos i only watch you and Mike the Scavenger. thanks for the tips until next time take care.

@richavic4520 Жыл бұрын

I add in e waste Ben. Thub and Mike are all I watch now. The Florida guy is way slick, my persona is bruised every time I watch him. But I did learn how to strip stranded copper wire as fast as I can pull it from him.

@Maxid1 Жыл бұрын

That blacksmithing hammer has been a companion for most of my life. When I've needed a bigger hammer, that was usually it. I had the 3lb and the 8lb.

@unclejohnbulleit2671 Жыл бұрын

Man I wish I'd known this years ago!

@Bamapride1000 Жыл бұрын

I built a small press that has some power to it and it really does a number on the tar and steel when crushing the light ballasts. It breaks transformers apart pretty good as well to reclaim the copper and steel. So far it has been a time saver and had more than made its money back in labor it took to build it. I pilfered and found all the parts to build it for free

@bigmikefrompa.3063 8 ай бұрын

Awesome! I have a lot of ballest's but didn't know how to get them apart! Thanks for a great video! You got new sub 👍❤

@nachostuff Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info - i think I will pass on those #1 because it is a mess #2 you have to processes them to far to make real money #3 I live in florida and it would likely require a day in the freezer to get similar results. Love the knowledge.

@sharkscrapper Жыл бұрын

I'm with you Nacho

@boognish9869 Жыл бұрын

This was actually really useful. I've gotten a few of these from one of my work sites and I was told to keep them because they're worth a bit. They look like a mess but atleast I know ehat to do with them now

@ironangel667 Жыл бұрын

It's scientifically proven that naming your hammer makes it more powerful. It's also my personal opinion that giving the actual hammer strikes names increases the power even further. Example: flaming tiger claw pounce or lightning dragon hammer crush. Yell these as you're swinging and I'm sure you will feel the extra power.

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

Ooooo, that does sound really important! I might ask for suggestions next time it makes an appearance

@josephanderson4379 Жыл бұрын

Lmmfao Spokane WA here and thub I love ya bro and got mad respect for you my fellow trash panda. Remember to leave it better then you found it n keep doing the thing...❤

@kennethbrown8723 Жыл бұрын

Also holding the end of the hammer handle!!

@kyledavidson8712 Жыл бұрын

What, ya think you got all day or sumpthin?

@happycamper1111 3 ай бұрын

"Big bertha" agrees

@hellebettinanielsen6913 Жыл бұрын

Great video

@gnomecagnome3204 10 ай бұрын

My ballast have 50 years of service and work good again! The noise relax me Never destroy an epic tecnology!

@olivierdufour1966 Жыл бұрын

Bravo et merci

@MrPinto1970 Жыл бұрын

always check for PCBs it will say no pcbs and the ones that do wont say anything thave it!! mostly older ones they are considered haziest material's at the yard i work for

@cooper196447 Жыл бұрын

I am an amateur copper stripper. I live in an area where it is illegal to dumpster dive and appliances can only be put out 1 week a year. I go to yard sales and auctions to get my copper. I don't strip copper to make alot of money. I do it to stay busy. So please keep up with the interesting videos. I love them.

@FC-qe1wl Жыл бұрын

Where I live trash picking isnt officially legal, as long as you are not creating a Nuisance cops will leave you alone. However dumpsters are usually located on private property, so without permission from the owner, you will be trespassing.

@andymanaus1077 Жыл бұрын

These ballasts were very different to the ones I know. What is the same, though, is that the new electronic ballasts are a complete waste of time. Check if the steel from these ballasts can get you a higher price. Some scrap yards pay bigger money for ballast and stator steels if they are kept separate and your yard deals with the right purchasers. There is a Wikipedia article under the heading "Electrical steel".

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

I’ve actually looked into that before, it’s a high silica content steel that is worth quite a bit more! Unfortunately my yard doesn’t have a buyer for that grade so it all goes in the same

@rakuoanelabanelawrence1504 Жыл бұрын

I like your way of scrapping.

@mellowrebel4618 Жыл бұрын

I JUST PULLED OUT A 1952 CAPACITOR START ONE LAST WEEK AND 15 OR 16 1952 2 POLES AND 3 WAYS!!!

@Salmonslayer989 Жыл бұрын

Im from ny state and do my scraping in the summer, i think it is very importent that if your somewhere like me that you take special note that he said they were cold. If your going to try this i suggest putting them in the freezer the day before.

@Nas_Atlas Жыл бұрын

Nice work. It's good to know that if a guy was desperate and had some time then a fair chunk of money could be ground out of those things.

@GodPikachu Жыл бұрын

ive never scrapped one of these before, what is all the black stuff?, some sort of ceramic coat?

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

It’s actually not usually so brittle, it tends to be much stickier when it’s newer. My guess it’s just some kind of electric insulator for safety, but it must be pretty important because it’s how they’re all constructed and always have been

@afineliner740 Жыл бұрын

Definitely worth it, especially if you can do it outside. 👍

@SecondComingTwice Жыл бұрын

I've only done a couple of microwave transformers and saved a couple for a fractal burn generator/suicide machine along with two ballasts from light standards but I was looking for art supplies and not scrapper cash. The ballasts had two different sized wire and some was degraded pretty badly but the 'distressed" look was working for me . Electric windings in 2 or 3 or 5 hp motors beat the sh&t out of me. Maybe a big Acetylene torch and Gandolf casting a spell might work but what a frustrating waste of time (since there's prolly 40 in my back yard taken from whole house fans and they are gonna be tested to see of they work, and if not sold intact for chump change. I appreciate your work an information. Gratitude and Namasté

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

Those giant cast housing motors are so so much worse than you’d expect at first! Maybe you’ve seen my video where I attempted one but wow, what an absolute beast. It took hours and hours. That was doing it all with a hammer and pry bars of course, and I’ll never do it again. Now that I have the powered demo hammer drill id be willing to try another one but without it, absolutely not.

@scottbentley7920 Жыл бұрын

I'm happy I saw this video. I have a truck bed full of old light fixtures and I only cut the wires out of them and was gonna scrap them tomorrow morning but I'm gonna process them more now and get the ballasts out

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

I’d say check one ballast first before deciding to go hard, make sure they aren’t aluminium. Good rainy day project to have waiting for ya tho!

@steveherr450 Жыл бұрын

I am a little late here but my yards won't take light fixtures if you leave the ballast in but if you take the ballast out then they will take both separately. ballast here are worth only .10 a # all the time.

@jackgentner9243 Жыл бұрын

is this the guy on the KaChava video?

@trevortillotson5067 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely love watching your KZfaq channel! I learned quite a few things about scrapping metal just by watching the videos you make and upload. Keep up the great work! And always leave it better than you found it!

@bestest7239 Жыл бұрын

nice copper threads :) anything to save the planet

@tjwhite6429 Жыл бұрын

Please include a test of that hammer on a microwave transformer in a future video. The last batch of those I tore into ruined the old hatchet head that I had laying around.

@boysonlyparty Жыл бұрын

The Pontiac is back!

@jamesmatthews2966 Жыл бұрын

I had a job separating lead from batteries when I was a teenager I would make 20$ a day if I did so many a day it was awful the acid and lead I ended up getting sick from it but times were hard back then

@mikeweddleton2489 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Thub. I'll wait till I have some more of those saved up before I start cracking them open.

@winglessviper Жыл бұрын

I have found a copper/aluminium wire mix is some ballast. the aluminium wire is treated as shett alum.

@tomokovlog8567 Жыл бұрын

Each one of those is like $40 USD new at the Home Depot

@ranger178 6 ай бұрын

nowadays it is cheaper to buy a whole led shop light than to try and fix an old fluorescent light. Also they have so many energy saver bulbs now that won't work in older lights.

@BH_Nate Жыл бұрын

Good content. Extremely helpful. Going to buy that wedge hammer ASAP. Thanks

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

I’m so glad I’ve got the proper scrap hammer!

@iffy9776 Жыл бұрын

The white ballasts here in the UK are so much easier to take apart and not messy. Was the paper between each layer of windings.? If it wasn't, you cut it with a grinder.

@MattsAwesomeStuff Жыл бұрын

This is one of the first ones that surprised me. Of all the extra refining efforts, I figured this would've been the biggest waste of time, not the best use of time. Since it was just paper... plan B... just burn it. Fire is cheap.

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

Normally I’d never burn wire because of the plastic, but you may have a point.. the tar stuff would probably look/smell/taste just like a tire fire though!

@Nas_Atlas Жыл бұрын

Most yards in Canada have strict rules about fire processed copper.

@afc2333 5 ай бұрын

You’re better then psf! I really like Mike the scavenger too

@jay-ee2sq 3 күн бұрын

Im also in Calgary, and know what yard your at in this video (and other videos), surprised they didnt accept as #2. I break open motors and condensors with plastic etc on it, they take it as #2. I guess when you go in with 300+ lb of #2 they overlook things a bit differently. We could team up and make lots of good money. Cheers!

@jjr902 Жыл бұрын

Scrapping education and fun! Always a blast with you man. Keep it up!

@bazdaniels7420 8 ай бұрын

good show!

@markrosen7600 Жыл бұрын

Thank goodness this video was suggested to me just now because I just build up my truck bed with some ballast that I was about to tear into and I had no idea about these cancer-causing tcb's that might be in there🤥🤥🤥😌

@joeybuldo3008 Жыл бұрын

My yard only gives me 1 cent a pound for unprocessed ballasts but will still give me number 2 copper for the windings a little dirty or maybe I just do a hood job at mixing them in with my other number 2 copper

@ericosteen7895 6 ай бұрын

I subscribe to project shop too. I like both of y'all for various reasons.

@robertshoemaker6204 Жыл бұрын

Thank you appreciate your videos...have a ton of HVAC systems to tear down.

@marcushoward6560 Жыл бұрын

I really figured it wouldn't be worth it, but it's such a huge increase, the time would be well spent because it could be done little by little as your sitting around in the evening or whatever. Nice.

@elizabethmellenthin1978 Жыл бұрын

Next time.... burn the copper... just enough to heat it up burning off other waste.... you can't get to the #2 copper to hot ,,, the #2 copper if over heated turns into smaller fragments. After heating up the copper,, pull out the fire and immediately drop in a bucket of water. This cools the copper down fast. This reaction turns the #2 copper in what is called "Bright " wire. Save the black goo from the ballast it's like a electrical tape. Hope I made since. Cheers

@dr.a006 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for being thorough and showing all possible outcomes. I did a few old ones when I first started and then after decided to turn them in as is for ballast price. The yards basically give tin shred for the new ones, although I did crack open a bunch of those for the copper coils and sent the rest with low grade boards. I’d rather scrap other stuff vs ballasts.👍 Messy!!

@austinhernandez2716 Жыл бұрын

My scrap yard one day said they only pay a penny/pound for ballasts

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

Yeah most places really don’t like them. Tbh I think it’s because their you throw them into a granulator or other machine separator they gum it up and make a huge mess, even if they aren’t too bad to take apart by hand

@erictjones Жыл бұрын

That a cross pein hammer. Great video!

@troyhamberg8339 Жыл бұрын

that's a good return.

@dalemeyer8207 Жыл бұрын

Good One.

@gigitvlog8211 Жыл бұрын

good job

@otterkarman8740 Жыл бұрын

Looks like you going to need a new table, that's alot of banging!!..lol

@ronskancke1489 Жыл бұрын

As a retired carpenter of 50 years and handyman I had to laugh about the hammer. I have between 25 or 30 hammers of all types.

@Scrappincolorado Жыл бұрын

Thanks for checking on this. I do have a large bucket full my yard doesn’t pay for. I believe there newer but wouldn’t they be able to go in tin?thanks

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

It would depend on your yard but mine has a flat “no electronics” policy on the steel pile. Of course we’ll still toss basic stuff like appliances in there but as a general rule they don’t want a lot, I think it’s because the copper spoils the steel

@jadrewscrapper8081 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the video. Ummmmm no thank you. Lol. I come across very few and far between ballasts working at a plumbing supply company. Most of my time is cleaning old pressure relief valves. Thanks again.

@Isis-wm4po 9 ай бұрын

Thank you for taking the insulation off of the copper

@firenbubble Жыл бұрын

Merci biloute, très intéressant comme vidéo.

@y.lelivelt2619 Жыл бұрын

When you are doing this in the summer it seems a lot harder to do.Because of the cold it went very quickly,the tar was frozen.You noticed yourself the new one didn't cooperate.

@Dead_Goat Жыл бұрын

Dont forget about the time taken to obtain the items, selling them.

@thebadgeofshame3994 Жыл бұрын

Bravo

@ScrapFatherScrapSon Жыл бұрын

It’s a shame that your yard wouldn’t take them like that as number two however mine does not take them as number two but they will take them like that as number three electric motor wire which pays $3.25 at the moment an incredible price for a number three. There’s two types of number three at that yard one that contain steel and other stuff the other that’s just glue and tar and paper

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m talking about! It was so surprising that they wanted to drop the price so much when it’s less than 5% contaminant, none of which was metallic. I was really annoyed at how it skewed my results haha

@ScrapFatherScrapSon Жыл бұрын

@@thubprint thanks for the full breakdown of every stage and circumstance! Above and beyond as always my friend!

@travismiller5548 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for taking one for the team and sharing! I'll trade you an idea I had but have yet to try out, maybe you'd like to try it. I work in the commercial signage industry and replace a lot of neon with LEDs. The neon ballasts are closer in size to a shoe box, maybe 25 pounds each? It occurred to me if I could find a nice big old toaster oven or similar appliance, cut the bottom out of it, and mount it to a steel drum, I could melt out the potting compound and let it drip into the barrel below. I've heard that the potting compound melts at a fairly low temperature. Probably pretty nasty stuff but I've always been curious how much copper is in there...

@thubprint Жыл бұрын

That’s actually not a bad idea, just a little bbq type setup and save yourself all the bashing and tar dust. The copper is gonna be graded as dirty no matter what you do so it doesn’t have to be perfect. I’ve seen some waste oil garage heaters where folks have used a furnace fan to blow heated air out from the combustion chamber, thats the first place my mind goes for the heat source

@howardchambers9679 Жыл бұрын

In the UK I see hardly any ballasts with tar in. They're nearly all just steel and copper, use a wedge hammer,pair of pliers and a flat head screwdriver to take them apart. I leave the new electronic ballast. Hardly anything in them.

@Simokoskine Жыл бұрын

Take the big heat pumps apart on top there is 10kg of copper

@dryrunhd Жыл бұрын

For those wondering about the hammer like I was, the terms you want to search for on your favorite site to buy tools are "Cross Peen Hammer" or "Blacksmith Hammer"