As an electrician I can tell you that the first box definitely would have made you more sold on eBay as is. The only breaker boxes I scrap are the older 'split bus' types. The two sets of bus bars are usually held together with a couple of solid pieces of copper with just a few threaded holes.
Just ran across this video. I've found that most newer electrical panels (within the last 10 years) the screws are not only Slotted but they'll are also Robertson style as well. So maybe in the future you can use the Robertson as they won't slip out and you can fly through them faster. Just a thought. Keep doing the thing and leave it better than you find it!!
I agree with you at the end, sooner or later you need to put a value on the scrap and a value on your time. Extracting every penny is most of the time not worth it. Not to mention, the wear and tear on your tools and hands! Good video.
I have found quite a few boxes like this that contained large copper bars, usually on larger boxes. Honestly breaker boxes are one of my favorite finds but they are hit and miss.
This why i started my channel to see what stuff is worth then work out how many can be done in a hour to determine a hourly rate some things may only be worth $2 but if you can do tear down 20 in a hour thats good money
Well I’ll have to crank out new ones so you can keep working! I love that shirt, one of my favourite thrift finds. It’s pretty stained and raggedy these days lol
+r peffer yeah, I actually didn't think about that at all. It was in really good shape too, haha! I appreciate you giving me a heads-up. I was holding onto the two of them just to do this video so it doesn't bother me, next time around that'll be the plan :)
The aluminum with the screws in it is aluminum but the other pieces that hold the circuit breakers on that they plug into are copper as well as the piece that's connected to the aluminum with the screws in it.. the piece with the black coating on it. Circuit breakers have copper and silver in them.. hope that helps..
may be silver coated coppee but alot of those coppee terminals will turn a silver color when electricity flowing through them for a long time. almost iodizes it. great vid man keep it up. shout out from Nacogdoches, Texas bro.
I have scraped a total of four breaker boxes and separated every single piece of metal from the iron to the Ag contacts. I learned that the breakers were worth way more sold used.. So is there a way to tell if they are still good. Will someone buy these used parts? Finally, if it was found in the trash it was probably there for a reason. Just a thought.
Iv got to agree, but surely those breakers have silver connector's/contacts, I might be wrong, meanwhile I'll keep up with collecting copper, brass and screw's, as they add up evently coming from outside the box that is, I know there can be good money in mist recycling but time added in just might not be worth it currently, but still a good side hustle
For flat head screws use a magnetic bit holder with a sleeve. Once you set the bit on the screw head push down the sleeve and press the trigger. Even if the screw head is bigger than the sleeve it will still help you guide the screw out without slipping. Give it a try.
@@thubprint Flat head screws should have been banned years ago for crimes against humanity. I honestly believe they exist solely to torture everyone who encounters them. Another tip taking apart breaker boxes. The bit holder sleeve is also a 1/4in hex. Keep a 5/16th driver bit in a sleeve and you have 2 tools in 1 that will help get those screws out fast and significantly speed up takedowns.
Awesome vid! I just took one apart myself and that’s what got me to your channel…. Again… lol 2 of the copper chunks I do see copper under the silver plate but the 3rd one of them seems to be silver. That’s what I was trying to see. Imma scratch deeper but if not…. Time for acid test!
Nope just a definite thicker layer of silver plate… but for those who use AP…?…. If you say (had the time & resources ) to file or sand off the plating, to hit it with AP to get rid of the copper? Then you have both a nice piece of copper, plus some silver dust?
Silver tarnishes yellow. Depending on the part it could be silver plated or solid silver. Google the brand and breaker and you should be able to find out what's what.
you said it just like I would get the wire and then just throw it in shred steel. unless you really have nothing better to do than take all of those screws out for 20 cents
This one was a little while back but I did know about them. Maybe I skipped over them because there’s not enough to sell, but probably should’ve made more of a point about them
As an electrician I can tell you that the first box definitely would have made you more sold on eBay as is. The only breaker boxes I scrap are the older 'split bus' types. The two sets of bus bars are usually held together with a couple of solid pieces of copper with just a few threaded holes.
Would that apply even to old electrical / breaker boxes I took from a barn we knocked down on my farm?
Just ran across this video.
I've found that most newer electrical panels (within the last 10 years) the screws are not only Slotted but they'll are also Robertson style as well. So maybe in the future you can use the Robertson as they won't slip out and you can fly through them faster.
Just a thought.
Keep doing the thing and leave it better than you find it!!
Thanks for the tip! After everybody chirping so hard about what they’re worth though, I think I’ll try and sell them first lol
I agree with you at the end, sooner or later you need to put a value on the scrap and a value on your time. Extracting every penny is most of the time not worth it. Not to mention, the wear and tear on your tools and hands! Good video.
I have found quite a few boxes like this that contained large copper bars, usually on larger boxes. Honestly breaker boxes are one of my favorite finds but they are hit and miss.
This why i started my channel to see what stuff is worth then work out how many can be done in a hour to determine a hourly rate some things may only be worth $2 but if you can do tear down 20 in a hour thats good money
The contacts in the breakers have silver buttons.. save em up and cash em in
Epic Megatokyo shirt, Thub. Always listening to you whenever I'm busting appliances. Keep doing the thing!
Well I’ll have to crank out new ones so you can keep working! I love that shirt, one of my favourite thrift finds. It’s pretty stained and raggedy these days lol
love the new video ideas with the prices at the end
most of those slotted screws that slip you can also use a Robison 'square head bit on and they will not slip
Interesting .. you certainly need to know if it is worth your time .
The first one looked like it could be sold for reuse tho might make more $
+r peffer yeah, I actually didn't think about that at all. It was in really good shape too, haha! I appreciate you giving me a heads-up. I was holding onto the two of them just to do this video so it doesn't bother me, next time around that'll be the plan :)
tub if you ever in the Orlando area will hang out I think you're awesome keep up the good work
The aluminum with the screws in it is aluminum but the other pieces that hold the circuit breakers on that they plug into are copper as well as the piece that's connected to the aluminum with the screws in it.. the piece with the black coating on it. Circuit breakers have copper and silver in them.. hope that helps..
may be silver coated coppee but alot of those coppee terminals will turn a silver color when electricity flowing through them for a long time. almost iodizes it. great vid man keep it up. shout out from Nacogdoches, Texas bro.
Are you trying to quit drinking coffee?
So what is it when it does have the silver patina color?
You can also list some of the breaker boxs that are I good shape some of them can get you more money than a scrap yard will give you
I have scraped a total of four breaker boxes and separated every single piece of metal from the iron to the Ag contacts. I learned that the breakers were worth way more sold used.. So is there a way to tell if they are still good. Will someone buy these used parts? Finally, if it was found in the trash it was probably there for a reason. Just a thought.
if the boxes are in goos shape you can try to sell them! They are pretty expensive brand new
+Dumpster Marcus drat
Scrap is always the lowest price you can get for anything. Even the breakers themselves are worth more intact than in pieces.
Iv got to agree, but surely those breakers have silver connector's/contacts, I might be wrong, meanwhile I'll keep up with collecting copper, brass and screw's, as they add up evently coming from outside the box that is, I know there can be good money in mist recycling but time added in just might not be worth it currently, but still a good side hustle
For flat head screws use a magnetic bit holder with a sleeve. Once you set the bit on the screw head push down the sleeve and press the trigger. Even if the screw head is bigger than the sleeve it will still help you guide the screw out without slipping. Give it a try.
It took me a sec to understand, but that’s brilliant. Stupid flathead screws always slipping lol
@@thubprint Flat head screws should have been banned years ago for crimes against humanity. I honestly believe they exist solely to torture everyone who encounters them.
Another tip taking apart breaker boxes. The bit holder sleeve is also a 1/4in hex. Keep a 5/16th driver bit in a sleeve and you have 2 tools in 1 that will help get those screws out fast and significantly speed up takedowns.
The connectors on the outside of the box that holds the wires in place are aluminum
Awesome vid! I just took one apart myself and that’s what got me to your channel…. Again… lol
2 of the copper chunks I do see copper under the silver plate but the 3rd one of them seems to be silver. That’s what I was trying to see. Imma scratch deeper but if not…. Time for acid test!
Nope just a definite thicker layer of silver plate… but for those who use AP…?…. If you say (had the time & resources ) to file or sand off the plating, to hit it with AP to get rid of the copper? Then you have both a nice piece of copper, plus some silver dust?
How did you know it wasn't brass when you scratched it? Don't both of them have a yellowish color to them?
No. They will show obvious differences in coler.
awsome great score in that, thing ;)
Use a #2 square bit
Hey yeah that weird strip in the back of the breaker box.
200 amp service main. $130 used
Crazy I know, the part itself is worth more whole!
Paul Bunyan of scrap. I'm saving the silver from breakers, they have small buttons of silver at the contacts. Good job Paul.....
+Dannos Dive I've got a small pile of them too, still not sure it's worth putting special effort into though
I've had breakers that when you scratch the silver bits there silver / yellow inside. any idea what they might be, I thought a zinc bronze maybe?
Silver tarnishes yellow. Depending on the part it could be silver plated or solid silver. Google the brand and breaker and you should be able to find out what's what.
Can you break open a washer or dryer or a fridge?
+Mary Dixon if I can fit one of them in my car, I'll give it a go ;)
Enjoyd this video☺❤👍
Man after my own heart
haha
Those are copper #2 because of the plating
is that a megatokyo t-shirt?
also, nice video once more.
+A Steve Silver it totally is! I was wondering if anyone would recognize it
Thub, Thub. That shirt. I've needed that print for years. It's KILLER. Where did you score it? I need a copy.
You know the contacts inside the breakers are silver right? I've refined around 5 ounces from just breaker contacts.
was it worth $50?
you said it just like I would get the wire and then just throw it in shred steel. unless you really have nothing better to do than take all of those screws out for 20 cents
I love stripping down electrical panels..
Try and get your hands on a claw hammer, prying tool in the back smashing tool in the front win win.
+LoneDeathWolf that's the one I want, definitely! I lost my hammer awhile back, the hatchet is a really poor choice
A claw hammer? Those are very rare and hard to find. No body has one of those.
and I agree with Joshua that e Bay comment before mine
hey, just snap the "dirty part" off the end of the AL.
Always Nice, Interesting, Informative, Videos!! thnx...walt
You forgot about the silver contacts
This one was a little while back but I did know about them. Maybe I skipped over them because there’s not enough to sell, but probably should’ve made more of a point about them
I think I would have tried selling that electrical panel before I took it apart
+Kermit Wardell Yup, should have thought of that first, haha! Next one.
Is he wasted?
Inside of those breakers you will find some buttuns that are silver not silver plate
box was worth way more then scrap
Next time use a square head instead of a flat head
Find an old one all brass copper gold silver no aluminium
😚
ILL TURN THE CIRCUIT BX INTO STORAGE BOX
Cool vid. How to convert a $60 or so used panel box into $2 or $3 worth of scrap in a minimum of time and effort. Soon you will need a BIGGER TRUCK.
sometimes its better to take the quick nickel instead of chasing the slow dime
House bat. Chasing something that's slow is not hard.
What if that slow is a motercycle.. thats a fast kind of slow. I guess the bigger the bills the faster the chase.
$50 resale for pennies in scrap
Resale is time consuming.
Square Drive/ #2 Robertson. throw the flathead away
Yeah, the flathead was mostly just annoying