Climate & waterYou will see this often

Desk or box fan

Also called pedestal fan, box fan, oscillating fan.

A shaded-pole motor that runs forever, an oscillation gearbox that is a small mechanical education, and a switch. Newer DC fans are a brick plus a BLDC and are a different animal.

A donor is the dead machine. The parts below are what is still worth removing from it. “Leave it” is a part that is physically in there and should stay in there: too dangerous, too worn, or only useful as part of a repair you are not doing.

What you are looking at

A scrapped machine is a box of parts that failed at different times. The reason it was thrown out is often one bad piece. The motor, the cord, the supply, and the screws are frequently still good. This index says which is which.

Why it is in the trash while the parts are not

The oscillation knob broke, the bearings squeal, or it is ugly. Squealing bearings are the motor being done.

Before you open it

Do this while it is still unplugged, cool, and not leaking. Unplug. The blade will spin down longer than you think.

Mains voltage

Where the dead machine usually is

Living room and entertainment stack — In the house
Garage and shed — In the house
Bulk trash day — Curb
Thrift store — Retail

Thrift stores in summer. Spin the blade in the aisle.

How it comes apart

The blade nut is often a left-hand thread. The gearbox is under the oscillation knob.

Tools: Phillips, Clip pliers for the blade nut.

Words on this page

BLDC: Short for brushless DC motor. See brushless. The 'DC' does not mean you can hook it to a battery with two wires.

What to take

The table is the short version. The notes under it describe that part inside this machine, not only the general description.

Parts in this donor
Part	Call	How many	How often	Where to look
Shaded-pole motor	Prize	1	usually	The hub.
Gears	Prize	a set	usually	Oscillation gearbox.
Panel switch	Worth pulling	1	usually	The speed switch.
Film capacitor	Bonus	1	sometimes	On larger fans.
Axial fan	Bonus	1	sometimes	DC-powered modern fans.
Switch-mode wall supply	Bonus	1	sometimes	DC fans.

Prize

Prize — take this firstShaded-pole motor1 · usually
Mains, low torque, continuous duty. A C-frame or a unitized motor.
The hub.
If it screams, the bearing is the scrap and the copper is scrap copper.
Quiet ones are excellent.
Prize — take this firstGearsa set · usually
A worm and a small geartrain. This is the clever part.
Oscillation gearbox.
Keep it assembled.
Often good when the motor is not.

Worth pulling

Worth pullingPanel switch1 · usually
Several taps, or a pull chain.
The speed switch.
Map the taps.
Contact wear.

Bonus

Bonus, if you are already in thereFilm capacitor1 · sometimes
A small run capacitor.
On larger fans.
Read the value.
Bulged is scrap.
Bonus, if you are already in thereAxial fan1 · sometimes
The blade is on a BLDC and a small board.
DC-powered modern fans.
The brick is the other half.
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereSwitch-mode wall supply1 · sometimes
An external brick.
DC fans.
Label it.
Good.