Can You Scrap Wire?

Get the most out of your copper wire by taking the extra time and stripping it! You can buy a simple wire

stripper

or a more sophisticated one for larger loads to strip you copper and aluminum insulated wire. This can make you double or triple the money when scrapping it with your yard.

How much is scrap wire worth?

Can you scrap old electrical wire?

Wiring is a common form of

copper

, and you can find it in pretty much all domestic, commercial and industrial properties. If you happen to stockpile even a small amount of copper wire that you could scrap. it could result in a nice payback.

What kind of wire can you scrap?

The most valuable type of scrap copper wire is

bare bright copper

. This uncoated and unalloyed copper is stripped of insulation, paint, and other impurities, making it easy to reuse or recycle. As such, it is usually the first thing that scrap buyers look for.

What is scrap copper wire worth?

Can you burn copper wire to strip it?

NO BURNING

: First and foremost, we would like to reiterate that you should NEVER under any circumstances “burn” your copper wire to remove the insulation. Not only does it harm the environment from the fumes, but it will downgrade your copper at the scrap yard.

Do scrap yards take Unstripped wire?

Scrap yards will never encourage you to strip your copper wire when you bring it in

. That’s because they don’t have to pay you as much for the copper wire when it’s not stripped!

Is it worth it to strip copper wire?

So is stripping copper wire worth it?

Yes, absolutely if you have a wire stripper

. If not, then sometimes, but most likely only if you have wires you’re sure have a high copper recovery rate.

Can I sell copper wire?

Selling to Scrap Yards

Copper is valuable.

Any junk yard that deals in metal scrap will happily accept copper

. The price changes day to day, along with the copper market. For example, Rockaway Recycling in New Jersey had the price of a pound of copper at ​$3.90​ for bare bright, ​$3.50​ for No.

Is 12 gauge wire worth stripping?

12-gauge wire has 75% copper recovery, so after you are done stripping your wire you end up with 75 lbs. … For 12-gauge wire average price is

a $1.30 per lb

. the way it is with insulation, that would translate in to $130.00 for your 100lbs of 12-gauge wire, without stripping it.

What scrap is worth the most?

–

Copper

is by far the most expensive metal. High-grade copper, called Bare Bright, can get up to $2.85 a pound. Low-grade copper like the kind found in Christmas Lights is about a quarter a pound. – Aluminum, like the kind in house siding, window frames, or aluminum cans can be worth up to 65 cents a pound.

Can you scrap insulated wire?

Stripping electrical wire yourself can be time-consuming if you have a large amount of scrap. Burning insulated copper wire

is not a good option

, either, as it is harmful for your health, toxic to the environment and illegal in the United States. However, some copper recycling programs make the process easy for you.

What appliances have the most copper?

Household appliances

Refrigerators, stoves, and air conditioners

in particular are great sources of copper as they require a larger power supply and therefore tend to contain thick insulated copper wire.

What is dirty copper worth?

How do you clean burnt copper wire?

Make suds by mixing dish soap into warm water and agitating it. Then remove grease on the copper products by adding

2 tbsp. of baking soda into water

. Next place copper products in water and make sure the burnt protion is totally dipped in water overnight or as much as 24 hours.