Results 1 to 14 of 14

Stripping Copper Wire

| Scrap Metal Spots
  1. #1
    Kevin88 started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    2
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Stripping Copper Wire

    I was just wondering since I never tested it. Since insulated copper wire is $1 a pound and copper wire that isn't insulated is $2.50-$3.20 pound, is it worth stripping.

    Say I have 5 lb of insulated copper wire. That's $5 now if I strip it I'm losing the weight of the insulation but being payed more per pound. If I lose 3 lb of insulation then I'm only getting $5-$6.40 for the 2lb of copper and I was going to get $5 to start so it wouldn't be worth it.



    Any info/tests you've done would be helpful. Thank you.

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to Kevin88 for This Post:



  3. #2
    auminer's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Allen, TX
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    579
    Thanked 2,301 Times in 857 Posts
    Wow.... what an interesting notion. Crazy it's never come up on this forum before!

    /sarcasm


    SRSLY tho... there'll be several links to related threads at the bottom of this page. You can find further cussin & dis-cussin in them.
    Last edited by auminer; 12-19-2012 at 07:56 AM.
    Out of clutter, find simplicity. --Albert Einstein

  4. #3
    PartTimeScrapper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Morrison, Colorado
    Posts
    3,400
    Thanks
    1,004
    Thanked 3,256 Times in 1,335 Posts
    No 2 wires are alike. May I suggest you take a 1 foot section of the wire in question and weigh it on a gram scale. Then strip it and weigh the copper on that same gram scale. Then you will know if it was worth stripping it or not. Here is a link to a scale for very cheap if you dont have one. Its small but will get the job done for you.
    Pocket Jewelry Digital Scale 0 1g x 1000g oz Weight | eBay

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to PartTimeScrapper for This Post:


  6. #4
    KzScrapper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Denver Metro, CO
    Posts
    4,841
    Thanks
    7,019
    Thanked 5,792 Times in 2,417 Posts
    It's up to the individual.
    Do you have more time then money or more money then time.
    Do you have other scrap you can go get with your time.
    In the example you gave it's not worth it to me...I just threw my knife in the shred bucket and went looking for more wire.
    Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesaler
    Certified Zip-Tie Mechanic
    "Give them enough so they can do something with it, but not too much that they won't do nothing."

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to KzScrapper for This Post:


  8. #5
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Usually 12 ga and larger strip and 14 ga and smaller sell as-is. Especially 12 ga solid will strip easy compared to stranded. Check out some of the do-it yourself wire strippers, they'll make the job go faster.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

  9. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by Mechanic688:


  10. #6
    billygoat's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    630
    Thanks
    99
    Thanked 491 Times in 250 Posts
    I once had an insulation knife that looked like this:



    It worked great for stripping stranded wire by hand. It cut through the insulation with ease and didn't bite into the strands like a razor knife will.

  11. #7
    greytruck's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Thornton, Illinois
    Posts
    1,873
    Thanks
    1,638
    Thanked 1,733 Times in 893 Posts
    Nothing wrong with turning .93 a lb into $2.65 a lb. wouldnt waist time stripping a 3in piece of no2 wire tho. I would rather strip a 3 foot wire. I guess im trying to say that the shorter the wire, the more a waist of time to strip it.

  12. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by greytruck:


  13. #8
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    35
    Thanks
    53
    Thanked 50 Times in 11 Posts



    If it fit in here then I strip it and I get it done fast. then I wait till I have a 5 gal bucket then take it in #2 get me about 35 to 45 lbs per and a little more for #1 it is worth it for me

    But you will have to decided if it is worth it for yourself we are all different.

  14. #9
    wayne1956's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Cleburne, TX
    Posts
    705
    Thanks
    195
    Thanked 754 Times in 293 Posts
    It really all depends on what your time is worth. I strip a lot of it, but mainly do it during commercials when I am watching TV, or between hands when I am playing poker online. It gives me something to do while I am waiting.

  15. #10
    sjones99's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2011
    Location
    iowa
    Posts
    266
    Thanks
    26
    Thanked 59 Times in 41 Posts
    If your only gettin a buck a lb your gettin screwed big time!

  16. #11
    auminer's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Allen, TX
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    579
    Thanked 2,301 Times in 857 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by sjones99 View Post
    If your only gettin a buck a lb your gettin screwed big time!
    My yard only recognizes one kinda wire, and only pays .60 for it. :confused: Learned that the hard way awhile back.... thankfully on a smallish tote of mixed wire. That's why now they only get the tee-tiny copper, the coax, the ribbon, and the aluminum; things I wouldn't strip at any price. Pretty soon I'll have a 30gal tote full of power cord & better insulated copper. Problem is, I haven't got enough time to do the major breakdown I need to do.... much less strip wire.

  17. #12
    BurlyGuys's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Waterford Michigan
    Posts
    1,591
    Thanks
    1,109
    Thanked 1,620 Times in 635 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by auminer View Post
    My yard only recognizes one kinda wire, and only pays .60 for it. :confused: Learned that the hard way awhile back.... thankfully on a smallish tote of mixed wire. That's why now they only get the tee-tiny copper, the coax, the ribbon, and the aluminum; things I wouldn't strip at any price. Pretty soon I'll have a 30gal tote full of power cord & better insulated copper. Problem is, I haven't got enough time to do the major breakdown I need to do.... much less strip wire.
    Your yard pays you for coax?
    Burly Smash![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
    John Terrell (248) 224-2188
    Burly Guys Junk Removal LLC
    5499 Perry Drive Unit P Waterford, MI 48329
    http://www.burlyguys.com

  18. The Following User Says Thank You to BurlyGuys for This Post:


  19. #13
    wannabemechanic's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    107
    Thanks
    191
    Thanked 95 Times in 47 Posts
    Personally I don't strip anything smaller than standard romex, but I save it up with my brass that needs cleaned for those days with nasty weather when I don't want to work outside on my steel cutting. :-D

  20. #14
    auminer's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Allen, TX
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    579
    Thanked 2,301 Times in 857 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by BurlyGuys View Post
    Your yard pays you for coax?
    They've never pulled it out... I'm actually more shocked that they pay .60 for aluminum wiring. They CAN'T be making any money on that. Perhaps that's why they pay .60 across the board on all wire no matter what. They're makin' out like bandits on powercords & better, but losing on alum & coax & the like; and they don't have to train their guys to look out for anything. Just throw it all in one spot.


  21. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. stripping copper wire vs non stripping-my opinion.
      By vamped400 in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 13
      Last Post: 07-04-2016, 02:07 AM
    2. Have you ever seen this wire stripping tool, yet?
      By BiggerHammer in forum Scrap Metal Videos
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 12-22-2012, 09:02 PM
    3. Burning wire vs stripping wire?
      By TheFatMan in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 44
      Last Post: 07-15-2012, 02:30 AM
    4. Stripping Wire
      By WHIscrapping in forum Tools and Equipment
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 03-15-2011, 11:46 PM
    5. questions on stripping tools for copper wire
      By azgard in forum Tools and Equipment
      Replies: 4
      Last Post: 02-24-2011, 08:39 PM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook