How to maximize value? (stainless steel with copper wire)

**tackleberry** · 10-22-2011, 03:33 PM

So I just grabbed a good amount of copper wire that is surronded in stainless steel....

If I were to bring this to my yard as is how would it be graded and what would kind of price would I be looking at? And is there any fairly easy way to get the copper out of this thing?

**Ptscrapper** · 10-22-2011, 03:38 PM

As a former electricians helper i would say that looks like metal flex around the wires, they make a flex cutter to separate the flex and then just use wire strippers to strip the insulation off of each wire individually sorry but that is about the only way to do it.

**rca987** · 10-22-2011, 08:39 PM

I've had hundreds of yards of this wire.. I'll take a small bolt cutter, chop it up into about 6-8 inch sections, then pull the wires out of the flex..

Then strip it all by hand with a serrated pocket knife.

**tackleberry** · 10-22-2011, 09:01 PM

Slow going but gets the job done, thanks rca.

Is the flex graded differently than stainless?

**rca987** · 10-22-2011, 09:10 PM

It's usually aluminum if it's not magnetic. If it is magnetic, goes in my steel pile. I'd imagine stainless steel wouldn't "flex" all that well.

If it is aluminum, my yard takes it as aluminum. No different grade.

**tackleberry** · 10-23-2011, 08:22 AM

Awesome, thanks again rca. That actually works out well for me. Already have a decent little pile of aluminum building up that I was planning on brining in next saturday, this will make a nice addition.

**iScrap** · 10-24-2011, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by tackleberry

So I just grabbed a good amount of copper wire that is surronded in stainless steel....

If I were to bring this to my yard as is how would it be graded and what would kind of price would I be looking at? And is there any fairly easy way to get the copper out of this thing?

Definitely take the insulated wire out of the flex(most likely Al) and strip it. I usually place the wires in a vise and pull on the flex, it comes out fairly easily that way. If the flex is fairly straight you can get away with 2 or 3 foot sections.

**injunjoe** · 10-25-2011, 05:58 AM

A lot of times I find the flex conduit that is plastic will have aluminum on the inside. I cut that up in short sections and just pull the aluminum out the end. It uncoils pretty easy but don't weigh a hole lot. Yet it does add up!