What to do with smaller copper wire

I have a great supply of smaller copper wire bearing items here in the yard after all the many years of collecting and hoarding things.

I had thought of maybe getting a fancy wire stripping machine when I had all the wire ready for stripping.



But as I have put more thought into my copper wire plan. It seems that it might be better for me to trade or sell the wire to someone that would handle that part themselves.

I bring this up as, Sure when I had the copper wire ready I could have a scrap yard near me bring out a roll off dumpster and they would pay a certain price per pound after they had the material.

The reason that I'm posting this, is that I would like to know, is if there is a market for un-stripped smaller wire that pays the same or better in value then having the scrap yard bring a roll off?

What I'm asking is if there is a smaller "middle man" market that pays as good or better then a local scrap yard bringing me out a roll off.

I'm NOT interested in doing biz with any large companies beyond my local scrap yards where I can personally visit with the managers.

I would much rather do smaller deals for wire with "smaller people" then mess with the BIG shots that are so busy that they don't even have the TIME to sit, visit and have a cold beer or 2, or soda or what ever floats a persons boat.

Most of the TIME I would rather horse trade and do biz with mellow laid back folks that are not in such a rush to get filthy rich and then some,

I do enjoy trading as I mostly view money as just something you spend on entertainment, toys and paying monthly bills.

So the BIG question is

Just pile it up and have a local scrap yard make me a deal

or deal with smaller operations where you can barter and trade or use money options.

I re-thought the idea of my getting a wire stripper as I wouldn't have the TIME to strip the wire as I would be busy with other hobbies I have that pay out and such.

And then there is the cost of the machine that is not cheap for one that can do the smaller wire quickly.

I prefer doing BIZ with the little guy as long as they are BIG enough to pay their way and do what they say.

How about a home made one?? Quite a few of the people here started out with a home made one then graduated up to a commercial one if more volume was needed. There is a ton of plans on the home made wire strippers. Here's a couple, rather simple. Why buy when you can build?? A lot of plans on Youtube but that doesn't help you much.
Homemade cable wire Stripper (made from Scrap parts) - Scrap Metal Forum

If you are handy you can make something similar to the blue cutter shown yourself. Take a 2x4 and drill holes through it close to the top that are barely larger than the diameter of the wire you want to strip. Take a screw and screw down from the perpendicular side (top side) so that the tip of the screw is just in the hole. Insert your wire, tighten the screw just until the screw tip cuts the sheath of the wire then pull it through. Same principal as the $100 ebay cutter.

I decided against stripping or grinding up the wire myself as I don't want to invest the TIME into it.

I'm getting older and the thought of it makes me tired,lol..

I put a lot of thought into most everything connected to my Life.

I look ahead to taking the wire out of things and such as that can be done quietly and I do enjoy taking things apart that don't have to be put back together.

One of the downsides of a powered machine that can do volume without much effort is that they make noise that I would prefer not to listen to.

I do Thank You for your input.

Originally Posted by BRASSCATCHER

I have to ask, how much wire are you talking about?

Not sure, but it's a lot. I always liked things with lights and wires so over the years I collected up a large assortment of items containing copper wire.

There are tons of it here I would guess from 30 years of collecting and hoarding.

I'm slowly putting a plan together as to the best ways for me to go about scrapping out the yard.

I would rather spend my TIME working on other projects then putting the TIME and energy into stripping or grinding wire.

What this post is about is if It I should research the field of having the smaller operators get the wire to process or send it to the local scrap yard.

I have no need to be in a rush. Just working on my plan for getting the whole 3 or more acres of stuff sorted and decide what I want to do with it.

I like to think about the bigger picture and how I might best go about it.

I'm what could very defiantly be called eccentric as I have always been who I am. I have always had the same goals in Life that complemented my plan from the start to Live in my very own private salvage yard full of interesting things. I do have many cool things around my yard.

I'm 56, never married, no children and I have never had or used credit cards and I like being as 100% debt free as is possible in this busy ever changing world.

All that I have is long ago paid for and I have a means of a meager steady income that keeps the month to month bills and such paid. I believe in a comfortable and frugal budget.

If I require more cash money I just turn interesting curios into what funding I require. How much I can gather up mostly depends on how motivated I am in the project that requires the funding.

As for help around the yard. I have no problem with getting help if I require it. Plenty of people that I personally know are looking for extra work.

One of the problems I have with people that have never been to my yard is that they act much like a kid in a candy store or as if they were in wonderland or the like. What I have created over more then 30 years is quite the attraction in as far as a TIME capsules of a private salvage yard goes.

The main reason that I made this thread is that I'm wondering if I should just keep piling up the wire as I harvest it and get rid of it later, or get rid of it in smaller lots to smaller operators as I harvest it.

That is my main question on the topic as of now.

I have read that there are many that would like to get the insulated wire before the big yards get it.

Just doing a bit of curious research now so I don't have to do it later when I'm busier.