Phone wire question

Hello, New around here as well as new to scrapping. Yes I know I should introduce myself and will when time permits. Right now I have pressing question. I have an opportunity to pick up 2 gaylord boxes full of phone wire. I would post a link to pics but am not yet allowed.

Along with another box filled with Phones.
My question is this. Is phone wire worth much at all? Should I bother stripping this?
Yes I have used the search function and although some info is close, nothing truly addresses phone wire.
I apologize if this is a poor first posting but hey, it's early and the animals are begging for food so in a rush.
Keep in mind I will have to pay about 70.00 bucks ofr this load but as I have 4 days a week to strip if needed I'm wondering if this will payoff?
I would even do it if I break even just to get my foot in the door.

Thanks in advance,

WPB

What kind of phone wire is it? If its the kind that goes to your home phone from the wall, don't strip it. Too much insulation. If its the kind that goes on the Telephone pole, I have no idea. Ive never gotten any kind of wire like that.

Is the indoor type. My scrapyard counts it as number 3 communication wire at .48 per pound. Plus there's all those phones. Somewhere I read to break those down for the magnets. I've tried to find stuff in the posts on here but it's difficult. If i do this I will definitely post my results and the steps I took. Just not sure best way to go.

Dont strip the wire turn it in as is. As far as the phones are they regular phones IP phones or what? IF you have 2 gaylord boxes of phone wire that should be a nice payday.

Not sure what an IP phone is. But they are multi line points as in an office building.

well then I would sell wire as is and check ebay with model numbers of phones see if they sell. If not then tear them down and take the boards out.

I meant multi line phones. With all the bells and whistles.

Ah yes I was wondering about the boards in them. Just as them to the multitude i have already picked up. Thanks!

This should not be a factor on the wire but it never hurts to bring a magnet with you. Check the telephone wire to ensure it has not steel in it. If it does have steel in it then its no worth much at all. Most likely there is NO steel in it but being sure before you buy will save you money. Mike.

Thanks, good tip. Magnet awareness!

Don't break apart the business phones before checking with your local Telicom sellers. I made this mistake recently and stripped 65 business phones (the all had medium grade boards). I later contacted a buyer from craigslist stating they buy old technology and he offered me between $3-$5 per phone (and these models were old) and to contact him if I get any more. Check craigslist for buyers.

yeah, what jeremiah said, i've seen lots of posts saying old office phones could bring big bucks, especially nortel, amongst others as well i suppose. If $70 is the going rate, get it! If you're referring to an active online auction, go through the grinder a few more times before making another such post ; )

Jeremiah-glad to hear you found a buyer, so did I last week. If anyone in NY area has business phones to sell I can put you in contact with a buyer I found. definitely look into any phones you guys come across. As far as breaking them down, I did a bunch that buyer didn't want and got $3.50# for the boards. Also in the hand sets there was a nice chunk of lead in each one, and don't forget the gold connectors too.

The yards I use would pay #2 insulated copper for the phone wire, 1.00 per lb. I think there is a buyer here on the forum that buys phones.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BRASSCATCHER

Jeremiah-glad to hear you found a buyer, so did I last week. If anyone in NY area has business phones to sell I can put you in contact with a buyer I found. definitely look into any phones you guys come across. As far as breaking them down, I did a bunch that buyer didn't want and got $3.50# for the boards. Also in the hand sets there was a nice chunk of lead in each one, and don't forget the gold connectors too.

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Awesome! I haven't used this guy yet, but I will send you a pm after my first transaction goes through smoothly.

Sounds good, thanks.

Hello all - this may be the same type of wire - or not - I don't know. Got a box of what is labelled "Station Wire" made by Alcatel and it also is labeled "ACW/ACC". Also "CSA-Type-PCC-FT4", also "JSW-Z". I am putting in all this info because I stripped some - 4 insulated wires in a plastic sheath - and the wire is kind of a coffee/tan color, not bright and shiny red like copper usually is. You see why I am asking! (And it is the indoor installation wire used by the phone company, at least it was in the 1990s when this box was made.) So, am I dealing with a copper wire, or some kind of blended mixed metal wire?? And is it worth any money? Thanks!