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How does the yard distinguish between the 3? I had a couple 5 gallon bucket fulls of insulated wire including some #12, #14 and right many appliance plugs and got #3 prices for it all. I am pretty new to scrapping anything other than copper but it seems like I should have gotten more than .25 a pound.
Did you get a kiss, ??? ;)
Might have to check a couple of different yards for better prices.
Here is how Scrap Monster describes it along with the "legal" names for the different scraps, not really what we use here as names;
Candy -#1 heavy copper- Candy-1 HEAVY COPPER - Shall consist of clean, unalloyed, uncoated copper clippings,punchings, bus bars, commutator segments, and wire not less than 1/16 of an inch thick, free of burnt wire which is brittle; but may include clean copper tubing. Hydraulically briquetted copper subject to agreement.
Cliff-No. 2 COPPER - Shall consist of miscellaneous, unalloyed copper scrap having a nominal 96% copper content (minimum 94%) as determined by electrolytic assay. Should be free of the following: Excessively leaded, tinned, soldered copper scrap; brasses and bronzes; excessive oil content, iron and non-metallics; copper tubing with other than copper connections or with sediment; copper wire from burning, containing insulation; hair wire; burnt wire which is brittle; and should be reasonably free of ash.
Barley-No. 1 COPPER WIRE - Shall consist of No. 1 bare, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire, not smaller than No. 16 B & S wire gauge.
Berry-No. 1 COPPER WIRE - Shall consist of clean, untinned, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire and cable, not smaller than No. 16 B & S wire gauge, free of burnt wire which is brittle.
Druid—INSULATED COPPER WIRE SCRAP - No.1 Insulated Copper Wire shall consist of plastic insulated unalloyed, uncoated (plated) copper wire, with the copper wire not smaller than 16 gauge (B&S).
#2 Insulated Copper Wire 50% Recovery - No.2 Insulated Copper Wire shall consist of assorted plastic insulated, unalloyed copper wire, free of heavy or double insulation.
#3 Copper - Light Copper -Dream LIGHT COPPER - Shall consist of miscellaneous, unalloyed copper scrap having a nominal 92% copper content (minimum 88%) as determined by electrolytic assay and shall consist of sheet copper, gutters, downspouts, kettles, boilers, and similar scrap. Should be free of the following: Burnt hair wire; copper clad; plating racks; grindings;copper wire from burning, containing insulation; radiators, fire extinguishers; refrigerator units; electrotype shells; screening; excessively leaded, tinned, soldered scrap; brasses and bronzes; excessive oil,iron and non-metallics; and should be reasonably free of ash.
The yards I go to only have two grades of insulated wire #1 and #2. If you mix the two you will always get the lower price. That also goes other scrap items like aluminum.
Unfortunately, it's ALWAYS a loser to go to a yard and not know what you have. Most yards will not lose any sleep by paying you less than they could have, if you knew what you had.Quote:
Originally Posted by vabuckhunter
It's not the end of the world, we all have done it in some form or fashion. When I first started to scrap I threw about 10 old computers I had in my garage into the shred pile not knowing any better. You live and learn. I learned here, if I don't know what it is and what it's worth, it is far better to keep it in the garage for a week while I find out PRIOR to taking it apart or throwing it in the dirty steel.
There are threads here on different types of wire. Learn what they are, separate them properly, find out the price your yard is paying for each, and you will surprised how much more you will make.
Keep your head up, leave the past in the past, and learn as much as you can going forward.