What metal do I have?

Hi guys/girls

This is my first post on here so please go easy on me.

I'm a novice when it comes to scrap metal although I have been doing it for a few years. I only scrap shotgun coax cable which I get a lot of doing my day job. Up until now I have always taken it in "dirty" as I think you experts call it but recently the price has dropped dramatically. If I strip it I will be left with the copper core and the braid which is silver in colour, my questions is what metal is the silver coloured braid and is it worth the effort? Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this.

If I'm not mistaken, the shielding used in most coax cable is aluminum. That along with the rubber insulation around the copper/aluminum core helps to block out "noise" or interference. Around my area, most yards won't even take coax, or the one's that do classify it as telcom/low recovery. Its been some time since I've taken any to the yard, but if memory serves me, I only got around .20-.25 per pound. Every yard varies on their payout and classification so call around and see what the yards in your area are paying. If you strip the copper core and take that in, it should be considered #2 copper or possibly #1 since its non coated wire and thicker then a pencil lead, but again it varies from state to state and location. Figure out if its worth your time to strip it by asking how much they will pay as is, and then strip a pound to see what the recovery and weight would be. For some its worth it, and others its not. I'll just assume that you have a wire stripper and are not doing it by hand. If the latter is the case I would take it in as is and focus your time on something a little more lucrative. Just my .02....

Up until now it's been worth taking it in as, I have always got around £1.30 per kg which if my maths is correct is about $1 per pound but now it's less than half of that. It's no work to take it in as is, my van is full of it every day all I do is bag it up and take it in every couple of months. Might just have to suffer the loss;(

By me coax goes in with the steel at $.08 lb.

I get .23 cents at one yard and .18 at another but I also gave them a bunch to test recovery on and that's the prices they came up with. I would never strip it. you will lose to much weight. that's,my opinion do what best suits you though. many yards will only buy it as shred. took lots of talkin to get them to buy it for more.

Depending on the type of coax it is(yes even tv coax) the center conductor is either copper or copper clad steel. Here I have found that the Directv coax has a solid copper conductor but all the others cable and Dish have the copper clad steel center conductor. The one with the solid copper center conductor is worth it to me to strip but if I don't strip it the yard don't even want much mixed in with the shred(appliance steel).

The yards in my area "assume" that ALL coax has a copper clad center conductor.

I would think you are filling buckets with the coax connectors that are made of brass. Best of luck Mike

Use a magnet to find out if copper or the steel copper. If it sticks..it ain't copper!

Sirscrapalot - Has a huge ass tote full of Coax, he's taking his time checking...cause its a lot!

I agree with miked as far as classification. DTV solid copper, cable company is copper clad steel. I do snip a lot of ends as yes they are brass, but I'm moving large amounts of coax at a time and stripping it is not time efficient for me. Thats just me. it may be to you.

Stripping the steel clad is pointless. It's not copper.

The other..I strip as I get it. What I lose in weight i make up for in the higher price. An extra 20lbs at .8lb or...20lbs no extra at 2.00lb..I like the 2.00 per lb better.

I save what needs stripping for rainy days, lazy days, or for bored days.

I'm picky on what wire I'll strip. I got not time to deal with the thin stuff, but that copper clad I will, amongst others.

A magnet is your best friend with this stuff.

Sirscrapalot - Size does matter gents..at the yard. Bigger an thicker it is...the happier they are to see you.

None of the 3 yards I use takes coax so if I get any I snip the ends and toss the rest as shred.