Tarnished copper now #2 ?

**Kemper** · 11-22-2022, 07:26 PM

My scrapyard now says if copper is tarnished it's # 2 whereas it used to be #1 when meeting size requirements. I've always received # 1 price for copper that was thicker than a pencil lead, as a general rule. Also any copper that has been burnt is #2 .

Is anybody else experiencing this ? Geez, I think all my copper is tarnished except my bare bright copper wire.

**CopperMiner** · 11-22-2022, 09:52 PM

It depends on which yard you make business with. If their #1 is called bare bright, it is probably why they downgraded it to #2. In my case, they're more tolerant.: my #1 needs to be large enough and to be clean (no insulation, no connectors, no paint, no burn, no soldering/no welding...), but it doesn't need to be sparkling too. If it doesn't respect #1 description, it will go as #2.

By tarnished, do you mean dull reddish brown or turquoise green?

Also, the price difference between #1 and #2 is generally not that much. Maybe 10/15 cents / lbs. It is as large as copper and brass or aluminum and shred.

By the way, if you have access to more than one yard in your area, it doesn't hurt to ask the other yards how they buy their copper and what they pay for.

**Kemper** · 11-23-2022, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by CopperMiner

It depends on which yard you make business with. If their #1 is called bare bright, it is probably why they downgraded it to #2. In my case, they're more tolerant.: my #1 needs to be large enough and to be clean (no insulation, no connectors, no paint, no burn, no soldering/no welding...), but it doesn't need to be sparkling too. If it doesn't respect #1 description, it will go as #2.

By tarnished, do you mean dull reddish brown or turquoise green?

Also, the price difference between #1 and #2 is generally not that much. Maybe 10/15 cents / lbs. It is as large as copper and brass or aluminum and shred.

By the way, if you have access to more than one yard in your area, it doesn't hurt to ask the other yards how they buy their copper and what they pay for.

Thanks. My yard buys Bare Bright, #1 and #2 . I noticed they have a sign now that says tarnished copper will be bought as # 2. I also called another yard and they said tarnished copper is #2 . I don't know what they consider tarnish to be so I guess I will have to ask them. I just never heard of this before.
I understand what you are saying about the other conditions as that has been common practice around here .