Aluminized Copper Wire

I have not been able to find anything on the wire I have that appears to be aluminium on the the outside with copper on the inside. Can anyone point me to a thread on this stuff. Like to get an idea of how much I should get for this stuff.

It isnt gonna be worth much because the copper guys dont want it because of the aluminum and the aluminum guys dont want it because of the copper..

Do you have a picture? I am having trouble figuring out what type it could be.

What am I thinking not having a pic? I'll make a point to take some samples to the yards so they can check it out and give me a price. It looks like I should not have but 30 pounds, so not sure if they make me a good price on so little. Got this stuff out of the hayloft, so its probably pretty old. Dad stopped being an electrician in 1980 after all.

So the idea is to take it to a yard, talk up the copper content, and if they only offer aluminum price on my wire, keep it and try the other yards in the area. I'm getting the idea that the difference between doing ok scrapping, and doing great scrapping, is salesmanship! But what business isn't that way.

I'm confused - is the copper wire coated with aluminum?

NP Kris Kringle, my gf says I act more like I am 25 than my son does! And ya know, I just don't understand why people seem to go out of there way to be impolite to each other. I find treating people with kindness and respect goes a long way in any relationship. Business or otherwise!

Yep new, the wire has an aluminium coating that can be scraped away with a knife

Are you sure it's not tin coat? I had some and it sold as #2 copper.

Not to say it couldn't be aluminum. I've just not seen or heard of any.

Yeah, I'm betting you have tinned copper.

Ya know I was beginning to wonder that. I bet that's what it is. #2 copper works. Thanks everyone.

Also scratch the wire if it is tin coated if you scratch enough you will see copper if not it is aluminum.

BTW we buy copper wire nationwide public, commercial, other yards etc. LOL http://www.americanscrapmetal.com

Strip the wire if it still has tin coating then it is number #2 no matter the gauge. #1 scrap copper wire is based on many variables including: 8 Gauge or heavier?, Is each individual strand as thick as a pencil lead / hanger? If so #1 unless tin coated or shelaq example some welding & mtw wire have this coating which is similiar to the coating that is used in electric motor winding.

Avg #1 copper wire includes:

Stripped or Jacket Removed Romex / Houswire, with the jacket removed some call this spaghetti wire which is considered a single pencil lead wire that bends and stays bent "Stiff"
THHN 250 - 700 MCM
THHN 1 - 3 "O"
Some THWN in thick gauges
etc etc.

Whats THHN, THWN, MTW?
THHN is a hard plastic insulated wire, THWN is a soft rubber type insulatiom, MTW "Machine & Tooling Wire"
MCM has a hard plastic insulation MCM is what you see on powerlines.

Well now, it dawned on me today a bunch of very thin strand braided wire I was stripping is actually tinned copper. I finally checked really close cause the weight of the wire bothered me. Nothing like experience I guess.

Copper clad aluminum. Goes as dirty aluminum at the yard I deal with.

Take IdahoScrappers advice!

lol dagnabit. You answered him. Ah well, now I won't have to.

Railway wire?

Originally Posted by freonjoe

Railway wire?

Due to the inseparable union of the two metals, it deters theft since copper recovery is impractical and thus has very little scrap value.

Installations with copper-clad steel conductors are generally recognized as fulfilling the required specifications for a good ground. For this reason it is used with preference by utilities and oil companies and railways when cost is a concern

The telephone poles along the railway line is strung with the copper clad steel wire.

I think the Op's wire is nickle coated copper wire.
Either they take it as lower grade copper (domestic?), or bronze, since thats what bronze is made of.