5 replies to this topic

[Paul Menkens]

I have quite a bit of braid from an old track that I scrapped, I know that it's tinned copper, how does a scrap metal dealer figure the price per lb? Do they require it to be clean (no glue residue) and do they subtract for the tinning on it? 

[Brian Czeiner]

There may be a "dirty copper" option. I have seen many larger copper armatures from heaters, A/C units and such when I drove for a scrap transport. It would be best to check with your scrap dealer. Some places won't even take copper for fear of theft product. 

[Bill Seitz]

I'm basically going to add to what Brian's already said. Used braid will qualify as "dirty" copper.

 

Whether a scrap dealer takes "dirty" metals at all depends on the demand for the metal and whatever price the market is paying for the "dirty" material. Removing the glue completely might bring a higher price. Different scrap dealers have different tiers for "dirty" metals depending on how easily they can be cleaned/purified. Expect the value of "dirty" metals to be far below the usually advertised commodity prices which are for pure/clean metals.

 

Often scrap insulated wire is burned first to remove the insulation because that will bring a higher price than "dirty" insulated wire.

 

In recent years, copper theft has been a major issue, especially in urban areas. Thieves have even ripped out wire from live, high-voltage, electrical circuits. This has prompted law enforcement to require that scrap dealers get source information from the persons selling scrap wire, plumbing, and HVAC items.

 

As Brian suggested, check with your scrap dealer for whether they'll take the material and what price they'll pay. You may find it's not worth the effort.

[Don Weaver]

A Google inquiry (What are the grades of scrap copper?) would indicate the copper you have is #2 grade.  Check with your local scrap dealer for the going rate in your area.  You will need to know the weight of what you have.

 

Don 

[Phil Hackett]

Having been employed at a scrap yard... like everyone above it will be judged "dirty copper" and the scrap dealer will either discount the material by subtracting from the weight or pay less per pound. Find out what the "clean" copper wire price is. Unless there's a bunch of glue and wood sticking to it I would bargain with the yard because they're looking for metal with as little contaminates as possible. For your scrap to be judged the same as heavy cables (lots of insulation) or copper-baring scrap with with thick or heavy steel/aluminum/plastic or other non-copper contents is a bit harsh. Last time I looked (virgin) copper was about $6/pound on the commodity markets.

 

Braid would not be #2. That is for fabricated parts, light castings for instance. The braid will be rated as wire, which brings up a little scrap metal trivia: back when screen doors were commonly made of aluminum, the yards would pay almost nothing for it. Reason? The aluminum screen was so light that when it was placed into a furnace it would "evaporate". This was true even if the screen was compressed and bailed. There's just no weight to volume so the value was/is very low compared to other aluminum scrap. This holds true for any metallic screens. However, nickel, stainless steel, copper and many other metals (tantalum anyone?) have much higher value than aluminum, so they'll get a price.

[Don Weaver]

Phil,

 

I was just going from my experience of owning an electric motor repair shop.  I sold literally tons of scrap copper wire over 25+ years all of which was rated as #2 copper.