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RyanAKL
Penny Pincher Member
USA
224 Posts |
 Posted - 11/15/2009 : 14:57:36
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Can anyone tell me how much this wire goes for? Its not insulated, its just about three strands twisted and has a green coat to it, is it number one copper or are there other alloys in it? i have been able to get around 100 lbs of this stuff but i dont want to take it to the scrap yard without knowing what i have, thanks.
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natsb88
Administrator
USA
1850 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2009 : 15:10:39
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| By overhead electric wire, do you mean wires between phone/electrical poles? That wire is rarely copper. Usually aluminum, sometimes galvanized steel, or sometimes copper plated over one or the other. Copper is too expensive and heavy to run between poles in most applications. Even the run between the pole and your house is typically aluminum. |
Nate
The Copper Cave
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RyanAKL
Penny Pincher Member
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2009 : 19:50:40
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| yes i am talking about that kind of wire, i do agree with you that most utility wire is aluminum or steel but this is most definatly copper, its from my father in laws farm so maybe its been there for a while. |
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redneck
1000+ Penny Miser Member
1273 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2009 : 06:27:12
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Bend easily ?
Magnetic check ?
File check ?
Cut it open ?
Could easily be copper...
Or copper coated steel like they use in ground rods...
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Bart
Penny Pincher Member
Canada
120 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2009 : 20:38:46
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If the wire is aluminium it will has a steel core there just for strength & support surrounded by the aluminium. The ground wires on some of these are solid copper almost 1/4" round- I don't know what gauge.
In the older parts of town each pole will have a twisted strand ground wire. In some neighbourhoods these disappear pretty quick.
Best regard, Bart |
Nice. Yes. Very nice. |
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EZ_Money
Penny Pincher Member
USA
125 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2009 : 19:33:47
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| If it is old... it could be solid copper. I have pulled alot off my farm land that used to run beside old railroad tracks. I have some that is a single strand maybe 3/16" and some that is three strands wound equalling about the same. |
Running total:
Halves searched:$14,445.50
90% found: 122
40% found: 481
Dimes Searched $2100
Found: 5 |
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RyanAKL
Penny Pincher Member
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2009 : 20:59:28
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| that sounds like what i have, is yours green on the outside? |
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EZ_Money
Penny Pincher Member
USA
125 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2009 : 19:40:06
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| Yes it is green and solid copper. File into the side of some of the wire and make sure it is solid copper. There is no insulation on the outside of the wire... |
Running total:
Halves searched:$14,445.50
90% found: 122
40% found: 481
Dimes Searched $2100
Found: 5 |
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silversaddle1
Penny Pincher Member
USA
103 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2009 : 06:35:58
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| Sounds like it could be 2 and 1 wire. That means it would have two copper strands and one steel strand. Seperate the steel strand from the copper and sell the copper as #1 copper. The steel strand may or may not be copper plated, so test with a magnet. |
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RyanAKL
Penny Pincher Member
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2009 : 20:11:23
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quote:
Originally posted by silversaddle1
Sounds like it could be 2 and 1 wire. That means it would have two copper strands and one steel strand. Seperate the steel strand from the copper and sell the copper as #1 copper. The steel strand may or may not be copper plated, so test with a magnet.
Yeah your right, there is a steel strand in the middle but the rest is copper. do you think it would be worth the time taking that steel out, i have probably 200'?? |
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hobo finds
Penny Hoarding Member
838 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2009 : 21:09:40
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| I would do it. I got $1.80 a pound for #2 copper in Aug. It must be higher now... |
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silversaddle1
Penny Pincher Member
USA
103 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 15:06:48
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quote:
Originally posted by RyanAKL
quote:
Originally posted by silversaddle1
Sounds like it could be 2 and 1 wire. That means it would have two copper strands and one steel strand. Seperate the steel strand from the copper and sell the copper as #1 copper. The steel strand may or may not be copper plated, so test with a magnet.
Yeah your right, there is a steel strand in the middle but the rest is copper. do you think it would be worth the time taking that steel out, i have probably 200'??
Very much so! If you can, cut it down into three foot pieces, it will make separating it much, much easier. |
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RyanAKL
Penny Pincher Member
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2009 : 10:25:45
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quote:
Originally posted by silversaddle1
quote:
Originally posted by RyanAKL
quote:
Originally posted by silversaddle1
Sounds like it could be 2 and 1 wire. That means it would have two copper strands and one steel strand. Seperate the steel strand from the copper and sell the copper as #1 copper. The steel strand may or may not be copper plated, so test with a magnet.
Yeah your right, there is a steel strand in the middle but the rest is copper. do you think it would be worth the time taking that steel out, i have probably 200'??
good idea, thanks for the help everyone.
Very much so! If you can, cut it down into three foot pieces, it will make separating it much, much easier.
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wolvesdad
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2009 : 15:10:51
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I understand the scraping idea....
But if I had 200 feet of this stuff I would be tempted to just keep it for some practical use later on.
It pretty much keeps in good quality even this old, doesn't it??????
Course if I really needed the money I would go ahead and sell 150 feet! ;) |
"May your percentages ever increase!" |
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silversaddle1
Penny Pincher Member
USA
103 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2009 : 01:58:55
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quote:
Originally posted by wolvesdad
I understand the scraping idea....
But if I had 200 feet of this stuff I would be tempted to just keep it for some practical use later on.
It pretty much keeps in good quality even this old, doesn't it??????
Course if I really needed the money I would go ahead and sell 150 feet! ;)
Keep in mind this is bare wire, no insulation. |
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wolvesdad
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2009 : 06:17:21
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Yeah, I know. You'd need insulators(porcelain ones, etc).
But if the sh#t hit the fan, you could manage some of your own energy needs with this stuff...possibly.
Anyway, there may be better choices nowadays and plenty of alternatives. I was just thinking..... |
"May your percentages ever increase!" |
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RyanAKL
Penny Pincher Member
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 00:16:37
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| well i sold halve of it (as is), came out to be 50lbs i got $70 for it, im happy with that, the rest i will cut up. |
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wolvesdad
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 13:24:39
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OH.... that is a little lower than I thought you would have gotten for it.
I would have thought $75 at least... or even more...$90 or so. |
"May your percentages ever increase!" |
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n/a
deleted
2 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2009 : 21:58:27
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| The two strands of copper you removed are called hard drawn copper, this is considered number 1 copper and goes for 2.40 per pound. |
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overhead electric wire
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