| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
abe
Penny Pincher Member
117 Posts |
 Posted - 08/06/2010 : 08:11:31
|
|
Got a copper wire question. I usually strip all my copper wire by hand, but a fellow scrapper said he burns his wire then immediately dips the burn't wire in cold water then hits the wire against a hard object and the copper comes out clean with no burned residue on it. He couldn't believe that I took the time to strip it. He wouldn't be pulling my leg would he?
|
|
|
rambo_k9
Penny Pincher Member
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 09:40:15
|
| LOL... I hand strip too... mostly out of boredom and wanting a few cents more BUT... if thats true, I'm in...lol Anyone?? |
Looking for a great summer read?? Stop by www.glennrambo.com You think the US/Mexican border is bad now?? |
 |
|
|
wayne1956
Penny Pincher Member
177 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 09:51:04
|
| It seems to me his wire will still be burnt, so the yard will probably give him #2 prices, where hand stripped wire will be clean and get #1 prices. |
|
|
|
abe
Penny Pincher Member
117 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 10:06:42
|
| I had a feeling he was playing with me,lol. Like the septic tank man that told Rid X was bad for it and recommended flushing tomatoes down the toilet. I still think roadkill is the best. |
|
|
|
rambo_k9
Penny Pincher Member
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 13:40:33
|
| Quick question for you. I got a hold of an OLD OLD 30ft power cord. Stripping it down, the copper was a dark dark red, almost burnt looking if that makes sense. Any thing wrong with it or different about it? Thanks. |
Looking for a great summer read?? Stop by www.glennrambo.com You think the US/Mexican border is bad now?? |
|
|
|
wayne1956
Penny Pincher Member
177 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 13:49:10
|
quote:
Originally posted by rambo_k9
Quick question for you. I got a hold of an OLD OLD 30ft power cord. Stripping it down, the copper was a dark dark red, almost burnt looking if that makes sense. Any thing wrong with it or different about it? Thanks.
Some I strip is the same way. I assume it will go as #2, since it is not "bare bright" like they want #1 to be. I am still hoarding mine right now, so I am not 100% sure since I have not sold any. |
|
|
|
Robarons
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
522 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 14:43:14
|
Well if the wire is quite old then it would make sense for the copper to have oxidized and turned a naturally darker color. Like pennies for an example- copper should darken over time. Although the bright, shinny, and new copper is preferred- but a scrap yard should give you #1 prices for clean darker wire in addition to the new stuff.
I used to take copper pipe that was dark and old to the yard. Sawed off the solder and impurities to make it strictly copper and got #1 prices. |
Robber Baron= Robarons |
|
|
|
silversaddle1
Penny Pincher Member
USA
103 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 15:30:53
|
| The trick to burning copper wire is to burn it clean. In order to do this right, you need to burn your wire in small amounts over a existing fire, say a camp fire. You need to get all the wire red hot so no plastic or ash remains on the copper after it cools. Once the wire comes out of the fire, knock it against something to knock the ash off. You can see if it's clean or not. Remember, clean burnt wire will only go #1 if it's 12 Ga. or bigger. Smaller strand wire is not worth burning and if you must strip it, it's best to do it by hand. |
|
|
|
Dr. Cadmium
Penny Sorter Member
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 17:49:57
|
It's worth noting that intentionally burning wire is illegal, as well as unhealthy and environmentally unsound.
If you have a large amount of wire to strip it makes sense to buy a manual stripper. For larger amounts there are machines available. They pay for themselves quickly.
Many yards pay #2 prices for burned wire unless it's perfectly clean, and will only pay bare/shiny bright prices for stripped. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
copper wire?
Forum Locked
