Scrap copper ?

[SS MAYFLOAT]

I scap copper out every once in awhile. One place will accept some stuff as number 1 while another place tells me it is number 2.<br /><br />Does anyone really know what the difference is? I know when copper is burnt to remove foreign substances, it is #2. Then I thought #1 was copper that is clean from any other materials such as solder and corrosion......Thanks.........SS

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Scrap copper ?

Hey Mayfloat,<br /><br />I know that in my area, #1 is just as you described. Clean, with no solder or other elements. This is why in my business(HVAC), we strip down "A" coils to the bare copper for scrap. We get at least 100 coils a month from new AC installations and it adds up fast. Gives the guys something to do on the slow days, too...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Scrap copper ?

What's it going for lately,..???...<br /><br />I've got some Copper laying around,.......<br />Getting to be a fair load of Aluminum Too.......

 

[springhead]

Re: Scrap copper ?

No.1 here in R.I. has to be bare bright depending on the scrapyard i use.<br />The scrapyards try and poon you because they figure u got the copper for nothing. <br />Ive seen them take the copper your talking about and put it in with the bare bright.

 

[divo]

Re: Scrap copper ?

I am taking in about 600 pounds of # 1, and bout 150 of #2(tin coated) wire tomorrow. I called one place and they said $1.80 per pound for #1, $1.50 for #2, and bout .50 for wire with insulation on it. I will call around and get that up at least a dime. If you have a large amount, call around, they will deal with you. They like the large amounts. Last year I took 4000 pounds of #2 and had them fighting for it. Got just under the #1 price at that time. Around here( copper wire), #1 is bare, clean(shiny or dull). #2 is bare, corroded, tin coated, dirty, burnt. #3 insulated. If they dont want to give you #1 for dull bare copper, take it elsewhere.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Scrap copper ?

Cool, thanks guys. I just started using a different place that pays more. I had some pieces of copper that about 3/32 thick, 3" wide at various lengths. They were green with corrosion and they charged me with #2. There was about 50 lbs of that and I had clean copper tubing that was free of any solder. They said it was #2 also. In there was some 4 ga. stranded copper wire that I stripped the insulation off of. Yep, they put that in the #2 also.<br /><br />I think I will use my old place when I take copper in. At least they are honest enough to grade it right. Right now #1 is going for $1.89 and #2 is $1.69.<br /><br />Copper/aluminum mixed as in condenser coils and radiators is $1.20 a pound. Then for the month of April, one place is going to pay 72 cents a pound. That is the most I have ever seen aluminum cans get up to. Extruded aluminum is a variable rate depending on how much you bring in at one time. If you have over 500 lbs, it will bring 57 cents a pound.<br /><br />My boss gets PO'd at me because I save all my non-ferrous scrap. Little does he know that I make about a couple of thousand a year off of it each year. However there is a lot of work involved in preping it for scrap.<br /><br />Thanks again for clarifying the differene between the 2.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Scrap copper ?

im wiring up a 24 unit apartment building in romex, im averaging about $10 a unit for the scrap alone, copper prices are insane.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Scrap copper ?

Originally posted by Johnshan1:<br /> im wiring up a 24 unit apartment building in romex, im averaging about $10 a unit for the scrap alone, copper prices are insane.

Apparently it is all going to China to fuel their building boom.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Scrap copper ?

Thats the word, im not sure I like the idea of that but i really dont know if im being too critical of them.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Scrap copper ?

I work in a telecom warehouse,<br /><br />a few years back ,we were stripping out all the frames as they came in, ended up with about 4 tons of 22awg insualted wire.... Here it is considered #2<br /><br />At the time, we got between .06 - .15 we were happy when we got .15<br /><br />I took a little bit the other day and got $.65. MAN, I wish I had saved it all from years ago!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Scrap copper ?

I talked to my Scrapper Buddy Tommy today,....<br /><br />He said,...$140.@ton for short Steel,....$1.80@pound for #2 Copper,....And, $.90@pound for Aluminum.......<br /><br />hmmmmmmmmmmm,.......... Spring Cleanning Anybody,..??....................

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Scrap copper ?

Right now solid copper pennies (pre 1983) are worth more as scrap copper than pennies. You'd be surprised how many of them are left in circulation if you look...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Scrap copper ?

Right now solid copper pennies (pre 1983)

Isn't that 1963,..???....

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Scrap copper ?

Originally posted by Bondo:<br />Isn't that 1963,..???....

Nope...I drill holes in them all the time and use them for washers in electric stuff. The thought of building a furnace capable of melting pennies has crossed my mind...

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Scrap copper ?

Charcoal briquets with an air source blowing on it, say a shop vac, will do the trick. Don't ask me how I know. Also don't ask why I know the bank will give you $200 in rolled pennies if ya ask, an then later take some of them back re-rolled in a different wrapper.