Copper is very popular and always in high demand in the scrap metal industry. Because of its various beneficial innate properties, copper is an incredibly useful, and therefore valuable, metal in our society. For these reasons, you can easily make some extra cash by scrapping copper materials at local metal and iron recycling center. Copper wire is one of the more prevalent versions of scrap copper out there, and easy to come by. Just be sure you know how to strip copper wiring safely, and in a way that retains its scrap value.
Continue reading to learn some different methods for stripping down copper wire, including how to determine which method is best for your metal scrapping endeavors.
Assessing Your Wire Stripping Needs
To start, you will need a type of tool for stripping wire. Most people simply use wire strippers, however, these tools come in a wide range of sizes and prices. You can get a cheap one that works just fine, or a heavy duty one as much as $500 or more. So, before you go out and purchase a new wire stripping tool, first determine how much copper wire you plan on stripping, now and in the future. This will tell you which type of tool will meet your scrapping needs best.
100 Pounds or Less Per Month = Pliers or Handheld Stripper
More Than 100 Pounds Per Month = A Tabletop Wire Stripper
1000 Pounds or More Per Month = Electric Wire Strippers
All of these tools can be found at your local home improvement or hardware store. Prices vary depending on retailer, brand, make, model, and more. Talk to a sales representative for a brief description on the best practices for using the tool you choose for your metal scrapping projects.
Tips You Can Use When Stripping
When hand-stripping, many people might recommend applying heat to the wiring to make the insulation more pliable, and therefore, easier to remove. However, take note that you should NEVER BURN copper wiring to make removal easier. This will only serve to injure you and damage the integrity of the ore.
Instead, use the natural sun to soften the outer insulation. Simply place your copper wiring outdoors in the sunshine, and leave it there during the warmest and sunniest parts of the day. Before the sun sets, collect your wiring and begin your hand stripping while they are at their most pliable.
If you are dealing with bulk copper wiring, and choose to procure a tabletop stripping machine, be sure you read through the manual and learn how to use it before getting started. Without the proper mechanical knowledge, you can potentially injure or maim yourself. You can find further tutorials on using such machines, online.
How to Recycle Scrap Electrical Wiring in Indiana
Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to sell scrap copper for cash in Central and Southern Indiana. Our Indianapolis metal recycling professionals pay cash on the spot for both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including junk cars, automotive parts, appliances, construction equipment, motorized farming equipment, and more. Request a free estimate for your scrap metal, today.