Power Line Wire

[Grayson97]

A few weeks ago some linemen switched out the lines to a nieghbors house and when i asked them what there plans for the wire were they told me i could have it. Is it legal to sell at the scrap yard? Some is coated some bare, with it being aluminum with a steel core strand. Thanks guys

[logansryche]

Shouldn't be an issue - most that get into industrial scrapping come across this kind of wire. Not sure if it'd go as aluminum wire or something mixed.

[Abuilder]

If it were copper you may get some funny looks but it depends on the yard and the person on the scale.
I took a few feet of stripped line AL wire to my yard just to what I could get for it if I stripped the rest of it. .55 pound. But mine didn’t have the steel core in it.
Stripping that hard PVC insulation is a real PITA.

[pjost]

The aluminum with the steel core is called ACSR. (Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced.) The yard may ask where you got it. I'd call ahead of time, tell them the story and ask if it's ok to sell. Shouldn't be a problem. The insulated aluminum isn't worth stripping in my opinion.

[johnuppy]

By me in Wisconsin they call it EC wire. It is a higher grade aluminum. I got $.85/lb a few weeks ago for 40lbs or so. I acumulate it from power lines running to houses that I tore down.

[Grayson97]

Thanks for the help guys, i will call tommorow

[pjost]

By me in Wisconsin they call it EC wire. It is a higher grade aluminum. I got $.85/lb a few weeks ago for 40lbs or so. I acumulate it from power lines running to houses that I tore down.

From U.S.S. Acchey:

"Insulated Aluminum EC Wire

Aluminum wire that is not free from thin hair wire, iron or iron wire core, insulation or any other items that are non-metallic. Pricing subject to change depending on amount of iron or thickness of insulation."

Sounds like a generic term for any aluminum wire with insulation or an iron core.
Never heard it called that. Learned something new today. Thanks Jonupy.

[Abuilder]

By me in Wisconsin they call it EC wire. It is a higher grade aluminum. I got $.85/lb a few weeks ago for 40lbs or so. I acumulate it from power lines running to houses that I tore down.

What yard? Where?
I was quoted .55/lb from West Allis salvage.

[pjost]

What yard? Where?
I was quoted .55/lb from West Allis salvage.

Yeah. That's a helluva price. I'm happy if I get .30.

[Abuilder]

pjost
From Aluminium
Aluminum EC Wire
A common conductor found in different sized wire that is shielded with a rubber or plastic like layer. The aluminum used in most of this product is no less than 99.5% pure aluminum giving it a high value if it's stripped of it's outer shield.

[johnuppy]

What yard? Where?
I was quoted .55/lb from West Allis salvage.

I got that price from Sadoff. I do get better pricing than what they will quote you though.

[sawmilleng]

Gray,

You could also ask the yard what they would pay if you stripped the insulation and took out the center steel reinforcing wire. It might be worth your time, depending on how you value your time. You would end up with a high grade pure aluminium product to take in.

The heavy insulation on the wire is not the easiest to remove, but if you have a vise to hold the wire you can take a sharp knife and pull it along the insulation, peeling up a layer right down to the wire. Pulling the rest off is pretty easy. I generally cut the wires into 18" lengths, clamp it in a vise and use a drawknife (woodworking tool) to do the job.

Stripping the steel core out of the uninsulated wire is tedious but easy...if you have a side head grinder you can put a zipcut blade into it and chop the wire into shorter lengths so the unwinding is not so cumbersome. Don't try to cut it with pliers unless you have a grip of death and good tools--it is hardened wire and can dent the cutting edges of low cost sidecutters.

Let us know how you made out!

Jon.

[ElectricLiquidators]

I have scrapped this before. I was able to put a aluminum pipe and mount it to a table saw, then feed the wire through the pipe and have the table saw do the cutting.

It took a little tweaking, but it worked. DO the math, and see if its worth it.

[wayne1956]

I have stripped some of this cable before, and found a relatively easy way to do it. Use an angle grinder with a thin metal cutoff blade. Will go thru that pvc like butter.

[diggydiggy]

They did the same thing here a couple years back. Gave me about 75 feet. I didn't even try to strip it. Yard did not say anything.

[Grayson97]

Ill try stripping some, i started taking the core out of some and it wasnt to hard honestly. I was told 20 cents a lb. Thanks again guys i will try the grinder trick

[Grayson97]

Broke all the bare wire down, 15lbs of Al and maybe 3 of shredder. Left the coated like it was