Wire, Wire and more wire

Originally Posted by mthomasdev

Day #4 update
Got a later start than I was planning to today. Up half the night with a chest cold. Got down there and figured I would just load everything and take it to the yard on Monday. I had to be back for 5 for my son's football practice. That was the plan until I got a phone call from a lady who called me yesterday with a large load. I told her I couldn't do it until Monday. She sounded a little upset, so I said let me call you back in a few. Hung up the phone and remembered I needed the trailer for a 6AM E-waste pick up Monday morning. Now I have to really change plans. Managed to get all but about 200 pounds (stuff is mixed and has pine needles, leaves, etc.) loaded. At this point, it is about 1215. I have an hour and a half to my buyer and a 2 hour ride home. That's if there is no traffic. Got to the buyer and unloaded. Hit some traffic, but still made it home with 10 minutes to spare. Went to football practice and then to the ladies house for a pickup. 6 appliances, 2 dehumidifiers, 5 push mowers, and some excerise equipment. Need to unload that in the AM and go back for a fridge, more exercise equipment, another push mower, 3 computers, printers, etc.
Any way, here are today's totals:
Ins AL 1121 pounds
Alarm (was a mix of stuff better than low grade) 97 pounds
Med THHN 170 pounds
Med TIN 13 pounds
Coax 6 pounds
Telco 4 pounds
Bare Bright 2 pounds
ST BX 40 pounds
AL BX 17 pounds
THHN 264 pounds
Romex 104 pounds



Ball park totals to date:
7000 pounds copper wire
2400 pounds aluminum

wow thats astronomical if you stripped all the copper wire at 2$ you would have 14,000 thats a crapload of money!

Originally Posted by mike1

wow thats astronomical if you stripped all the copper wire at 2$ you would have 14,000 thats a crapload of money!

Keep in mind that I am buying this stuff.

Day #5 update

Picked up the last of it today. Used a metal rake to get it all. Bunch of pine needles and leaves mixed in. I had been sorting it on site prior to today. Just loaded in garbage cans today. Filled 4 - 44 gallon cans. Started sorting it at home tonight. I'll probably have final numbers later this week.

Originally Posted by Patriot76

It is assumed the 7,000 pds. of copper includes the insulation. Therefore the $2.00 per pound would only apply to the recovery rate, a lower amount. Different yards classify insulated wire in different ways and pay accordingly. When selling wire you should concentrate on the recovery rate, not their classification. The further up the food chain the insulated wire travels, the more important the recovery rate becomes.

Mthomasdev: Congratulations on your score. Your work ethic has paid off.

Patriot is absolutely correct. Weights listed are for the most part, insulated.
FYI - recovery rate on romex is about 65%, small thhn 82%, med thhn 84-93%.
My buyers sheet price for bare bright had been between $2.49 an $2.65 per pound. Comex price has been between $2.94 and $3.11 per pound. Keep in mind that I'm getting dealer pricing, so I'm (and the contractor) doing ok