co-axel wire?

Originally Posted by Mvpvlad

so I just got a few hundred feet of coaxial wire from my honeyhole and was wondering what you guys do with it?

Is it copper coax or is it copper clad? Clad is copper coated steel wire in the middle, usually with an aluminum outer braid right under the rubber jacket. The most common just laying around is the clad cause that's what the cable and satellite dish people use. Your lucky if your yard will accept it. I usually stuff mine inside an empty microwave carcass. I've had smaller chunks thrown in the back of my truck and the yard man has looked at it but not said anything.

Copper will not attract a magnet but clad will. Take a little bit of the center wire and scrape it with a knife blade and if it's clad you'll scrap right thru the copper coloring and see the steel wire.

Originally Posted by Mvpvlad

I know all too well the meaning of clad and yes its clad is it worth salvaging the very middle copper piece. I feel I throw too much non shred in microwave carcasses

If a magnet is attracted to the center wire then it is clad and needs to go in with the steel/tin/shred. The outer braid usually is aluminum.
The good coax that CB'ers, Hams, Broadcast stations, Satellite Broadcast use is copper coax and usually has a RG ### on the outer jacket. It'll be (for example) rg 8u, rg8x, rg58, etc. Usually the RG designator will be on the outer jacket every so far apart. Here is a link explaining a little more about it. The RG stands for "Radio Grade"
Coaxial cable definition of Coaxial cable in the Free Online Encyclopedia

Similar situation when stripping a CRT tv. There is a non-magnetic Al colored braided "wire" that secures the degaussing cable to the tv. I've kept those as well. Someone said its nickel plated copper

Those are not alum. but "tinned" copper and I throw them in with my #2 insulated.

Just to add to the discussion on coax, coax used by hams and cb operators contains solid copper for the center conductor. Its also used in tv and radio stations, lab and test equipement. Coming up with large amounts of this good coax is something I have been unable to do.

The shield( the outer braided wire)on the good coax is often also copper. Its tinned copper so it appears to be Aluminum but once you scrap off the tin it will reveil copper.

I used a wire stripper to strip the good coax that was able to cut all the way to the center conductor. The use of the stripping machine made the operation profitable. I had some runs of 40+ feet and they worked great in my stripper.

I don't see stripping good coax by hand a good idea, too much trouble for the return. Best of luck, Mike

Originally Posted by miked

Just to add to the discussion on coax, coax used by hams and cb operators contains solid copper for the center conductor. Its also used in tv and radio stations, lab and test equipement. Coming up with large amounts of this good coax is something I have been unable to do.

The shield( the outer braided wire)on the good coax is often also copper. Its tinned copper so it appears to be Aluminum but once you scrap off the tin it will reveil copper.

I used a wire stripper to strip the good coax that was able to cut all the way to the center conductor. The use of the stripping machine made the operation profitable. I had some runs of 40+ feet and they worked great in my stripper.

I don't see stripping good coax by hand a good idea, too much trouble for the return. Best of luck, Mike

I actually have a spool sitting under my work bench I think it is a fairly nice grade if interested I could possibly stuff it in a flat rate box (obviously without the spool)

Originally Posted by logansryche

Same, got a box of RG6 that still has 300' left on the roll. Was better to use then twine on he move back up here.

For me, I'm a ham radio operator ke4ilg, I use 50 ohm coax. The RG6 is 75 ohm. measure it up and take a shot at ebaying it. If there are no cnnectors on it strip off a little to determine if it has any corrosion. If it does have corrosion then hold onto it until you have a wire striper. Mike.

HEY MIKED......I tried to send you info but your box is full

Here it is COMMSCOPE Product Code #4598303

4598303 | F677TSVM

Let me know THANKS

I'll check my box soon.

Your coax is also 75 ohm so its not what I use. My radios and are us 50 ohm coax. Is the wire on the side solid copper? All I have seen the wire on the side is Cu coated steel. Thanks, Mike.



PS I cleaned out my box. Mike

Originally Posted by miked

I'll check my box soon.

Your coax is also 75 ohm so its not what I use. My radios and are us 50 ohm coax. Is the wire on the side solid copper? All I have seen the wire on the side is Cu coated steel. Thanks, Mike.

Oh well was hoping someone could use it

Originally Posted by mikeinreco

Oh well was hoping someone could use it

Good luck as it would not be worth scrapping for the "copper".
" Center Conductor Material Copper-clad steel"
" Inner Shield (Braid) Material Aluminum"
" Outer Shield (Tape) Material Aluminum/Polymer/Aluminum (APA)"
" Messenger Wire Material Zinc-coated steel"