need help ID something

**jrpbullrider** · 12-05-2012, 09:16 AM

what is this, how do I deal with it, and about how much per lbs?
Or do you need more info?

**Mechanic688** · 12-05-2012, 09:43 AM

I think that is called hard line used in radio/TV stations made to handle high transmitter power, Could be for business/police radio/transmitters also. Usually coated with a rubber/plastic outer coating so that may not be it.

**jghilino** · 12-05-2012, 09:48 AM

giant coax lol what is the inner strand composition copper or copper clad?

**jrpbullrider** · 12-05-2012, 10:03 AM

Usually coated with a rubber/plastic outer coating so that may not be it. I have some with the coating and some without.

the inner core is copper clad.

**Mechanic688** · 12-05-2012, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

I think that is called hard line used in radio/TV stations made to handle high transmitter power, Could be for business/police radio/transmitters also. Usually coated with a rubber/plastic outer coating so that may not be it.

Some hardline is made solid copper, other is copper clad over alum.
Sizes run from 1/2" up to 1 7/8". In the middle is a dielectric foam.

Here is a real strange hardline.

Thanks to Wiki;

Hard line is used in broadcasting as well as many other forms of radio communication. It is a coaxial cable constructed using round copper, silver or gold tubing or a combination of such metals as a shield. Some lower-quality hard line may use aluminum shielding, aluminum however is easily oxidized and unlike silver or gold oxide, aluminum oxide drastically loses effective conductivity. Therefore all connections must be air and water tight. The center conductor may consist of solid copper, or copper-plated aluminum. Since skin effect is an issue with RF, copper plating provides sufficient surface for an effective conductor. Most varieties of hardline used for external chassis or when exposed to the elements have a PVC jacket; however, some internal applications may omit the insulation jacket. Hard line can be very thick, typically at least a half inch or 13 mm and up to several times that, and has low loss even at high power. These large-scale hard lines are almost always used in the connection between a transmitter on the ground and the antenna or aerial on a tower. Larger varieties of hardline may have a center conductor that is constructed from either rigid or corrugated copper tubing. The dielectric in hard line may consist of polyethylene foam, air, or a pressurized gas such as nitrogen or desiccated air (dried air).

**jrpbullrider** · 12-05-2012, 10:10 AM

ok cool that is what now how to deal with and is it worth it or just turn in as is I now will be getting about 30 to 40 feet a week from a worker I just met.

**jghilino** · 12-05-2012, 10:18 AM

it has to be worth less than clean aluminum at 50 cents a pound, so its your call to me its not worth it. If your lucky you can sell it as dirty aluminum or #3 insulated. All of the experiences ive had processing copper clad have only been wasted time and money, never again.

Maybe you can cut it into pieces short enough to pull the inner strand and insulation out, then you can get clean aluminum for it.

**Barta4** · 12-05-2012, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

Some hardline is made solid copper, other is copper clad over alum.
Sizes run from 1/2" up to 1 7/8". In the middle is a dielectric foam.

Here is a real strange hardline.

Thanks to Wiki;

That's a TV/Radio tower transmission line. It carries a plasma arc up to the top of the tower from a six foot tall vacuum tube called a klystron. The gap between the outside and the inner core is filled with nitrogen so no moisture will get in an cause a short. Expensive stuff.

**brucie** · 12-05-2012, 01:23 PM

ive got about 30+ ft of the type that has the black coating on the outside and the inner rod is copper coated alum. i posted it on CL to see if anybody wanted it.. no hits as of now. this post reminds me to update the post. please post info if you find a easy way to get the alum out. I have not called the yard yet bc i didnt want to be disappointed yet.. lol let us know what your yard gives you.

i thought about trying to see if the alum would come out easily if i cut it in half w/ a grinder. I dont think it weighs enough to wreck my back messing w/ it but would be interested in hearing how you separate it.

**happyscraper** · 12-05-2012, 02:58 PM

I would just sell it as coax if you can find a yard that will buy it. I only know of one yard neer me that will pay .05#. S ome coax is worth stripping if it has a copper core. That's my .o2

**CGsEnterprises** · 12-05-2012, 05:10 PM

The aluminum type would usually go export and if your yard buys it 9-15 cents/pound. If your yard doesn't get enough to bale/sell, try to convince them to buy it as breakage. The copper can be cleaned and sold or sold as around 55% recovery if I remember correct. Been several years since I've been in that position of grading, so bear with me.

**CGsEnterprises** · 12-05-2012, 05:11 PM

Sadly, a lot of people burn it for recovery...please DO NOT do this.

**parrothead** · 12-05-2012, 09:54 PM

It is hard line for CATV. Looks to be .500 cable. The aluminum is fairly soft and you may be able to rig something up that you can pull this cable through and strip the outer aluminum sheathing. I used to splice this stuff allllllllllday long.

I don't recommend this, but many years ago, we used to roll dead end spools of this on the fire. It would end up melting on one side and the cable would open along that side and each wrap of the cable would become a flaming roman candle and shoot out.

Dangerous and releases bad gases as melted.

The aluminum would end up pouring out of the fire into puddles and harden. We got some beer money for this, but would never do it again.

The center conducter is probably copper coated aluminum unless it is really old.

**URBANERECYCLING** · 12-06-2012, 07:08 AM

Parrot is correct it is cable tv wire (old school before fios and dsl etc)Theres still miles of it around. In Tampa the bare can go as high as .15-.18/lb