Copper: Whole, Granulated or Powder

Since everyone's on a copper kick I ask the forum a question: is copper worth more whole, granulated or as a powder. I ask as a powder because I had this idea kicking around in my mind once to build a machine to chip wire into a powder, but it wouldn't make sense to build or even consider such an idea if it wasn't worth it.



-Matt

This is something I have to find out.
Basicly its to do with what happens to the Copper once we have sold it.

I got the impression that the Copper mines process the Copper getting out most of the impuritys.
Now, some of those impuritys are Gold and Silver.....

So the procees went like this. Copper mined earth, processed into Copper and then melted into Copper tube etc.
Used as pipes etc, recycled as Copper domestic.
Copper domestic, shredded, electroplated into high quality Copper and Gold,Lead,Silver reclaimed from slimes.
High quality Copper, remelted and processed into Copper electrical wire.

Copper electrical wire, shredded, electroplated into extra high quality Copper wire. For high voltage power cables, like you see on pylons. Etc.

Is this about right?

two issues. Diminishing returns and volume. The more you handle it the more you need to sell it for. The most pure copper will sell for is market value (~$3.10 as of today). So what can you do to the copper to get it closest to that value while handling it the least... Strip it, chip it, melt it... Keep in mind the more surface area the more oxidation can occur. Your bucket of copper power could get ruined pretty quick under the wrong conditions. But a copper bar can be easily cleaned and used. Also volume, a bale of wire vs. a few buckets of powder. Figure how that affects your profit as well. Just my thoughts...

Eesa,

Just a detail: In North America, at least, pretty well all overhead high voltage wiring (>1,000V) is aluminum. It is used because it is lighter, for the long spans, and the higher resistance of Al doesn't count as much with the high voltages used.

You have a good point, though, about copper refiners pulling the PM's out of the copper as they refine it. Probably adds up faster than we might think.

Jon.

You ask if it's worth it...who are you selling to? How is the market where you will be selling? Can you sell the powdered form? Sounds like a special market.

I forget who exactly but check out Xmas light recycling thread or videos. There was a video posted and basically the lights and wire etc was shredded and spread out on a water table that vibrated. It's a pretty simple process that once perfected seems profitable.
Ummm, check it out. I'm not going to search around for it or post a link cuz I've already viewed it. It's out there, somewhere.
I hate computers, but I love breakin em!