Totally NOOB scraper question on copper wire?

I did a search in the search function but theres endless posts on "different colored copper wire" and couldnt find the answer,so was wondering if you guys could help me out?

I started stripping motors all the way down to get the wire out and have come across different colored copper wire ,orangish,gold,red,golden......Do i scrap it all together or can you get payed by the different kinds?Sorry Im just so green at scraping and need help! I included some pictures of what I got so far:



So thanks to you guys and by reading the forums I already figured out the lower plastic bin in this picture is actually aluminum with a red coating, but what about the rest do i keep it separate to red and gold?:




and the next Noob question since were at it do I scrap this copper pipe with the wire also?:


Thanks for any Help you guys can give and sorry in advance.....any wire I scrapped doing electrical work was either insulate wire with the coating on it or bare copper wire after picking up the scrap wire from wiring a house....

All of the stuff on the box should be #2 except for the tiny little balls in the middle. Remove the big black thing in the AC copper (they may try to call it copper bearing), and all that copper is #2.

thank you! so the 5 tiny balls of wire go out(which I am assuming is what is called hair wire that I just got done reading) that goes in my insulated wire pile? and out with the big black "sausage" looking piece's.....ok! I appreciate the quick response!

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

The colored wire is just varnished wire and can be either alum. or copper, try clipping a little and check the middle. First off, every yard will classify it differently. The natural looking wire goes as #1 here, anything colored is #2. I just got 2.85 a lb for my copper tubing, they called it #2 also. Looks to me that that all would be #2 until you get to the house wire, that could go as #1.

the lower bin is the only aluminum I clipped and checked it all, and its all motor and a tv wire no house wire...I was just curious how you guys sort it, but figure the guys at the yard will let me know also....just didnt want to be ripping my self off cause i had it all mixed together at first.... thanks for the help!

i thought copper tubing that dosent have soldered joints is #1 copper

I sell my wire as #2 anyway. I don't strip enough of the big stuff to justify me separating out my copper into 6 different grades. They actually call it Copper Wire down here. 2.50 a pound.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

Some TV degaussing wire is alum. also some motor wire, might be a good idea to clip first before removing from a motor. if you come across that just sell the motor whole and save some valuable time.

Ya I learned the hard way on the one aluminum washer motor......im definitely clipping first for now on!

Originally Posted by BRASSCATCHER

All the wire in pic #2 is #2 copper wire here. The same pic, the pieces of copper in middle on bottom is copper plate. The larger pieces of tubing would be #1 since it looks pretty clean and the smaller pieces from the sides of the rad would be #2 since there is solder on it. Like is was said you should call the yard you are going to or get there early and ask them to walk you thru how they would grade it. All yards are different.

For sure gonna have the guys walk me through it at the yard, been going there since I was a kid with my pops turning in cans and such ,pretty nice guys just wish i would have payed more attention when i was younger on how things get turned in.....

Im going tomorrow with also all my metal ill post back on what they say ,thanks for all the help guys!

"the big black thing"

the big black "sausage" looking

This is #2 also but you mite want to empty it first. The yard will know that it has a bag of clay pellets and some steal parts inside and dock your load.

If you was to cut it open and empty it, it will still be the biggest lump in your tub, always #2 if painted, or contains solder or brazing.

Just a thought.

TK

Originally Posted by BRASSCATCHER

clip as much copper tubing as close as you can to the compressor. You can turn that in whole and depeding on yard see how they classify those or cut it open like breakerdown stated and there is a nice chunk of #2 copper inside. The oil should be mineral oil so its not harmful if it spills out.

Ok cool! thanks I was wondering about the compressors also!

Just Got back from the yard! The guys took every thing I have pictured except the aluminum wire as #2 and I didnt even take the plated copper tabs in, "even the black sausage looking things" they did look at them and seen the grind mark I made in them to make sure they were copper!

Thanks guys for the help and reply's ! I guess it all depends on your yard like most of you said! I'm sure Ill have more questions so Ill just add them to this post when they come up....

Originally Posted by olddude

this noob did all the right things, I think he/she will learn fast and go far. just my .02

Thanks "olddude"! Im a He! I belong to alot of Hot rod forums and have learned to do a "Intro" first, Read all that you can, The search function is your friend, then ask If you need a answer still! LOL