Melting scrap copper wire

**wayne1956** · 10-31-2011, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by eesakiwi

If I have a lot of copper wire, like 5 Kgs & its taking up space. I put it into a metal pot & then start bashing it with a hammer.

I have used a old kitchen pot & its stood up to the bashing.
I just fill it with the burnt off wire & start hammering it around the outside, just inside of the pot.
As it compresses I just add more wire.
Then I keep bashing it, using a small sledge hammer untill its solid.
I have also used a metal post for bigger jobs.

You would be really surprised how easy it is & also how much it compresses.
I can fit 10Kg of burnt wire into a shoulder bag & take the free bus to the scrappers!!

If they want to see inside it to check what it is, all they have to do is cut it in 1/2 or take a chunk out using their guillotine.

Basically what I do with mine right now is I put the #1 and #2 into two separate identical 5 gallon buckets. I will put the #1 bucket inside the #2 bucket and leave it there for a while to compress the #2. It is amazing how solid a block it will compress to.

**injunjoe** · 10-31-2011, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by wayne1956

Basically what I do with mine right now is I put the #1 and #2 into two separate identical 5 gallon buckets. I will put the #1 bucket inside the #2 bucket and leave it there for a while to compress the #2. It is amazing how solid a block it will compress to.

I do the same thing. I have a big pot at the bottom then buckets stacked on top,(3 or 4 high) as the buckets fill up it compresses the bottom bucket pretty well. I can fit 40 pounds of mixed copper into a five gallon bucket.