Aluminized Copper Wire

I have not been able to find anything on the wire I have that appears to be aluminium on the the outside with copper on the inside. Can anyone point me to a thread on this stuff. Like to get an idea of how much I should get for this stuff.

It isnt gonna be worth much because the copper guys dont want it because of the aluminum and the aluminum guys dont want it because of the copper..

Do you have a picture? I am having trouble figuring out what type it could be.

What am I thinking not having a pic? I'll make a point to take some samples to the yards so they can check it out and give me a price. It looks like I should not have but 30 pounds, so not sure if they make me a good price on so little. Got this stuff out of the hayloft, so its probably pretty old. Dad stopped being an electrician in 1980 after all.

So the idea is to take it to a yard, talk up the copper content, and if they only offer aluminum price on my wire, keep it and try the other yards in the area. I'm getting the idea that the difference between doing ok scrapping, and doing great scrapping, is salesmanship! But what business isn't that way.

I'm confused - is the copper wire coated with aluminum?

NP Kris Kringle, my gf says I act more like I am 25 than my son does! And ya know, I just don't understand why people seem to go out of there way to be impolite to each other. I find treating people with kindness and respect goes a long way in any relationship. Business or otherwise!

Yep new, the wire has an aluminium coating that can be scraped away with a knife

Are you sure it's not tin coat? I had some and it sold as #2 copper.

Not to say it couldn't be aluminum. I've just not seen or heard of any.

Yeah, I'm betting you have tinned copper.

Ya know I was beginning to wonder that. I bet that's what it is. #2 copper works. Thanks everyone.

Strip the wire if it still has tin coating then it is number #2 no matter the gauge. #1 scrap copper wire is based on many variables including: 8 Gauge or heavier?, Is each individual strand as thick as a pencil lead / hanger? If so #1 unless tin coated or shelaq example some welding & mtw wire have this coating which is similiar to the coating that is used in electric motor winding.

Avg #1 copper wire includes:

Stripped or Jacket Removed Romex / Houswire, with the jacket removed some call this spaghetti wire which is considered a single pencil lead wire that bends and stays bent "Stiff"
THHN 250 - 700 MCM
THHN 1 - 3 "O"
Some THWN in thick gauges
etc etc.

Whats THHN, THWN, MTW?
THHN is a hard plastic insulated wire, THWN is a soft rubber type insulatiom, MTW "Machine & Tooling Wire"
MCM has a hard plastic insulation MCM is what you see on powerlines.

Also scratch the wire if it is tin coated if you scratch enough you will see copper if not it is aluminum.

BTW we buy copper wire nationwide public, commercial, other yards etc. LOL http://www.americanscrapmetal.com

Well now, it dawned on me today a bunch of very thin strand braided wire I was stripping is actually tinned copper. I finally checked really close cause the weight of the wire bothered me. Nothing like experience I guess.

Originally Posted by Kris Kringle

Way to Go Duke at Least you Investigated and in your Investigation you will reap the financial Reward Isn't it Fun?

Yeah it does feel good! When I first cut into the stuff all I could think was '**** aluminium'! But now I'm stripping stuff that is worth $3 instead of 50 cents. Only thing is I should have caught it sooner, and not half way though the 100 feet of the stuff I stripped today! Cha-ching! Money in the bank!

I have the opposite problem and don't seem to be able to find anything on here about copper coated wire. I am not sure what is inside, could be steel, aluminum or tin??? Any suggestions, I can't take the copper off the outside, nor would I want to. Is there anyone who has seen this type of wire and scrapped it?
Happy to find this forum!

Originally Posted by BoButton

I have the opposite problem and don't seem to be able to find anything on here about copper coated wire. I am not sure what is inside, could be steel, aluminum or tin??? Any suggestions, I can't take the copper off the outside, nor would I want to. Is there anyone who has seen this type of wire and scrapped it?
Happy to find this forum!

I'd be more inclined to answer your question (of which has been answered numerous times in this forum) if you jump over to the intro section.

Copper clad aluminum. Goes as dirty aluminum at the yard I deal with.

Take IdahoScrappers advice!