"It depends on how thick the wire's insulation is..." Well, how much is too much?

I'm certain this has been asked before, but I can't find the exact answer to the question I'm asking when I search.

I asked my scrap yard what they paid for stranded copper wire with insulation still on it (since I don't have the time to strip most of it unless it a serious wad of #1). They said, "It depends on how thick the wire's insulation is. It's 75 cents a pound for mixed stranded, but $1.40 for stranded with less insulation it." I mentioned mine is all tossed together and they said if I don't separate it it, they'll only pay the mixed price.



This is sort of the opposite of what I expected to hear, but maybe what I heard from them and what I think I should have heard are the same thing, just stated different ways, I dunno. I expected to hear "It depends on how much wire is in it." In other words, the more wire, the less insulation - sort of. Generally, with more wire comes the need to add more insulation.

So how do I know how much insulation is too much?

one of the guys who buys insulated copper wire here in the buyers section has some good pictures on his webiste that kind of shows the differences in the wire types. His website is listed on his buyer page. I think its under insulated copper wire buyer.

Originally Posted by Mick

It all has to do with copper "recovery rate". The higher percentage of copper that can be gotten, the more money per pound you'll get. With it all mixed together, they'll just figure an average (the "mixed" rate).

Here in the UK - so don't take it as in US......
Bright copper wire (bare bright) £4.20 Kg ($3.00 lb)
Insulated 45 % copper £1.50 Kg ($1.07 lb) so $1.07/45% = $2.39 - the yard makes $0.62 per lb to cover granulation/separation
low grade (thin stuff or lots of insulation 25% copper £0.80 Kg ($0.57 lb) so 0.57/25%=$2.30- the yard makes $0.70 to cover gran/sep
Please remember this is at 100% separation and the lower the copper % the more waste is made
If the wire is tinned then it's classed as 98% copper (SIMMS)and is @£4.10kg($2.94lb)
So as a yard is a business a margin (after overheads) has to be returned

A way of looking at this is the better the product is the more of a premium is payed.

Anyway hope you find a way foward and please READ , SEARCH and ENJOY

british, math is good but logic is not

Originally Posted by Twisted

one of the guys who buys insulated copper wire here in the buyers section has some good pictures on his webiste that kind of shows the differences in the wire types. His website is listed on his buyer page. I think its under insulated copper wire buyer.

I've looked for this and these pictures and have found nothing so far. Link anyone?