4 Things to Know About Recycling and Selling Copper Wire
Posted on: 21 April 2021
When it comes to recycling, some things are just more valuable than other things. Copper wire is one of the most valuable metals within the scrap industry. It comes in a wide range of sizes and shapes, and can easily be recycled and reused again, making it a highly sought-after resource. If you want to make some money recycling and selling copper metal back to scrap yards and recycling centers, it helps to have a little knowledge.
Copper is generally contained within a wire, which is why it is important to understand how to strip down wires for recycling.
#1: Never Burn Wire
If you have copper wires encased in insulation, you should never burn the wire to get the insulation off the wire. Burning the wire will release harmful fumes into the environment. Additionally, burning the insulation off will harm the copper as well, leaving behind a residue on the copper. This will decrease the value of the copper and reduce what someone will pay for the copper.
#2: Warm the Insulation Up
What you can do is warm the insulation up. You can put the wires in the oven on the lowest heat setting for a few minutes to get the wires to soften up. Or you can put the wires inside a black box, which will attract heat, outside in the sun to warm up the wires.
Warming up the wires will make the insulation more flexible and softer. In turn, you will have an easier time cutting the insulation off with a razor blade or a handheld stripper.
#3: Start Basic
If you just have a small amount of copper wire to strip or you are just starting the process of selling copper wire for money, start simple with your tools. To start with, you just need a nice razor blade to remove the insulation from the wires. You don't need to splurge on a wire stripping tool until you are making money with the process or you are working with over a hundred pounds of wiring each month.
#4: Always Protect Yourself
When working with copper wires, you need to protect yourself. They can be sharp and leave behind a painful cut. You should always wear thick protective gloves when collecting and cutting the wire.
If you are thinking about collecting and selling copper wire for cash, then reach out to copper wire buyers in your area to get started.
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