How To Strip Copper Wire

Copper wire is a really big pain to strip. Almost always I find it to not be worth my time!

First, figure out if the type of wire you like stripping is worth cutting apart. The value of the wire depends on the copper content, and what your yard pays for that type of copper wire and stripped copper wire.

For example, my yard pays out copper #2 price for stripped wire, which is about $3.35 per pound today; But the same yard also pays up to $2 per pound for the high grade wire.

So to break even, my copper wire must have 2/3.35= 60% copper, JUST TO BREAK EVEN. So, if for example, my copper wire is 70% copper (this is only true for the high grade wire, like out of ovens and stoves.) Then, I would be making (.7-.6) * $3.35 = 34¢ per pound of copper I strip. That mean you would make very little money stripping it. 

What is Light Copper Scrap

Light Copper scrap is another way to say Copper 3. 

In other words, light copper is sheet copper, or copper sheeting. Anything with less than 1/6th of an inch of thickness is considered copper 3. 

What is Scrap Copper Three? What is Scrap Copper 3?

Copper three is sometimes referred to as "light copper" and is genrally just very thin copper. Copper that is 1/16'' or thinner is copper 3 sheeting. Copper 3 is not giver a very good price at most yards, and will usually draw about 50% new copper price. That is very low, and often times frustrating.

Check out this bost for more on Copper 2

Check this out for more on copper 1

What is scrap Copper 2? What is scrap Copper two?

Copper 2 is copper that is painted, laminated, oxidized, soldered, or very dirty. Most copper things that are classified as copper 2, can be cleaned up to be copper 1.

A very simple trick with copper pipes, is to cut the soldered joints off of them. This will classify the joints as copper 2, and the rest of the copper pipe as copper 1.

More on the rising price of copper