Wire Stripping

[OtusLotus]

The local scrap yard pays $3.00 for #1 copper and pays $1.00 for insulated copper wires per pound.

Does it make sense to strip ALL of the insulated wires or is there some
thickness where it is just not worth it to strip the wire?

[INTRINSICK]

Dpends on how valuable your time is to you. I strip most of my wire except for the tiny computer stuff.experiment weigh out 2 pounds then strip one and calculate.heavy insulate is better left as-is like cheap jumper cables. However when the coin show comes around they get it all.so i can stack more silver

[stlouiscoin]

I had 4.1 oz of white neutral, stripped it in probably 10 min. if that, and it weighed 3.6 oz stripped. I will continue to strip my wire.

[messymessy]

If you have lots of wire, it would be worth it to check prices elsewhere.

Some scrapyards pay much higher that $1 per pound for insulated. You want to find one that pays based on percentage of recoverable copper. Depending on wire type and size, you should be able to get $1.50 to $2.

[saltydecks]

My line is 18 AWG. Basicly, if it is 20, 22, or smaller, I toss it in a bag and don't worry with stripping it. I don't strip all 18, just depends on how much it wants to cooperate lol. 16 or larger always gets stripped.

[OtusLotus]

How do I know what size the wire is?

For example... what size wire is a typical TV plug?

[saltydecks]

that is going to be 18. If you can find some older power strips or battery backup systems that have a hot neutral ground, you might get 16 gauge out of it. I don't strip 18 and under. But that is just me, i spend my time scrapping computers and that keeps me busy.

[messymessy]

that is going to be 18. If you can find some older power strips or battery backup systems that have a hot neutral ground, you might get 16 gauge out of it. I don't strip 18 and under. But that is just me, i spend my time scrapping computers and that keeps me busy.

Where are you getting most of your computers from?