Selling copper is more profitable than selling other types of scrap metal.If you have access to scrap copper, you can sell it for a profit.If you know how to prepare the copper for sale, you can get the best price.Businesses and scrap yards are working with the government to catch copper thieves.If you are caught stealing copper, make sure you know the consequences.
Step 1: There are different types of copper.
There are six different categories for scrap copper.Different categories have different values.If you sort the copper yourself, you can be sure that the scrap yard is giving you the right price.If you don't, they will lump all of your copper into one pile and give you the lowest price.The copper is the most valuable.Depending on how pure the copper is, it is categorized into three grades.Dust and trimmings are included in copper.Most of the time copper wire is found in electronics.The copper that has been recovered is called copper breakage.The copper alloy is mixed with other metals.This includes both brass and bronze.
Step 2: It's a good idea to recognize copper particles.
The most valuable kind of copper is copper solids.They have pure, unalloyed copper.The copper is not mixed with any other metal.The value of copper is determined by the purity of the copper.One of the three categories is copper.There is a scrap copper number one that is not less than 16 inches thick.The bare bright copper wire is in this category.The less-valuable tin-coated copper wire can be distinguished by its reddish color all the way through.Some copper tubing can fall into this category.To be considered number one copper, the tubing must be free of solder, paint, and brass fitting.Unalloyed copper that is at least 96 percent pure is called scrap copper number two.This category includes burnt copper and copper with light tin coating, solder or brass fittings still attached, and light copper.Light copper is any copper that is less than 16 inches thick.This category includes roofing copper.It may have tar or nails on it.
Step 3: Look for copper that is non-solids.
Dust, chips and turnings are included in this category.It can be found for as little as 25 percent of the spot price of copper.If you have access to this type of copper, you should save it until you get at least 10 pounds and then melt it down into nuggets to sell it.You will need materials for melting and casting metals to melt copper dust, turnings or scraps.You need a kiln or furnace that can handle the kind of heat that comes from the melting point of copper.A potter's kiln can get hot enough to melt copper, but the oxidation process required to maintain that kind of heat will burn away a lot of the copper.It will cause a lot of damage to the kiln.Bronze casting tools and an electric or propane furnace can be used to melt copper and other non-ferrous metals.Artists melt brass and copper for sculpture, and many have posted detailed instructions for building a homemade furnace.If you want to learn how to make a furnace using an oxy-acetylene torch for welding and a disposable helium tank or empty freon tank, you can visit the Foundry Handbook.The cost to power the furnace with propane or electric will eat up half the value of copper.It might not be worth it if you don't have a reliable source of copper non-solids.When metal is melting, be careful.For your safety, have safety gear such as protection goggles or face shield, dark welding goggles, oven gloves, a large flat iron pan to put the mold on, and running cold water.
Step 4: Get rid of scrap copper wire.
Most scrap yards classify all copper wire as either high grade or low grade.High grade wire has two layers of insulation, while low grade has one.There are five grades of copper wire.85% wire is a thin wire with a diameter close to a pencil.70% wire can be found in electronics.Romex machine wire has no attachment.50% wire is found in extension cords.The wire is thinly gauged.This wire is used for communications.There are Christmas lights with 10% wire.
Step 5: Break down the scrap.
There is anything with copper winding.There are many examples of copper breaking.To get the best price for copper, you need to separate the copper from the steel.If the scrap yard lumpes the less valuable steel and copper together, you won't get as much.
Step 6: Sell the copper.
Bronze and brass are used in copper.Bronze and brass are made from copper and zinc.They are sold at the same price by scrap yards.They refer to them as scrap copper.
Step 7: Before going to the yard, you need to separate the metals.
Sort your copper by grade before you bring it to the scrap yard.Sort tubing into different categories.It will give you an idea of the value of your scrap copper.Lower prices can be found for unsorted and uncategorized lots of copper.
Step 8: To get the best price, strip insulation off copper wire.
If you are going to be selling enough copper wire on a regular basis, make sure you purchase an expensive wire stripper.If you are stripping more than 1,000 pounds of wire per month, then you should buy an electric wire stripper.If you are stripping less than 1,000 pounds per month, you don't need a wire stripper.Before buying a wire stripper, warm the wire.If you put it inside a black box, leave it in the sun.The softer the insulation, the easier it is to remove with a handheld stripping tool.It's never a good idea to burn the insulation off the wire.
Step 9: You can melt copper into nuggets.
Dust and turnings will not be purchased by scrap yards.Many sellers don't bother to save these because they are not valuable.Save these materials until you have at least 10 pounds and then use an electric or propane furnace to melt them down into nuggets.A scrap yard may give you something for the nuggets, but be prepared to accept a lower price than the market price for copper.The cost of electricity or propane may not be worth it.You should invest in the right materials for melting copper if you decide to do so.The temperature of copper is 1,981 degrees.Purchase metal casting materials that are designed to resist this kind of heat and melt copper and other non-ferrous metals.Artists use these materials to make sculpture.You can find materials for melting copper at the bronze foundry.You can use an artist's guide to build your own furnace.It's a good idea to exercise caution.Goggles, face masks, oven gloves, and running water are some of the safety gear you should have.If you use a homemade furnace, make sure to check the gas pipes for leaks.Keep all materials away from the furnace.When melting metals, be conscious of the environment.You don't have to waste gas or electricity if you use as much exhaust as possible.There is a recycling center for hazardous materials.
Step 10: There is separate copper breakage.
At a special price, some scrap yards will buy transformers and motors that contain copper.You should separate the copper to get the best value.It is too hard to cut the steel when taking apart transformers.Cut the copper.It is more flexible.Try heating transformers in a bucket over a fire.The bucket should be filled with ice water after heating.The transformers will become weak from the sudden change in temperature.It's a good idea to exercise safety precautions.You should wear goggles to protect your eyes.Gloves that are heat resistant will protect your hands.tongs can be used to handle hot pieces.
Step 11: You should research the best prices.
The latest price for high-grade copper can be found on CNBC.The daily prices for metals, including copper, can be found on other trade service websites.Market forces change the prices of commodities on a daily basis.The value of copper went from $1 to $4 per pound between 2004 and 2009.During the recession, the value dropped to about $1.50 per pound.The price went up to an all-time high in 2012 of $4.50 per pound.The price of copper has gone down.The price of copper was about $2.43 per pound in September.
Step 12: There is a scrap yard.
You can find a website like 1-800-Got Scrap.You can search by location and material on these websites.The yard is offering a price for scrap.You can find local scrap yards by looking in the phone book or on the internet.Call to find out the price.There is a good reputation for customer service at a scrap yard.Some scrap yard owners may try to take advantage of you.You can trust someone and see yourself doing more business with them.
Step 13: You can get their prices by calling.
The current value of copper will help you determine if the scrap yard is offering a fair price.You can find the one with the best price by calling several scrap yards.If you can, try to get the best price.If they don't offer you a fair price, look elsewhere.
Step 14: Do you know if they will pick up?
You can pick up your scrap at some scrap yards.They might charge you for the service.It's a good idea to compare what they're charging you with the cost of delivering it on your own.Should it be worth the price to have it picked up?
Step 15: Take your copper to the scrap yard.
You can use any vehicle you choose if you decide to deliver it yourself.If you are going to be delivering a lot of heavy loads, you should use a sturdy pickup truck.It's easy to unload a pickup bed.It might be more difficult to unload if you haul your copper in a closed vehicle.
Step 16: You should weigh your copper.
When you arrive at a scrap yard, they weigh your vehicle.A pressure-sensitive plate is used to weigh your vehicle.They weigh your vehicle after unloading copper.The scrap's weight is the difference.
Step 17: Load your vehicle.
The yard can't use a mag crane to remove copper from your truck since it's non-ferrous.The magnets on the mag crane can be used to remove iron and steel from truck beds.The scrap yard will likely use a forklift since copper is not magnetic.
Step 18: You can register your personal information.
Since copper theft has become such a problem, the government now requires the use of security systems to try to catch copper thieves.If you sell copper at a scrap yard, you will be required to register in a database that links a photo and a description of the copper you sold with your personal information.Your thumbprint is recorded.The records can be used to link sellers to copper thefts.
Step 19: Get paid
Some scrap yards will pay you with cash.If the scrap yard is participating in the government's security database system, they may not be allowed to pay you in cash.They will most likely have an automated teller machine that pays you.You can get a slip of paper from the scrap yard.The automated teller machine will give you cash if you input this into it.
Step 20: It is always reliable to find specific sources of copper.
People who sell scrap copper don't rely on luck.They rely on sources for a steady supply of copper.You might be able to set up an agreement with an appliance repair store to pick up damaged goods you know contain copper.They may be willing to allow you to recycle what would otherwise end up in a landfill.
Step 21: You can find copper wire in old electronics.
Remove wires from the outside.There is a way to remove wire from TV's and monitors.Attach your brass pile with plugs from the end.You can cut off the black boxes on the charging cables and put them in the transformer pile.You can search inside for insulated wires.There are thinner insulated copper wires in old laptops, VCR's and DVD players.To find the ribbon wire and insulated connections in the board and hard drive, take apart the desktop computer towers.Steel is often used in large appliances.Don't forget to look for copper wiring inside.Small appliances may have copper wiring inside.Cell phones, cameras, and hand-held games are good places to look for copper wire.
Step 22: Search for construction and remodeling sites.
Electricians remove electrical wire for scrap.Plumbing materials have copper and brass.Before taking copper away from a property that you don't own, make sure to check with the owner or construction supervisor.Even if you are paid to clean a demolition site, you don't have a claim to the materials you find there.
Step 23: You should look for copper in your home.
There are old statues or décor.Old garden ornaments may contain copper.Sometimes roofing material is made from copper.Environmentally friendly, roofing copper is recyclable.
Step 24: Understand the consequences of copper theft.
If you don't own the property, copper is considered theft.The value of copper increased in 2004.The United States is experiencing an epidemic of copper theft.According to the FBI, copper theft is threatening the infrastructure of the United States.Thieves are targeting electrical sub-stations, cellular towers, telephone land lines, railroads, water wells and vacant homes.There are disrupted delivery of electricity, water, telecommunications, transportation and security.This endangers public safety and national security.Businesses are taking precautions against copper theft.They are installing security cameras, securing metals in locked areas, installing alarms, limiting access to buildings and increasing lighting.The value of items stolen determines the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony.When copper thieves are caught, they are often charged with a felony.Since copper thieves can knock out traffic lights, other felony charges such as disrupting public service may be filed.