How To Sell Scrap Copper

This is a general overview of the steps I take when recycling or selling anything that has scrap copper.

These are 5 general types of copper that you will be getting your hands on when selling scrap metal, and all three types of scrap copper can be broken down into further sub-categories:

• Scrap Copper Solids
• Scrap Copper Non-Solids (Turnings, dust, chips, ect)
• Scrap Copper Wire
• Scrap Copper Breakage (Scrap Motors, Scrap Transformers, Scrap Copper Windings)
• Scrap Copper Alloy

Selling Scrap Copper Solids

Congratulations! You have gotten ahold of the good stuff!  Scrap copper solids, more or less, are any types of unalloyed copper.

Scrap copper solids are usually the most sought after scrap metal in our industry (Read as "Mass epidemic of Metal Theft rocks scrap metal industry.") If you stole your scrap copper, go to Hell. Otherwise, place it into one of these three categories:

• Scrap Copper #1 (Copper number one): Defined as clean copper clippings, punchings, busbars, commutator segments, tubing and wire not less than 1/16 of an inch thick. 
• Scrap Copper #2 (Copper number two): Defines as unalloyed copper solids, at least 96% copper,  and free of excessively leaded, tinned, soldered copper scrap; brasses and bronzes; excessive oil content, iron and non-metallics; copper tubing with other than copper connections or with sediment; copper wire from burning, containing insulation; hair wire; or burnt wire which is brittle.
• Scrap Copper #3 (Light Copper):  Light copper solids are, more or less, any type of copper sheeting that is less then 1/16 of an inch thick. This scrap copper is worth significantly less then copper 1 or copper 2.

Selling Scrap Copper Non-Solids

This basically covers all things like dust, chips, turning, ect. I don't feel like I need to really get into this too much, mainly because most yards have their own prices and procedures for selling those. 

Scrap Copper dust, chips, and turnings, ect are worth only as much as your scrap yard is willing to pay for them, and unfortunately, that is usually not that much in my experience. 

If you end up having more than about 10 pounds of these, I would suggest trying to melt them down into your own copper nugget to make more money. I have used propane to melt turnings down in the past. Find a method that works for you, and stick with it... If you don't think it is worth doing: Dont do it!

Selling Scrap Copper Wire

Every yard is different when it comes to insulated scrap copper wire. You may find that it is worth stripping your wire if you cant sell it for a good price, or maybe you will find that you never should strip wire... 

Scrap Copper wire can be sorted into 5 different grades:

• 85% Wire: Thin case with a diameter comparible to a pencil's. If you have this type of wire, just strip it yourself and get full copper price!
• 70% Wire: Romex/machine wire without any attachments. Found inside of any type of electronics or appliances
• 50% Wire: Extension cords and appliance cords
• 35% Wire: Thinly gauged wire with a considerable degree of attachments. "Communications wire" For example, VGA cables, telephone wires, ect. 
• 10% Wire: Christmas lights

Unfortunately, most yards do not segregate scrap wire into so many types. This will usually result in just 2 types of categories for you scrap copper wire:

• High Grade Coppe Wire: Any copper wire with a single layer of insulation.
• Low Grade Copper Wire: Any copper wire with a double layer of insulation.

Again, THESE ARE JUST GENERAL GUIDELINES! Every scrap yard is different, and will purchase scrap copper wire with their own standards, be that whatever it is. 

Selling Scrap Copper Breakage

Scrap "copper breakage" is another way of saying anything with copper winding. (See How To Scrap Copper Transformers ) 

If you have scrap electric motors, scrap starters, scrap alternators, scrap transformers, scrap inductors, scrap ballasts, or scrap power supplies you could be getting payed over 3.5x what you are getting for shred steel. 

As a general rule, if I have any type of scrap copper breakage that weighs more then 20 pounds, I will break it apart into scrap copper and scrap steel. Depending on what your yard buys, you may not even have a choice, and to get a decent price, you must disassemble! 

To pull out scrap copper winding, I cut through the winding that stick out of one end with a sawzall. Then I use a 5 point hammer and punch to hit the copper windings out of their slots. If They slide out easily, I will cut through one end of the copper winding, and then pry the winding out on the other side using a pry-bar/ crowbar. This is also one of the techniques you will need to perfect depending on your situation. 

It is different for Scrap Transformers.

Selling Scrap Copper Alloy 

The world of metallurgy revolves around the broad range of alloys that can be created from any type of metal, but you are most likely familiar to the more common scrap copper alloys: Brass and Bronze. These are effectively the same thing, as the definitions have become blended in modern culture. This has lead many scrap yards to just call this price "Copper alloy" as opposed to scrap brass or scrap bronze.  (Technically brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, or other elements.)

In the beginning of 2011, scrap copper alloy is worth about $1.75 per pound, and is increasing with the price of bullish copper.

But other then scrap bronze and scrap brass, scrap alloys also come in the shape of Cupronickel, Inconel, and Monel. These specialty alloys are worth much more, and you need to find a yard that buys them for their higher scrap values. 

One unusually Scrap copper alloy source is in Scrap Silver Plate, and Scrap Immitation Silver. These are actually cupronickel, copper, or German silver. 

Check out my other how to scrap metal guides, and Good Luck Scrapping!