What do with left over wire from from electrical jobs?

[Banjorear]

Hey All:

Curious what I could do with the left over wire from various electrical jobs I've done throughout the years? I have a large milk crateful of various gauge wire. Still have a lot of long runs left.

Examples are various gauge grounding cables, 12 & 14 gauge black, white and green wire. Some Romex and armored.

It's not stripped, so it would be dirty scrap which isn't worth my time.

I've hauled it to my second home and I don't see me using anytime soon. I'd like to give it to some instead of throwing it out.

Curious what you'd do with it.

Thanks,

Tim

 

[The Cobbler]

do you have a Habitat for Humanity in your area? they might take it

 

[Banjorear]

do you have a Habitat for Humanity in your area? they might take it

Hmmm. Interesting idea.

 

[reader2580]

My local Habitat Restore only take new electrical materials now. I'm not sure if it is a liability issue, or if people just don't buy the old stuff. I suspect it might be because they don't want customers buying old electrical materials that don't meet code.

I have a brand new stick of PVC schedule 80 2-1/2" conduit with two feet cut off. I might see if they will take that as no chance I will use it any time soon.

 

[didit]

I use my scrap 14 or heavier for hanging parts to spray paint. Quite a bit is sometimes needed to keep pieces from twisting or moving while spraying.

 

[Zmann]

be careful who you give it to
unscrupulous folks will pollute the environment burning the insulation off

 

[wyliesdiesels]

My local Habitat Restore only take new electrical materials now. I'm not sure if it is a liability issue, or if people just don't buy the old stuff. I suspect it might be because they don't want customers buying old electrical materials that don't meet code.

I have a brand new stick of PVC schedule 80 2-1/2" conduit with two feet cut off. I might see if they will take that as no chance I will use it any time soon.

If the Romex is stamped NM-b then its not old and meets current code.

 

[reader2580]

If the Romex is stamped NM-b then its not old and meets current code.

I am thinking more about people donating old receptacles that are not tamper proof and so on. I have not asked why they only take new electrical materials.

 

[nadogail]

If the Romex is stamped NM-b then its not old and meets current code.

If it is stamped NM-b, it is not ROMEX.

Romex, if I recall correctly, was not insulated with thermoplastic. I guess may age is showing.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

If it is stamped NM-b, it is not ROMEX.

huh? Romex is a southwire brand of type NM-b cable...

 

[rannoch]

I always check for leftover runs of 12-2 at my local Restore. Makes it real easy to add outlets in the pole barn.

 

[Negen]

Electromagnetic for magnet fishing.

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[acer66]

Donate what can be donated , ask around, recycle it or keep it for the upcoming projects.

 

[HenryAZ]

You know as soon as you get rid of it you will find a need for some of what you gave away.

I still have a plastic tote full of automobile wire left over from an FJ-40 project (mostly GXL, and heavier stuff for battery cables). I keep my crimp terminals in there too. I also keep old "romex", though I don't have nearly the quantity you do. I often strip the shorter pieces down to bare copper wires and use them for various things, like heavy duty twist ties, securing things, etc. I have also on occasion needed some "romex" for running a previously unplanned new circuit, so having a longer left over coil on hand is useful. Bare 6AWG ground wire makes nice hooks for reaching things, like my garage door disengage hole (I removed the red handled rope things as a theft protection method).

Habitat Restore in our town has short coils of old "romex", so at least our store would take it.

 

[acer66]

View media item 107740

 

[engineer2]

I keep scraps in a tote in the basement. Comes in handy for small projects or pigtails. I recently added a new garage fridge outlet and found some 10 ft pieces that were perfect for the job.
Anything short or gnarly goes to the curb for scrappers. I have some leftover #6 and #8 in decent lengths. I may try to sell it on CL, but not sure if anyone would buy it.

 

[lilredex]

Short pieces are good for securing coils of pressure washer hoses, air hoses and electrical extensions put away for the winter, or longer. When you run out of ball bungees....

 

[Ilikeike]

Since your time is valuable, seems like just having it picked up or dropped off at a recyclers would be the least time consuming thing you could do.

Almost 24 hrs have past since this post originated and still thinking about it, how long does it take to toss it in the garbage or take to a local recycle place ?

heck, put out on the curb, there has to be some tweakers in Essex county that will pick it up. times a wasting..

 

[Banjorear]

Since your time is valuable, seems like just having it picked up or dropped off at a recyclers would be the least time consuming thing you could do.

Almost 24 hrs have past since this post originated and still thinking about it, how long does it take to toss it in the garbage or take to a local recycle place ?

heck, put out on the curb, there has to be some tweakers in Essex county that will pick it up. times a wasting..

Haha. Yes, so true. Since I posted this, I've pulled about some short runs and taped them into nice neat coils. At the end of the week, I'll be going by a scrap yard and I'll stop and drop off the rest. If I get $10 out of it I'll be happy.

I was hoping to donate it, but I can see why there would be some liability for someone to use it.

 

[penright]

Just curious about taking wire to recyclers. Do you have to strip it?
How much to make worth it to them? In other words, I am not worried about making any money, just hate wasting and I drive past one every so often otherwise, I assume, it would not be worth the gas. Just don't want to be embarrassed when I take a small amount in.

Right now I have about I half of a 5 gal bucket full of pieces that I cut hanging out of the box after a pull.

I did use some last year to hang reefs outside for Christmas.

 

[nadogail]

Unless my memory is faulty, Romex cable was not plastic insulated, but had rubber and fabric insulation.

Sometimes my memory and age trips me up

 

[BFBOB]

Wire recyclers will (at least around here) buy any kind of copper wire except: computer ribbon cable, Coaxial cable.
The plastic:copper ratio of the ribbon cable is so high it actually has negative value. Takes more energy to strip than the copper is worth.
Co-ax sometimes has a center conducter that is copper-clad steel. Again, negative value.

Depending on the design details, it can be worthwhile to strip the shield out of coax - but only if it's all copper.

 

[BFBOB]

Wire recyclers will (at least around here) buy any kind of copper wire except: computer ribbon cable, Coaxial cable.
The plastic:copper ratio of the ribbon cable is so high it actually has negative value. Takes more energy to strip than the copper is worth.
Co-ax sometimes has a center conducter that is copper-clad steel. Again, negative value.

Depending on the design details, it can be worthwhile to strip the shield out of coax - but only if it's all copper.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Wire recyclers will (at least around here) buy any kind of copper wire except: computer ribbon cable, Coaxial cable.
The plastic:copper ratio of the ribbon cable is so high it actually has negative value. Takes more energy to strip than the copper is worth.
Co-ax sometimes has a center conducter that is copper-clad steel. Again, negative value.

Depending on the design details, it can be worthwhile to strip the shield out of coax - but only if it's all copper.

The only coax that will have a copper braid is rg58 and rg59 which is for microwave radio and analog CCTV respectively. On and T3 circuits which are rare nowadays.

RG6 used for cable TV and cable modems has a steel mesh braid for the shield.

 

[Don1357]

Unless my memory is faulty, Romex cable was not plastic insulated, but had rubber and fabric insulation.

Sometimes my memory and age trips me up

Nowadays to most people Romex cable just means wiring electrical cable. If you are talking about "Romex" cable, you have to specify you are not just talking about Romex cable. Glad I was able to clear that up

OP: to me copper cable is tie-down cable. I use it on my raspberries and grapes to tie them to the trellis, use it on my apples and other fruit trees to help shape them (pulling branches on this direction or another), tie down bundles of cords, hangers for painting stuff, etc ad nausea. The stuff is super handy.

 

[Banjorear]

Called my local recycler. They are giving $0.74 a lb for non-stripped wire. Stripped is $2.49 a lb.

 

[Bsimster]

Called my local recycler. They are giving $0.74 a lb for non-stripped wire. Stripped is $2.49 a lb.

Im in this joyful place of essex County myself. What recycler did you reach out to?

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[Banjorear]

Im in this joyful place of essex County myself. What recycler did you reach out to?

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Haha. Rockaway recycling.

 

[Bsimster]

I've always used Dabal in Garfield. Good guys there, not sure what their current rates are off hand. Drive in on the scale, dump, re-weight and get cash with a receipt.

Although I'm in the process of rebuilding my garage myself if you're interested in donating to the cause.... I can make a little plaque for you to hang on my wall too if you would like

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[TractorJeff]

You don't have to strip it. As mentioned, they call it dirty wire because it still has insulation on it. I sort everything and go once a year, preferably before Thanksgiving. Aluminum (Sheet/Cast), Brass (Yellow/Red), Copper (Wire (Light, Heavy)/Plumbing (Clean, Dirty), Motors, Steel and Tin all separated. I try to go to a bigger Yard as the prices are better than the Local Recycler.

 

[engineer2]

If you want to remove insulation from THHN, smashing it with a hammer will split the insulation and it will come right off.

 

[bighouse01]

Give to a school with an electrical program.

 

[Banjorear]

I've always used Dabal in Garfield. Good guys there, not sure what their current rates are off hand. Drive in on the scale, dump, re-weight and get cash with a receipt.

Although I'm in the process of rebuilding my garage myself if you're interested in donating to the cause.... I can make a little plaque for you to hang on my wall too if you would like

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Ahhh. I just scrapped it on Sat. I would have certainly given it to you. I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier.

 

[Bsimster]

Ahhh. I just scrapped it on Sat. I would have certainly given it to you. I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier.

Yea yea whatever bro.... So much for Jersey guys sticking together [emoji849][emoji849]

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[Banjorear]

Yea yea whatever bro.... So much for Jersey guys sticking together [emoji849][emoji849]

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Haha.

 

[Copymutt]

+- 6’ lengths of 2 or 3 conductor are a poor mans bungee cord. Have a couple on my small trailer for 10 yr. Come in handy. Unlike the ones you pay for the sun doesn't destroy them.

 

[liliysdad]

be careful who you give it to
unscrupulous folks will pollute the environment burning the insulation off

If I spent all my time worrying about what other folks might do, I would never get anything done.

 

[Bsimster]

If I spent all my time worrying about what other folks might do, I would never get anything done.

Facts. And i can dam near promise someone melting 150 linear feet of wire will not make much of a difference verses what India and China do lmaoo

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[Citation]

Use the wire to make wrench organizers for your tool box.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6257263&postcount=16

 

[alfazer]

Good for making anti-bird spikes. Stops them nesting in the eaves, soffits.