What to do with extra insulated wire

[75Shark]

I bought a 3 drawer file cabinet, and it arrived full of copper wire. I have about 50' of very heavy duty, flexible 4 conductor wire...but have no use for it. Is it worth anything? Should I scrap it...or just toss it in the trash?

Thanks in advance

 

[ddawg16]

Put it on CL. Depending on the gauge, could be worth $10-30

 

[Fixnair]

It definitely has scrap value. Take it to your local scrap yard & ask.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Donate it to;

[mailing address]
Rochester Maker Space
850 St. Paul St.
#23
Rochester, NY 14605

I'm sure they can make use of it. And then check out what they have going there and report back.

 

[Bobcat753]

Is it stranded? I might want it if the price is right...

 

[6768rogues]

If no one buys it, it has scrap value. Insulated wire is usually worth about half of the per pound price of bare copper, so I don't bother to strip it.

 

[600SL]

I bought a 3 drawer file cabinet, and it arrived full of copper wire. I have about 50' of very heavy duty, flexible 4 conductor wire...but have no use for it. Is it worth anything? Should I scrap it...or just toss it in the trash?

Thanks in advance

Just got $45.00 for this wire that was lying around in my way for the past 5 years.

I have the rest of my excess wire up on E-bay if it doesn't sell scrap copper is still a good deal.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261847848284?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

 

[bob15]

If no one buys it, it has scrap value. Insulated wire is usually worth about half of the per pound price of bare copper, so I don't bother to strip it.

Depends on how thick his wire is. It might be worth stripping with a razor blade.

You can also start a fire in a 55 gallon drum and then burn the insulation off.

 

[75Shark]

Is it stranded? I might want it if the price is right...

Yes, it is stranded.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Maybe strike up a trade? If you need electrician work around the home, shop, garage; do some bartering?

An idea..

Dennis

 

[75Shark]

Thanks for the ideas...I am going to look into donating to Makers, as alwaysfloored suggested.

 

[Richard Cranium]

don't burn the insulation off, around here they will not take it, if the insulation is burned off, it is illegal to burn it here...

 

[bob15]

don't burn the insulation off, around here they will not take it, if the insulation is burned off, it is illegal to burn it here...

Really? that *****.....how would you remove the windings from motor without burning them first? The ones with shellac on them.....

In CT, they don't care if it burnt or not.

 

[404]

I bought a 3 drawer file cabinet, and it arrived full of copper wire. I have about 50' of very heavy duty, flexible 4 conductor wire...but have no use for it. Is it worth anything? Should I scrap it...or just toss it in the trash?

Thanks in advance

Good extension cord for the 3 phase welder you will have one day.

 

[G_P]

What gauge is the wire? You could always make an extension cord out of it. Just because it has 4 conductors does not mean you have to use all of them.
If its big enough to make a welder extension cord, thats what I would do.

 

[mathil]

Really? that *****.....how would you remove the windings from motor without burning them first? The ones with shellac on them.....

In CT, they don't care if it burnt or not.

Some places won't give you the "clean" copper price for burnt wiring, anyways, since it's not exactly "clean".

I've found that it's simply not worth the time investment for the return.

 

[Hornman]

Here in the DFW area the authorities want the insulation left on the wire so they can identify where it came from. Several youth ball fields have had all the wire for their lights stolen, including the wire inside the light poles. Therefore, by definition any wire with the insulation burned off is "stolen" and the scrap yards will not buy it. The scrap yards have to make a copy of your picture I.D. when they buy your scrap. Too many of the scrap buyers were acting as willing "fences" for the metal theives. Since they put the new rules in place the theft of metal seems to have gone down some.

 

[thewatusi]

Some places won't give you the "clean" copper price for burnt wiring, anyways, since it's not exactly "clean".

I've found that it's simply not worth the time investment for the return.

Funny, since the wire is just going to be melted any and the weight of the carbon char is probably negligible.

 

[sberry]

Store it out of the way till you want to add a circuit. I realize not everyone has the room to keep everything though.