Why Use a Scrap Metal Copper Wire Stripping Yield Calculator?
Scrap metal recycling can be a highly lucrative side hustle, but deciding whether to spend time stripping plastic insulation off copper wires or selling them unstripped requires crunching the numbers. This calculator helps scrappers instantly compare unstripped payouts versus stripped bare bright copper yields.
How Copper Wire Recovery Yields Work
Different types of insulated wire carry varying ratios of copper metal to plastic shielding (jacket). For example, heavy Romex house wire and THHN electrical wires generally yield 75% to 80% pure copper by weight, whereas thinner communication cables or extension cords contain much higher percentages of rubber and plastic insulation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Romex (NM-B) house electrical wire typically yields around 80% pure copper after stripping away the outer paper and plastic sheathing.
It depends on your wire volume and hourly value. Thick THHN or Romex wires provide huge profit boosts per pound when stripped, whereas thin electronics or data cables take too long for minimal return.
Bare Bright copper (often called #1 Bare Bright) consists of unalloyed, uncoated copper wire or cable free of tinned coating, paint, or insulation, commanding the highest scrap yard payout rates.
Scrap yards grade insulated wire based on its copper recovery percentage—usually categorized as #1 Insulated, #2 Insulated, or communications wire with lower recovery rates.
Bench-mounted manual or motorized wire stripping machines are the fastest tools for processing large quantities of thick electrical wire without hand fatigue.