How to Sell Copper (with Images)

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How to Sell Copper (with Images)
How to Sell Copper (with Images)

Video: How to Sell Copper (with Images)

Video: How to Sell Copper (with Images)
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Selling copper tends to be more profitable than selling other types of scrap metal. If you have access to it in buildings or renovations, or in places that repair electronics and appliances, sell it to earn extra money. Find out how to prepare copper for sale so you get the best price. However, be aware that junkyards in some regions are aligned with the government to catch copper thieves. See if you can legally remove metal from any location and understand the consequences of getting caught stealing.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Separating the Copper

Sell Copper Step 1
Sell Copper Step 1

Step 1. Know the different categories

Copper scrap can fall into one of six different categories, each with different values. If you sort the metal yourself, you can be sure that the place of purchase will pay the right price. Otherwise, the junkyard will likely put all the material in one pile and pay you the lowest total price.

  • Solid copper is the most valuable. It can be divided into three grades depending on purity.
  • Non-solid copper includes dust and chips.
  • Wires are often found in electronics.
  • There is also copper recovered from items such as motors and transformers.
  • The alloy is copper mixed with other metals and includes bronze and brass.
Sell Copper Step 2
Sell Copper Step 2

Step 2. Recognize solid copper

This is the most valuable type to sell and consists of pure copper, meaning that it has not been mixed with any type of metal. The purity of copper determines its value, as any alloy added to it interferes with its conductive properties. Solid copper falls into one of three categories:

  • Copper number one (honey) is pure metal that is no less than 1.58 mm thick. Bright and bare wires fall into this category. They can be separated from tin-coated wires and are less valuable by their reddish color that extends the entire length. Some copper piping may also fall into this category as long as it is free of solder, corroded, painted or brass fittings.
  • Copper number two (mixed) is defined as metal that is at least 96% pure. Pipes that fall into this category include burnt copper and copper that has been lightly coated with tin, solder or with the brass fittings still attached to it.
  • Copper number three is any sheet of this metal that is less than 1.58 mm thick. Copper used in flashings generally falls into this category. It is found on roofs and gutters and may have tarmac or nails attached to it.
Sell Copper Step 3
Sell Copper Step 3

Step 3. Identify the non-solid copper

This category includes powder, chips and perforated metal. It is generally not very valuable and may only be worth 25% of the current price of the metal. If you have access to this type, keep it until you get at least 4.5 kg or more and then melt it into pieces before trying to sell it.

  • To melt copper dust, chips and other debris, you will need tools specifically made for melting and shaping metals. The melting point of copper is 1,085 °C, so you will need an oven or furnace that can withstand this heat. A potters furnace can get hot enough to melt copper, but the oxidation process required to maintain this temperature will burn much of the metal and heavily contaminate the furnace. Look for copper casting tools and an electric or propane forge made specifically for melting this and other non-ferrous metals.
  • Artists often melt brass and copper to make sculptures, and many have created detailed tutorials for building a furnace at home. Visit the Foundry Handbook website for an example of a detailed homemade forging tutorial using an oxyacetylene welding torch and a disposable helium tank or an empty freon tank (CFC).
  • Be aware, however, that the cost of powering a furnace with propane or electricity will consume about half the value of copper. Therefore, it may not be worth investing in this process unless you have a constant and reliable source of a large amount of non-solid copper.
  • Be careful when melting metals. For your safety, wear protective equipment such as a welder's goggles or mask, soldering sunglasses, oven mitts, a large flat iron skillet to place the mold, and cold running water.
Sell Copper Step 4
Sell Copper Step 4

Step 4. Separate the copper wires

Although they can technically be divided into five grades, most junkyards classify them all as either high-grade or low-grade. The first appellation has only one layer of insulation, while the second has a double layer. The five grades of copper wire range from 85 to 10 percent.

  • The 85% thread is thin, with a diameter close to that of a pencil.
  • The 70% wire can be found inside electronics or appliances. An example is injection machine wires without attachments.
  • 50% wire is found in extension cords and in appliance wires.
  • The 35% wire is thin and has multiple attachments. It is generally used for communications over VGA cables or over telephones.
  • The 10% wire can be found in flashers.
Sell Copper Step 5
Sell Copper Step 5

Step 5. Disassemble items that have a copper coil

Transformers, motors, alternators and magnetrons are examples. Dismantle the parts to separate the copper from the steel and get the best price for the first metal. Otherwise, scrap metal will join the less valuable steel with copper, and you won't get as much.

Sell Copper Step 6
Sell Copper Step 6

Step 6. Sell copper alloys

The most common are brass and bronze, the latter technically being an alloy of copper and tin, while the former is an alloy of copper and zinc. However, junkyards combine the two and sell them for the same price. They call both copper alloy scrap.

Part 2 of 4: Preparing Copper for Sale

Sell Copper Step 7
Sell Copper Step 7

Step 1. Separate all metals before going to scrap metal

Before taking the copper to the point of sale, sort it yourself into three different classifications and put the pipes and wires into different categories. This will give you a rough idea of the total value of your copper scrap, as uncategorized lots of copper tend to be sold for lower prices.

Sell Copper Step 8
Sell Copper Step 8

Step 2. Remove wire insulation to get the best price

Before buying an expensive wire stripper, decide if you are going to sell enough and regularly to make the investment worthwhile. A good rule of thumb is that if you are stripping more than 500 pounds of wire per month, you should buy an electric stripper.

  • If you intend to peel a smaller amount than described above, you do not need to invest in a peeler.
  • If you decide not to buy the peeler, heat the wire first. Put it in the oven at a low temperature or leave it in a black box in the sun. The insulation will be softer and easier to remove with a hand tool.
  • Never burn the insulation to remove it from the wire.
Sell Copper Step 9
Sell Copper Step 9

Step 3. Melt the non-solid copper into pieces

Junkyards will not buy dust or shreds. Many sellers don't even bother to keep them as they are not valuable. If you have these materials, wait until you get at least 4.5 kg and then melt them to pieces with a propane or electric forge made specifically for melting copper and other non-ferrous metals. A junkyard can give you some cash for the pieces, but be prepared to accept up to 75% less than the market value of copper. It may not even pay the cost of electricity or propane needed to run the forge.

  • If you decide to melt copper dust and shavings to sell, invest in the right materials. This metal melts at 1085 °C. Purchase copper molding tools made specifically to withstand this heat and melt this and other non-ferrous metals. Artists often use these materials to mold bronze or copper itself into sculptures. You can find a forge and other necessary materials at a copper foundry shop, or use an artist-made tutorial like this one to make a furnace yourself.
  • Be careful. Equip yourself with items such as safety glasses, welder masks, oven mitts and running water. If using a homemade forge, carefully check all gas couplings for leaks and keep all flammable materials well away from it.
  • When melting metals, practice environmental awareness. Use as much exhaust as possible to light the flame so that you don't waste gas or electricity, and dispose of process residues at a recycling center for hazardous materials.
Sell Copper Step 10
Sell Copper Step 10

Step 4. Separate the scrap from the transformers

Some junkyards buy copper-containing transformers and motors at a special price for that category, but you should disassemble these appliances and separate the metal to get the best value.

  • When disassembling transformers, do not try to cut the steel as it is very hard. Prefer to cut copper, which is softer and more malleable.
  • Try heating transformers in a bucket over a heat source for 20 to 30 minutes. After heating, fill the bucket with ice water. The device will be very weak due to the sudden change in temperature, and it will be much easier to disassemble it.
  • Follow proper precautions. Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes, heat resistant gloves, and handle hot pieces of metal with handles to avoid touching them.
Sell Copper Step 11
Sell Copper Step 11

Step 5. Search for the best prices

Check commodity quotes on an economics website to find the latest high-grade copper value. Other sites, such as those specializing in metals or investments, list daily values for metals, including copper.

Prices for commodities like copper are affected by market forces and change every day. Between 2004 and 2009, copper rose from around US$1 to almost US$4 per pound. The value dropped sharply in 2009 during the US recession, reaching around $1.50 per pound. However, it rose in 2012 and reached an all-time high of approximately $4.50 per pound. Since then, the price has fallen. In September 2015, the average price was $2.43 per pound

Part 3 of 4: Selling Copper at a Junkyard

Sell Copper Step 12
Sell Copper Step 12

Step 1. Find a junkyard

Do an internet search using as criteria the material you are selling and the city where you are located.

  • You can also find local junkyards in a phone book. Call ahead to find out what price is offered.
  • Look for a place with a good reputation. Some owners of this type of business may try to take advantage of you. Find someone you can trust and see yourself doing more business with in the future.
Sell Copper Step 13
Sell Copper Step 13

Step 2. Call ahead for prices offered

If you have researched the current value of copper, you can assess whether scrap metal is offering a fair price. Call several establishments and find the one that offers the best price. If you can, try negotiating to get the best value. If the place does not offer a fair price, look for another one.

Sell Copper Step 14
Sell Copper Step 14

Step 3. See if the junkyard collects

Some of these places will come to pick up the scrap, but they may charge for the service. Compare what they're charging you with the cost of delivering it yourself, which includes your time and gas, and decide if the pick-up service is worth it.

Sell Copper Step 15
Sell Copper Step 15

Step 4. Take the copper to the junkyard

If you decide to deliver it yourself, you can use any vehicle you want; however, if you are going to deliver a lot of heavy loads, prefer a pickup truck, which allows you to unload quickly. If you put copper in a closed vehicle such as a car or SUV, it may be more difficult to unload it.

Sell Copper Step 16
Sell Copper Step 16

Step 5. Weigh the metal

Many junkyards weigh your loaded car using a large, accurate, pressure-sensitive scale when you arrive. After unloading the vehicle, they weigh again. The difference is the weight of your scrap.

Sell Copper Step 17
Sell Copper Step 17

Step 6. Unload the car

As copper is a non-ferrous material, the facility cannot use a magnetic crane to remove it. Other ferrous materials, such as iron and steel, can be removed from the pickup trucks by the magnet in the crane. However, since copper is not magnetic, the junkyard will likely use a forklift.

Sell Copper Step 18
Sell Copper Step 18

Step 7. Register your personal information

As copper theft has become a serious problem, your local government may require the use of security systems to catch thieves. When selling copper at one of these outlets, you may need to register in a database that links a description of the copper sold with your personal information. Authorities can review this data to link sellers to reported copper thefts.

Sell Copper Step 19
Sell Copper Step 19

Step 8. Get your money

Junkyards will pay the value obtained for the copper with cash.

Part 4 of 4: Finding Copper to Sell

Sell Copper Step 20
Sell Copper Step 20

Step 1. Locate specific copper sources that are always reliable

Most people who sell scrap copper do not rely on luck to find it, but do have sources they rely on to get a regular supply of the metal for sale. For example, you might get a deal with a local appliance repair facility to pick up damaged goods that you know contain copper. The facility may allow you to recycle what would end up in a landfill.

Sell Copper Step 21
Sell Copper Step 21

Step 2. Find copper wires inside old electronics

Cut the wires from the outside. They can be removed from TVs and monitors using scissors. Remove the tip plugs and place them in your brass pile. The little black boxes of the charging cables can be cut and placed in the stack of transformers. Look for insulated wires and connectors inside the device.

  • Thinner, insulated copper wires can be found in older notebooks, VCRs, and DVD players.
  • Disassemble the desktop computer towers to find the ribbon cables and insulated connectors on the motherboard and hard drive.
  • Larger appliances are often sold for steel, but be sure to look inside them for copper.
  • Small appliances like coffee makers, air conditioning units, fans, blenders and toasters can all have copper wires inside them.
  • Small electronics like cell phones, cameras and handheld video game consoles are good places to look for copper wire.
Sell Copper Step 22
Sell Copper Step 22

Step 3. Check locations where construction or renovation is taking place

Electricians collect electrical wires during demolitions. Plumbing materials also contain copper and brass. Always talk to the owner or a construction supervisor before removing copper from property that you do not own. Even if you're being paid to clean a place where a demolition took place, that doesn't mean you can pick up the wiring or other materials you find there.

Sell Copper Step 23
Sell Copper Step 23

Step 4. Look for copper in your home

See if you can find old statues or decorations. Garden gnomes, statues and other old garden ornaments may contain copper. Also, sometimes the materials used in roofs are made from sheets of this material, which is recyclable and more ecological.

Sell Copper Step 24
Sell Copper Step 24

Step 5. Understand the consequences of copper theft

Unless you are permitted to remove the material from property that is not yours, the act will be considered theft. Theft of this metal has been on the rise since copper began to appreciate in 2004.

  • Copper theft is a nationwide epidemic.
  • This practice threatens the infrastructure of cities as thieves attack electrical substations, cell towers, telephone lines, railway lines, wells, construction spaces and empty houses. The supply of electricity, water, telecommunications, transport, security and emergency services is disrupted, which threatens public and national security.
  • Companies are taking steps to protect themselves from copper theft by installing security cameras, storing metal in locked locations, installing alarms, limiting access to buildings and increasing lighting.
  • Often, the difference between a lesser offense and a serious offense has to do with the value of the stolen items. Because copper is so valuable, thieves are often charged with a serious crime when caught. In addition, as the theft of this material can turn off traffic lights or disrupt the functioning of emergency services, other accusations such as disrupting the functioning of public services can be made.

Notices

  • Whenever using heat or a flame to melt copper or dismantle transformers, protect yourself. Wear safety glasses and gloves.
  • Dust and vapor given off by copper can affect the body if inhaled or comes in contact with the eyes and skin. Wear protective items such as masks, gloves, and safety glasses to avoid breathing copper dust or exposing your eyes and skin to irritants.

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