Whats the difference between number 1 and number 2 copper

As one of the most valuable metals, copper has an infinitely recyclable life, whether used or reused in computers, construction, motors, or industrial machinery. Besides, copper scrap collectors and dealers find this metal a great deal, although prices vary due to differences in grades. So, what sets copper grades apart?

Table of Contents Show

GRADES OF COPPER SCRAP
#1 INSULATED WIRE
#2 INSULATED WIRE
BARE BRIGHT COPPER
KEY TAKEAWAY
#1 and #2 insulated wire question
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What is the difference between copper 1 and copper 2 scrap?
What is considered number 2 copper?
What is #1 copper used for?

GRADES OF COPPER SCRAP

#1 INSULATED WIRE

#1 insulated wire includes clean, unalloyed, untinned, and uncoated copper wires or cables often insulated with plastic. However, insulation isn’t always stripped, but if there were any, the scrap should resemble a bright and shiny copper wire with 16-gauge thickness.

#2 INSULATED WIRE

This copper grade features unalloyed wire, thinner than 16 gauge, and consists of heavy, plastic, or double insulation. It is a standard grade used in most telecommunication wiring and electronics, such as extension codes. Some coatings such as nickel and other degrees of corrosion on the copper wire can meet this classification.

BARE BRIGHT COPPER

This is the most valuable copper castoff metal among scrap dealers because it is a high-paying grade. Bare bright copper is uncoated, unalloyed, bare wire or cable, no more than 16 gauge in thickness. It is quickly classified as a #1 copper quality scrap if it lacks paint or impurities without copper piping.

#1 COPPER

#1 Copper is the second most profitable scrap of copper , comprising clippings, bus bars, and wire with at least 1/16th inch diameter. To be categorized as #1 Copper, the wire should be sparkling in appearance, uncoated and unalloyed. Clean copper tubing is an example of # Copper grade as it is free against fittings, paint, solder, and other materials.

#2 COPPER

This is characterized by miscellaneous, unalloyed wire or solid metal with solder or other coatings such as paint. #2 Copper includes dirty copper metal with a 94-96% copper composition and should be uninsulated and with a 16th-inch diameter.

KEY TAKEAWAY

All in all, recycling centers and scrap dealerships classify copper junk, which determines each category’s price. Having a better understanding of different grades helps you understand how much you’re likely to profit from your recyclable copper metal. For more information, contact Scrap Mart Metals to learn more today at (636) 256-7400.

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#1 and #2 insulated wire question

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08-01-2011, 01:58 PM #1
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#1 and #2 insulated wire question
Hey, tough to search for this question as the only answer i get is #1 is not smaller then 16 guage.
Say i have two peices of wire with the copper portion sized at 12 guage. Difference being one is solid core and the other is stranded wire obviously smaller than 16 guage. Would that make the stranded #2 as the strands are smaller than 16 guage?
Thanks for the help!
08-01-2011, 01:58 PM

08-01-2011, 02:05 PM #2
#1 Copper is stripped wire that is bigger than a #2 pencil lead. Stranded goes by the size of the individual strands.
People may laugh at me, but that's ok. I laugh all the way to the bank.
08-01-2011, 02:56 PM #3
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I think something that would answer alot of questions for many people is if someone posted some pics of #1 and #2 wire especially wire that just barely meets the criteria
08-01-2011, 02:58 PM #4
if you don't know the size of #2 pencil lead you better go buy one and find out !!
08-01-2011, 03:02 PM #5
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Originally Posted by Mick
#1 Copper is stripped wire that is bigger than a #2 pencil lead. Stranded goes by the size of the individual strands.
Thanks Mick.
Was in the processes of trying to by some wire and the seller insisted it was number one. Now i know for certain it was number 2.
08-01-2011, 03:04 PM #6

To me wire is wire. A pound of thin stranded is the same to me as a pound of thick solid. Why the difference? Is there a loss when melting the smaller stuff?
If no one knows, that's okay. Just something I've wondered for awhile and finally asked.
08-01-2011, 03:09 PM #7
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Originally Posted by gueroinchicago
I think something that would answer alot of questions for many people is if someone posted some pics of #1 and #2 wire especially wire that just barely meets the criteria
Im in the process of grading all the wire I get right now by copper content. When I get a significant variety and the percentages caclulated for each wire i'll post some pics up and their percentages. So you can basically match up the type of wire and know that, that wire is 56% copper weight, 38% copper weight etc. Makes buying wire much easier for those that do.
08-01-2011, 03:09 PM #8
just another way for the scrap yards to make money...I'm sure they claim that the smaller it is, the harder it is for them to handle or some such malarky.
linc, I apologize, I didn't notice that you had not read Mick's post yet, when I posted, but there are other threads that address this ,too. Mick wrote an especially good one for beginners, if you haven't read that yet, you would enjoy it.
08-01-2011, 03:12 PM #9
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Dee: I don't know if your response was directed at me, I for one do know the difference between #1 and #2, I simply thought that with the number of people that have asked this question it would answer the question for those that want to see an example rather than comparing it to a pencil. I did a basic search for "pics of #1 wire" and found nothing. Seems to me this would answer the question for all those people who don't know any better. No reason to respond with the idea that one doesn't know the size of a #2 pencil. Who knows maybe your having a bad day.
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08-01-2011, 03:19 PM #10
It's all dumb. ALL the copper my yard gets goes into the same gaylord.......whether it's wire, piping, pots.....whatever. They do do that just so they ca make more money. I don't complain cuz my yard has good prices to begin with.
08-01-2011, 03:26 PM #11
I'm not having a bad day, I'm always like this ! lol sorry g, you are right....I shouldn't be so snappy...it just sometimes seems like some people don't want to do any homework. Experienced electronic people prob feel that way about me when I keep asking them to make a picture and show me EXACTLY what you need to short out so that you don't get "hossmatized" !!
08-01-2011, 03:51 PM #12
lol hossmatized. I need to get off the computer and go work on a load of scrap.
08-01-2011, 03:53 PM #13
If you want to get really technical, here is the ISRI site for metal specifications. I think the #2 pencil lead guideline is also from ISRI and used by many scrap yards.
http://www.indianmetals.com/categori...opperspec.html
08-01-2011, 03:56 PM #14
Oh, and for those who don't know and wonder, ISRI stands for Institute of Scrap Recyclers, Inc.
08-04-2011, 09:50 PM #15
Link, it may help you to know the difference between, by and buy, if you plan on making it in the biz.!
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no taxes, no debt, women did all the work.
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08-04-2011, 10:59 PM #16
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Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper
To me wire is wire. A pound of thin stranded is the same to me as a pound of thick solid. Why the difference? Is there a loss when melting the smaller stuff?
If no one knows, that's okay. Just something I've wondered for awhile and finally asked.
I agree with you IdahoScrapper. Until someone explains why there's a difference, I think it's BS.
"If only I had known then, what I know now."
08-05-2011, 02:41 AM #17
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I asked a couple of things at my local yard yesterday and was disappointed to hear that most of my wire is brazier and only worth the same as if I had burned it. It's the stuff out of the yoke on the back of a tv. He said that the wire in the cable in the back of a tv that looks bright to me is probably the same.
08-05-2011, 04:49 AM #18
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Originally Posted by Mick
If you want to get really technical, the "#2" refers to the hardness of the pencil lead, not its thickness. (And yeah, it's not lead either, it's graphite.)
08-08-2011, 08:05 AM #19

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If you want to get really technical, the "#2" refers to the hardness of the pencil lead, not its thickness. (And yeah, it's not lead either, it's graphite.)
It used to be lead one time. lol
A reply to a post I made earlier:
Strip the wire if it still has tin coating then it is number #2 no matter the gauge. #1 scrap copper wire is based on many variables including: 8 Gauge or heavier?, Is each individual strand as thick as a pencil lead / hanger? If so #1 unless tin coated or shelaq example some welding & mtw wire have this coating which is similiar to the coating that is used in electric motor winding.
Avg #1 copper wire includes:
Stripped or Jacket Removed Romex / Houswire, with the jacket removed some call this spaghetti wire which is considered a single pencil lead wire that bends and stays bent "Stiff"
THHN 250 - 700 MCM
THHN 1 - 3 "O"
Some THWN in thick gauges
etc etc.
Whats THHN, THWN, MTW?
THHN is a hard plastic insulated wire, THWN is a soft rubber type insulatiom, MTW "Machine & Tooling Wire"
MCM has a hard plastic insulation MCM is what you see on powerlines.
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What is the difference between copper 1 and copper 2 scrap?

Scrap Copper Tubing #2 Scrap copper #2 tubing is different than copper number one tubing in a many ways. The most noticeable difference between the two classifications of scrap copper is that copper #2 tubing does not have a shiny look to it.

What is considered number 2 copper?

#2 Copper. This grade of copper can be identified by its somewhat dirty appearance. It should be comprised of miscellaneous unalloyed wire, pipe or solid metal that continues to have solder, paint or any kind of coating on it. Additionally, its minimum copper content should be 94-96%.

What is #1 copper used for?

#1 Copper. The second most profitable grade is #1 copper. Copper under this category is similar to bare bright copper but has traces of oxidation. Scrap materials in this grade include bus bars, clippings and clean copper tubing free of fittings, insulation, paint and solder.