Copper
Sell surplus bare and insulated copper wire in Kentucky
Bare copper, grounding conductors and welding cable are the simplest things to value, because almost all of the value is in the metal. The questions are how clean it is, what gauge it is, and how much of it there is.
- Bare copper grounding conductor in #6 through 4/0, solid and stranded.
- Bare copper neutral and bonding jumpers in coil and spool form.
- Insulated copper building wire that is surplus to a project, still on the reel.
- Welding cable in 2/0 and 4/0, neoprene jacketed, on 250 ft and 500 ft spools.
- Diesel locomotive and mining cable where the copper is clean and the jacket is intact.
- Tinned copper braid and grounding strap from switchgear and substation work.
Manufactured wire, not mixed scrap
There is an important difference between surplus wire and general scrap. A reel of 4/0 bare copper with a manufacturer tag is a product that another contractor can install. A tangle of mixed cutoffs is scrap, and it is priced and handled differently. We buy the first category, and we will tell you honestly when a lot belongs in the second.
That distinction matters most with insulated copper. Clean, identified THHN or XHHW on a reel keeps its identity and its value. Once several sizes and colors are stripped and mixed together, the only thing left to price is the metal content.
| Material | What we need to know |
|---|---|
| Bare copper conductor | Gauge, strand count, whether it is tinned, coil weight |
| Grounding wire | Gauge, solid or stranded, jacket color if insulated |
| Welding cable | Gauge, jacket condition, length per spool |
| Insulated copper | Insulation type, size, footage remaining |
| Braid and strap | Width, thickness, whether it is tinned |
Where it comes from
Substation and switchyard work, plant grounding upgrades, and welding shops that standardize on one cable size all produce predictable copper surplus. Kentucky utilities, industrial maintenance contractors and fabrication shops are the usual sources, and the lots are often small enough to fit on a single pallet.
Questions about bare and insulated copper
Do you buy stripped copper wire?
We buy surplus wire and cable as a product, not stripped copper as a commodity. If a lot has already been stripped, tell us and we will point you to the right kind of buyer.
How is welding cable priced?
On the copper gauge, the length on the spool and the condition of the neoprene jacket. A 4/0 spool with a clean jacket is straightforward; a spool with cracked insulation and exposed conductor is not.
Can you take bare copper with no documentation?
Yes, if the gauge can be identified and the lot is clean. A photo with a tape measure across the conductor helps confirm the size.
Sell your bare and insulated copper
Give us the size, the footage and a photo of the tag. We reply with an offer or one clarifying question.
Ready to move it out of the crib?
Tell us where the material is and how it loads. We will arrange pickup once the offer is agreed.