Scrap Insulated Copper Wire Buying in Canada | Ohata Shoji Canada Inc.

Ohata Shoji Canada Inc. purchases scrap insulated copper wire and related electrical wire at the Ohata Shoji Canada Recycling Yard in Delta, BC, Canada. We assess your material based on copper content, conductor thickness, and cleanliness to provide an accurate quotation. Even if you are not sure of the exact type, photos (including a cut cross-section) help us confirm the grade.

Scrap Miscellaneous Insulated Wire We Buy

(coated wire, miscellaneous electric wire, electric wire, electrical materials, copper wire, VA wire (VVF cable), and discarded electric wire).

Most miscellaneous insulated wire contains copper conductors inside the plastic insulation. We purchase these materials to recover the copper and recycle it as metal.

Peel off the red coating (skin) below.

Miscellaneous wires (coated wire, miscellaneous electric wire, electric wire, copper wire, VA wire, and discarded electric wire) below.

Extract the copper. Contains copper.

Because we are buying for metal recovery, not for reuse in electrical applications, older, damaged, or cut wire is generally acceptable.

Tin-Plated And Enameled Conductors Affect Pricing

Some miscellaneous insulated wire contains copper strands that are tin-plated or enameled.

It looks like a regular three-strand wire, but...

It's actually tin-plated wire!

This type of wire will not strip down to bright, shiny copper. Similar to fine/small-gauge wire, it is typically purchased at a lower grade.

How Scrap Insulated Wire Is Recycled

We collect scrap insulated wire, export it overseas, strip it (remove the insulation), recover the copper, and recycle it as metal.

Loose loose wire collected

Loose loose wire collected at (flexible containers)

Loose loose wire collected in a container

Stripping in China

With a yard of approximately 4,300 square meters (about 1,300 tsubo), we purchase, sort, store, load, and export these materials.

What Copper Percentage Means

As noted above, the goal is copper recovery. For that reason, purchase pricing for miscellaneous insulated wire depends heavily on the copper weight percentage. This is the percentage of copper by weight contained in the wire, often called the copper percentage (or copper yield). The copper percentage can be calculated as follows:

Weight percent of copper in miscellaneous wire =

Weight of copper in miscellaneous wire ÷ Weight of miscellaneous wire × 100

For example, if a wire weighs 1,000 g (1 lb) and 450 g of copper is recovered after stripping, the copper percentage is 45%.

In general, wire intended to carry higher current tends to have thicker copper. Signal cables such as SCSI, keyboard, mouse, LAN, and USB cables typically have very thin conductors and a lower copper percentage.

How To Check Copper Percentage

To confirm copper percentage, separate the insulated wire into copper and insulation.

If you have a stripping machine, you can use it instead of a knife.

<Step 1> This time, I prepared a single wire approximately 2cm in diameter.

<Step 2> Prepare a scale, miscellaneous wire, knife, and vernier calipers. A ruler can be used as a vernier caliper.

<Step 3> Although the outer sheath has been peeled, the inner sheath must also be peeled.

<Step 4> The inner sheath is hard, so be careful not to injure yourself.

<Step 5> The inner sheath was peeled off and the sheath was separated from the copper wire.

<Step 6> The thickness of the copper wire was measured with a vernier caliper (the reason will be explained later).

<Step 7> The weight of the sheath + copper wire is 232g.

<Step 8> The weight of the copper wire alone is 190g.

Using the results above, the prepared sample (insulation + copper) weighed 232 g, and the recovered copper weighed 190 g. Substituting into the formula:

"Copper percentage" = 190g (weight of copper in miscellaneous wire) ÷ 232g (weight of miscellaneous wire) × 100

The copper percentage is approximately 81.9%. This example uses a small sample (232 g), but checking closer to 1 lb (1,000 g) typically gives a more reliable estimate.

Wire Thickness Does Not Always Indicate High Copper Content

A thicker cable does not always mean higher copper content. Some wire has a very thick insulation layer, resulting in less copper than it appears. For evaluation, please check the cut cross-section rather than relying on the outside appearance.

Reminder About Tin-Plated And Enameled Wire

Some wire contains tin-plated or enameled copper conductors.

It looks like a regular three-strand wire, but...

It's actually a tin-plated wire!

Because it does not strip down to bright copper, it is generally purchased at a lower grade, similar to fine wire.

Marine Cable With Steel Braid Is Not Accepted

Marine wire (marine cable, cable with steel wire sheath) is wrapped in wire mesh to help prevent rodent damage. Because copper content is low and stripping is difficult, we do not purchase this material.

Marine Wires with Iron Wires (Marine Cables)

Due to the presence of the wire mesh, the insulation cannot be stripped even with a wire stripper.

Wire Containing Internal Steel Strands Is Not Accepted

Some cable contains steel wires running alongside the copper conductors. Because copper content is low and stripping is difficult, we do not purchase this material. Using a stripper can also damage blades due to the internal steel wires.

Conductor Diameter After Stripping Impacts Value

Even with the same copper percentage, pricing can vary depending on whether the recovered copper is thick enough to be graded as bright copper, or too thin and treated as a lower grade. In general, copper that qualifies as bright copper is purchased at a higher value.

This is "Bright Copper Wire (Premium Grade 1 Copper Wire, Bright Copper)"

To be considered bright copper wire, its thickness (cross-sectional diameter) must be at least 1.3 mm.

They are similar wires, but...

The thickness of the copper wire is completely different.

After stripping, this wire becomes bright copper wire (→ expensive).

This wire is very thin, so it cannot be made into bright copper wire (→ cheap).

In addition to copper percentage, conductor thickness after stripping is an important factor.

Purchase pricing for miscellaneous insulated copper wire is mainly affected by two factors. Other considerations include whether the recovered copper has any remaining coating, enamel layer, oil contamination, age-related darkening, or mixed materials such as paper. Please also refer to information on bright copper (Premium Grade 1 copper wire, bright copper wire).

Inquiries And Purchasing For Miscellaneous Wire

Purchase prices change with the copper market, so please contact us for a current quote before bringing in your material. When inquiring, please share the wire type, estimated copper percentage, and the conductor thickness you can obtain after stripping. If you email us, attaching clear photos (including a cut cross-section) is very helpful, and a ruler for scale is recommended.

Sorting Wire By Type Helps Maintain Value

Sorting by type helps protect your pricing. For example, mixing higher copper-percentage wire with lower copper-percentage household outlet wire can reduce the overall grade. That said, sorting takes time and labour, so it is your decision. We can still purchase material even if it is not sorted.

Remove Non-Wire Attachments Before Delivery

Items other than cable, such as a mouse body, numeric keypad, or AC adapter, are not considered scrap wire.

What to remove: Mouse part of a mouse

What to remove: AC adapter part of an AC adapter

If these items are included, the purchase price will be reduced, so please remove them in advance.

Very Low Copper-Content Wire May Not Be Purchasable

One example is TV antenna wire shown below. As you can see from the cross-section, there is very little copper.

TV antenna wire connector (coaxial cable)

Very little copper

If copper content is extremely low, the processing cost to recover copper can exceed the recoverable value. In those cases, we may not be able to purchase the material.

Buying VA Wire And VVF Cable

VA wire (VVF cable) is a flat, vinyl-sheathed cable commonly used for indoor electrical work.

It is typically gray.

A Block of VA Wire

Colorful VA Wire

There is also VA wire that is not gray.

Typical copper percentage is about 38% for 2-core and about 42% for 3-core, and it is often handled as approximately 40% copper content.

The outer vinyl jacket is relatively easy to peel, but VA wire is commonly delivered as insulated wire.

We treat VA wire as 42% and price it as VA wire.

It is also called F cable, VVF (flat), or VVR (round).

★ Tips for bringing in VA wire

Please remove dust and attachments other than the cable itself.

Also, please take care not to mix it with other miscellaneous insulated wire with different copper content. If mixed, the price may be adjusted to the same level as other wire around the 40% range.

Wire Harnesses And Similar Insulated Wire

Wire harnesses (cable harnesses), such as signal wire assemblies found in vehicles, are also handled as miscellaneous insulated wire. Harnesses with copper conductors are purchased as miscellaneous wire.

Harness (Automobile Dismantling Line)

Also called wire harnesses (cable harnesses)

Please remove attachments other than the harness (fuse boxes, meters, etc.).

Examples of harness attachments

Examples of harness attachments

Examples of harness attachments

If the harness includes these attachments (contamination), the value will be reduced. Small connectors at the ends of harnesses are acceptable.

Small harness socket

Many suppliers of harnesses are involved in auto dismantling. We also purchase other automotive scrap, including alternators, starter motors, compressors, radiators, aluminum wheels, and car batteries. If you have these items, please bring them in together.