5 Tips for Removing Insulation From Valuable Wiring

The wiring and electrical cables used in residential and commercial buildings, underground power transmission lines and other industrial sources are some of the most valuable materials to sell for scrap.

Most scrap metal companies are happy to accept insulated wire as is. However, removing the plastic and rubber insulation on the outside of the wire raises its value significantly. Handle the hard work of stripping wire the right way with these five tips.

First, don't be tempted to use the old-fashioned method of cleaning up wires by trying to burn or melt off the insulation. This method produces dangerous and toxic fumes that can result in a serious fine from the Environmental Protection Agency.

It also damages the wire itself and lowers its scrap value. While you may think that no one will know that you're melting the wire, it's obvious to an experienced scrap metal buyer—it just takes a single look. It's not worth the risk to yourself, the impact on the environment and the loss of value, especially since many buyers will pay more for insulated wire than wire that has been burned.

While you don't want to use a torch or a burn barrel to apply direct heat to the wire, it is helpful to slightly warm the insulation to make it more pliable and soft before removing it by hand or with a machine.

Just arranging your collection of cables and wires out in direct sun can speed up the stripping process tremendously. If it's not sunny or you're working in the winter when no amount of sun is enough, try placing coils of insulated wire into hot but not boiling water for a few seconds at a time.

When you're only dealing with a small amount of insulated wire at a time, it's hard to justify investing in equipment just for the occasional processing. Yet there is an easier way to remove insulation by hand than doing all the hard work with a utility knife alone.

Try a slider-style wire stripping tool that keeps the blades safely inside a bar or ball-shaped cutter. You hold the cutter with one hand and pull the wire though it with the other, keeping your fingers far away from cutting edges to prevent accidents.

Once you're dealing with more than 100 pounds of wire a month, you've got a steady enough supply to justify the purchase of at least a manual wire stripper machine. Manual strippers are powered by you pulling the wire through a set of rollers and a cutter blade or a crank that pushes the wire through.

These machines are easily found for around $50, while a completely automatic mounted model is closer to $250 to $500. Even the manual stripper speeds up processing significantly, so consider the upgrade if your supply of wire is regular, even if you don't receive much at once.

When you're starting from scratch as a scrapper, even $50 can sound like too much to spend just to make a little money. You can try creating a rig to cut wire insulation from a block of wood, a few nails and a utility knife blade screwed onto the wood. The nails act like a guide much like the rollers in a mechanical wire stripper, so you'll need to space them precisely to fit the diameter of the wire you're cutting.

You'll also need a different jig for every type and size of wire, so in the end buying a single adjustable pre-made unit is likely less work and effort. Or just save yourself the effort and bring your wire with the insulation and get a fair price from Bruce Metal & Salvage. For more information about salvaging wire, contact us today.