ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Copper prices, why so low?

# 1 Copper is supposed to be $1.50 a lb in Oakland,Ca.


In reply to post #1 20 to 30 cents a pound for insulated wire about right.

Check your pockets.....find any pennies? Ever wonder how many pennies there are in a pound?

A penny is about as clean a form of copper you're likely to see. Consider their "pound count" an upper limit on coper prices. As long as pennies are in circulation, you can be sure that scrap values will be less than the "pound count."

So how many are in a pound? 130? 150? 180? Get yourself a couple rolls, use the scale at the post office- and you'll have your answer.

"New romex is just as cheap, probably for the last 4 or 5 years that I can remember. I don't think I've seen a 250' coil of 12/2 sell for more than $20-22 in that time."

When I first read that I was like.... huh?

Then I saw the date stamp.

I hadn't realized the price has doubled in just 3 years.

Pennies have not been pure copper for a long time and since 1982 have been 97.6% zinc, and 2.4% copper.

If they where pure copper it would pay to scrap them.

[This message has been edited by iwire (edited 12-14-2005).]

The only thing pennies are good for is shot pin washers.

Here is a good link to the various grades and prices of copper. http://www.recycle.net/Metal-N/Copper/index.html
Around here right now good clean copper is going for about .90/lb.

Its $1.50/lb here. Its about 35 cents if it has the insulation on.

On Oct. 24th in San francisco, I was paid $1.34 for #1 copper and $.60 for insulated #1. Insulated Al was $.25 and #2 copper was $1.28.

steve

Collect cans from the Job Site and return them for the 5 cents per.

You will make more money.