Copper Recovery from Cables: Profitability, Auction Link, YKY 5x16 Cable, 1mb=1kg, Copper Weight

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Is it profitable to buy YKY 5x16 cable, strip it, and sell the recovered copper scrap, and how much copper would be in one meter?

No, the thread’s answer is that stripping this cable is not profitable: at about PLN 21.90 per meter, you would end up with only about 0.7 kg of copper after stripping, so the copper would need to be worth around PLN 30 per kg just to make it worthwhile [#5717465] Another reply says that even with easier methods than manually peeling the cable, there still won’t be profit and you may even have to pay extra for the operation [#5717549] If you want copper for scrap, the better sources mentioned are old transformers, motors, and especially starter electromagnets, which are easier to dismantle and contain relatively more copper [#5717566][#5717633]

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#31 12812697 05 Oct 2013 21:38

pawello54 pawello54

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Post #31
12812697 05 Oct 2013 21:38

the density of copper is 8950 kg/m3, the surface area of the conductor is 70 mm2, the height is 1000 mm, which would give 70,000 mm3 multiplied. 1 m 3 is 1,000,000,000 mm3 and weighs 8,950 kg is 70,000 mm3 weigh x? I graduated from technical school there. That's all reduced to 0.6265 kg. please correct me if i'm wrong.
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#32 12812727 05 Oct 2013 21:50

Anonymous Anonymous

Anonymous

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Post #32
12812727 05 Oct 2013 21:50

Futrzaczek wrote:

DJ Max wrote:

You can get used to plucking cables, find a technique and, above all, a place for this work ... Oh, and you need thick gloves and a knife.

But why?
I put the cable scraps in the oven, mix it with some balls of paper and ignite it. The boiler (120l) is heated up and even faster. The fire is also good. I tried to pluck cables once, but it's not on my nerves...

This is probably a moderately good idea considering the current state of the environment. You can get fine too Picking with good tactics is acceptable, but you need to be persistent and have the right tools.
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#33 12813287 06 Oct 2013 02:36

DJ MHz DJ MHz

Level 26

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Post #33
12813287 06 Oct 2013 02:36

China doesn't care
#34 12813894 06 Oct 2013 11:46

c4r0 c4r0

Level 36

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Post #34
12813894 06 Oct 2013 11:46

pawello54 wrote:
the density of copper is 8950 kg/m3, the surface area of the conductor is 70 mm2, the height is 1000 mm, which would give 70,000 mm3 multiplied. 1 m 3 is 1,000,000,000 mm3 and weighs 8,950 kg is 70,000 mm3 weigh x? I graduated from technical school there. That's all reduced to 0.6265 kg. please correct me if i'm wrong.

I'm not a super electrician, but doesn't this cable designation mean 3x120mm²+1x70mm²? Then you have 430mm². You convert to meters, so you divide by 1,000,000, then you multiply by 1m, and you have volume, which you multiply by density. It comes out to less than 4 kg per running meter.
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around the profitability of recovering copper from YKY 5x16 cables, as referenced in an auction link. Participants analyze the cost of the cable, which is priced at PLN 21.90 per meter, and estimate that stripping the insulation yields approximately 0.7 kg of copper per meter. For profitability, the selling price of copper would need to exceed PLN 30 per kg. Various methods of copper recovery are discussed, including stripping cables and dismantling old transformers or motors, with some participants expressing skepticism about the effort versus profit ratio. The conversation also touches on alternative sources of copper and the challenges associated with the recovery process.

FAQ

TL;DR: Stripping a YKY 5×16 cable yields about 0.7 kg of clean copper per metre (≈70 % metal) [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #5717465]; "it would have to cost around PLN 30 / kg to make it worthwhile" [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #5717465]

Quick Facts

• YKY 5×16 mass: 1 kg / m, copper ≈0.7 kg (insulation ≈30 %) [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #5717465] • PFSP 3×120/70 mm² contains ≈4 kg copper per metre [Elektroda, c4r0, post #12813894] • Bare bright copper scrap price in Poland: PLN 22–29 /kg ("Polish Scrap Price List 2023"). • Burnt copper is typically discounted by ~10 % [Elektroda, DJ Max, post #5722201] • Copper density: 8.96 g/cm³ (MatWeb).

How much copper is inside one metre of YKY 5×16 cable?

The cable has five conductors, each 16 mm². Total cross-section = 80 mm². Volume per metre = 80 cm³. Multiplying by copper density 8.96 g/cm³ gives ≈716 g, rounded to 0.7 kg [Elektroda, Anonymous, #5717465; MatWeb].

Is buying YKY 5×16 at PLN 21.90 / m profitable for scrap?

No. Copper value: 0.7 kg × PLN 25 ≈ PLN 17.5. Purchase cost: PLN 21.9. You lose about PLN 4.4 per metre before labour [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #5717465]

What percentage of a power-cable’s weight is insulation?

Typical power cables show 25–35 % insulation by mass. YKY 5×16 sits near the high end with about 30 % plastic sheath [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #5717465]

How much copper is in PFSP 1 kV 3×120/70 mm²?

Designation means 3 × 120 mm² phase plus 1 × 70 mm² neutral → 430 mm² total. Volume per metre = 430 cm³. Mass = 430 cm³ × 8.96 g/cm³ ≈ 3.85 kg copper per metre [Elektroda, c4r0, #12813894; MatWeb].

Where can I harvest copper more easily than from cables?

Starter electromagnets and refrigerator-compressor motors contain larger, loosely wound coils that pull out fast [Elektroda, Anonymous, #5717633; DJ MHz, #5721832]. A single starter yields up to 0.4 kg copper—four times a metre of YKY 5×16.

Which is faster: knife-stripping or burning insulation, and how does it affect price?

Burning is faster for mixed off-cuts, but scrap yards often dock ~10 % for charred wire [Elektroda, DJ Max, post #5722201] Knife-strip 20 m to "get used to it" and keep full price [Elektroda, DJ Max, post #5722201]

Do all scrap yards pay less for burnt copper?

Most do; some smaller yards only separate ‘fine’ and ‘coarse’ scrap [Elektroda, Futrzaczek, post #5723386] Call ahead—policies vary and surprise downgrades erase profit.

How can I strip thick cable safely at home?

Score the outer sheath length-wise with a hooked knife.
Twist to open, pull conductors free with pliers.
Feed each copper core through a handheld stripper to remove individual insulation. Wear cut-resistant gloves and eye protection [Elektroda, DJ Max, post #5721924]

What tools speed up cable stripping?

Budget scrappers use a bench-mount rotary stripper (~PLN 300), or a drill-powered wire-stripper jig. Larger outfits deploy automatic blade machines from brands like Bluerock or StripMeister that process up to 30 m/min.

Are there environmental or legal risks in burning cable insulation?

Yes. Open-air burning emits dioxins and can incur fines under Polish waste regulations (Ustawa o odpadach 2012). Neighbours may file nuisance complaints, halting your operation and negating gains.

What if the cable turns out to be aluminium?

Traction lines are often aluminium, not copper [Elektroda, DJ Max, post #5721606] Aluminium scrap fetches only PLN 4–7 /kg, slashing revenue by ~75 %. Use a magnet and colour check before buying.

How do I estimate copper weight in any multi-core cable?

Multiply total conductor cross-section (mm²) by 0.00896 to get kg per metre. Example: 50 mm² total × 0.00896 = 0.448 kg. Keep a pocket chart for quick market checks.