Metal finishing Q&As since 1989
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Stripping copper wire with acid?
Q. We are producing paper covered copper strips for transformer applications. Sometimes, the paper insulation will become out of specification and we have to remove the paper alone so that we can reuse the bare copper strip. We have tried with LASER cutting and the surface is getting discoloured. Mechanically doing this is time consuming.
Can you suggest any better method for removing the paper without causing any physical damage to the bare copper strip?
OFHC copper wire & strips manufacturer - Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
2004
Tool to strip insulation from copper wire
Q. TO ALL READERS, I AM A HOME OWNER WHO LIKE MOST OF YOU STRUGGLE TO GET BY. ONE OF THE PART TIME JOBS THAT I HAVE TAKEN ON IS THE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING OF SCRAP METALS.
MY QUESTION IS SIMPLE, I ACQUIRE A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF COPPER WIRE THAT HAS A PLASTIC OR RUBBER COATING I don't LIKE THE IDEA OF BURNING THESE COATINGS OFF.
IS THERE AN INEXPENSIVE TOOL AVAILABLE TO REMOVE THESE COATINGS? LET ME KNOW.
- MIDDLESEX New York
2000
A. Martin - Yes there is a tool for doing what you wish. They are called T Strippers and are available at any hardware store. You're better off paying more for good ones than trying to save a couple of bucks by getting the cheapies.
Dan Brewerchemical process supplier - Gurnee, Illinois
2000
A. There is a machine to strip wire. It is called the wire zipper. It is extremely fast and effective.
Good luck.
- Phila., Pennsylvania, USA
2004
Q. Where do I find a zipper, to strip my copper wire.
Sean Loftusmusic - Liverpool, England
2006
Q. I strip copper wire for recycling and the blade (or knife) is too slow and too hard... I live within the city limits, so burning is not an option.... I had a work associate tell me his father used an ACID to strip his wire... That associate no longer works with me, my question is.. Can anyone tell me what kind of acid I can use to strip copper wire for recycling ?
Reed MooremanHobbyist - Oklakoma City, Oklahoma
October 8, 2009
A. Hi, Reed. That associate was probably thinking of stripping tin or silver plating from the wire, not insulation. It's 2009 and mechanical separation of the plastic insulation from the wire sounds like the way to go. I can't even imagine trying to dissolve PVC and Teflon into solvents as a way of stripping insulation from wire without being considered environmentally irresponsible. Fortunately it would probably be economically prohibitive since the solvents become rapidly exhausted as you dissolve plastic into them.
Buying or designing a wire stripping machine seems much more practical. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 9, 2009
A. Ted's answer is correct. Twenty years ago, you could buy a stripper. Most places built their own. Recovery of copper is somewhat labor intensive, so when copper was 0.50 per pound, it was debatable. At $3 to $4, it is cost effective.
Notice that burning the copper will lower the value significantly!
- Navarre, Florida
October 9, 2009
What will eat away the insulation on copper wire but leave the copper behind
Q. I'm a seasonal worker and I subsidize my winter income by scrapping and I would like to get a bigger return on my copper because it's the lightest load that I turn in which is about once a week ... Any tips would be great
Zachary Stone- Decatur Illinois U.S.A.
March 30, 2017
A. Hi Zachary. Forget it. Most wire has PVC or Teflon insulation. Both are very chemical resistant, and it would be an environmental travesty to try to dissolve them to recover the copper.
Mechanical stripping is the way to go. Focus your wizardry on how to make it most safe and practical. My son drilled holes in his wooden fence and attached blades which made short work of stripping large quantities of wire, even large diameter aluminum wire.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
March 2017
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