Copper Wire
Insulated copper, bare copper and grounding conductors in all common sizes.
We buy surplus specialty and flexible cable in Illinois
Welding cable, SOOW and portable cord, communication cable, low-voltage and fire-alarm cable, in coils, cartons and partial reels.
The cable that never gets counted
Specialty cable accumulates quietly: a coil of 2/0 welding cable from a fabrication shop, cartons of 18/2 low-voltage wire from a controls upgrade, red fire-alarm cable left from a hospital addition. It is rarely inventoried and often thrown away, even though much of it is still saleable.
We buy welding cable, SOOW and SJOOW portable cord, communication and low-voltage cable, fire-alarm cable and other flexible constructions in copper, from #18 through 4/0, in coils, cartons, spools and partial reels.
Sizes and jacket types
Welding cable is sized by AWG and sold by the foot; SOOW is specified by conductor count and gauge, such as 12/4 or 10/3; low-voltage cable is usually specified as 18/2, 18/5 or 16/2; fire-alarm cable by AWG, pair count and plenum or riser rating. The print on the jacket gives all of it.
Cartons are the easiest format here. Keep the label on the box, photograph it, and tell us how many cartons you have.
Specs
Specialty cable families
Common constructions and how they are normally specified. Carton labels carry the footage and the rating.
| Family | Typical construction | Sizes | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welding cable | Rope-lay copper, EPDM or neoprene jacket | #6 – 4/0 | Coil, reel |
| SOOW | Portable cord, 2–5 conductor | #18 – #2 | Coil, carton |
| SJOOW | 300 V portable cord | #18 – #10 | Coil, carton |
| Communication | Cat5e, Cat6, shielded pairs | 23–24 AWG | Box, reel |
| Low voltage | 18/2, 18/5, 16/2, thermostat | #16 – #22 | Coil, carton |
| Fire alarm | FPLR / FPLP, red jacket | #14 – #18 | Box, reel |
Condition & paperwork
Small format, real value
Cartons and coils are welcome — count them and photograph the labels.
This category is usually about volume of small items rather than a single heavy reel. Give us the number of cartons or coils, the construction on each label, and the total approximate footage if it is printed on the box.
Coils that have been dragged through a plant are reviewed on condition: crushed jacket, exposed conductor or water damage reduces the offer, and badly damaged material may not be worth handling at all.
We buy cable, not the devices on the ends of it. No fixtures, alarms, panels, cameras or connectors.
Helpful numbers
Call +1 (614) 715-3047 with the reel tag in front of you. If the tag is gone, a tape measure and a photo of the cut end gets us close.
Questions
Specialty cable questions
Do you buy welding cable in short lengths?
Yes, if there is enough of it to justify handling. Welding cable is priced by size and footage, so list each coil separately with its size and approximate length.
Can you take cartons of low-voltage or fire-alarm cable?
Yes. Keep the carton labels intact and tell us how many boxes there are. Factory cartons with printed footage are the easiest specialty material to quote.
Is Cat5e or Cat6 cable bought as surplus?
Yes, when it is on the original box or reel and the category and length are known. Loose, unmarked cable is difficult to price and is reviewed individually.
Related
Other wire we buy
Loads are often mixed. If your reels span more than one category, send the whole list in one request.
Building Wire
THHN, THWN, THWN-2, XHHW and XHHW-2 branch-circuit and feeder wire.
Industrial Cable
MC, AC, tray cable, VFD, PLTC, control, instrumentation and shielded cable.
Quote
Quote your specialty cable
We review every request and reply with a quote or the questions that would let us price it.
Ready to move that surplus wire?
Send the wire type, footage or reel count, and a few photos. We review every request and reply with a quote or a request for more detail.