Steel vs. Aluminum BX, which will win? With two different types of BX wire, you have to be careful when scrapping them. A lot of the Steel BX that is out there was used both in older factories and homes, and it can become very difficult to strip if you want to get the copper out from inside of it.
An obvious way to tell the difference between steel and aluminum BX wire would be by running your magnet along the material. If it sticks to the outside, you have steel BX; if it does not, you have aluminum BX wire. The inside wire of the BX wires is usually THHN, which can get you a good amount of cash at the scrap yard.
Aluminum BX was made primarily because it is so much lighter and easier to hang in ceilings, through walls, or wherever else that it is needed. As one of the top conductors in commercial electrical applications, it is hard to guess where and when you go to scrap it, but you do have a few options.
BX is kind of like the Chinese handcuffs that you put on your fingers as a kid…when you go to pull it, it will get tighter around the copper wire and will be very tough to get off. If you want to separate the copper from the aluminum, you will definitely make money…but how much time you spend will be the determining factor.
Share your experiences with us!
Scrap ya later, Tom.
