Metals
There are several different grades of Aluminum, Copper, Brass and Stainless steel. Here is a little aid to help you determine what type of scrap metal you have.
Aluminum
Aluminum Cans | Any aluminum beverage container that has been emptied of its contents and is uncontaminated in any form. | .jpg) |
| Aluminum Extrusion | Consisting of window frames, door frames, structural type aluminum, with no contamination i.e., nails screws, staples, putty, paint, weather stripping, foam, etc. Must be 6063 series aluminum. |  |
| Painted Alum Extrusion | Same as regular extruded aluminum, however, may contain small amounts of paint, caulking, weather stripping, dirt, etc. |  |
| Clip Aluminum (MLC) | Most common grade of aluminum. Mixture of various alum alloys. Consists of plate, bar, solids, chunks or machined parts. Must be free of contamination, paint, nails, screws, etc. |  |
| Painted Clip Alum | Same as regular clip, however, may contain small amounts of paint, caulk or coatings. | |
| Aluminum Siding | Thin aluminum house siding, rain gutters, fascia, ect… May have paint but must be free of staples, nails or other contaminates. |  |
Copper
Bright & Shiny Copper | Copper wire that is not corroded or burned and must be shiny in its appearance. No contamination in any form. Must be thicker than a pencil lead. (10 Ga.) |  |
#1 Copper | Clean uncontaminated with no paint, solder, insulation, dirt, etc. Can be tubing or wire. Wire must be bare and thicker than a pencil lead. |  |
#2 Copper | Copper that has paint, dirt, solder, corrosion, etc. Insulated copper is not accepted as #2 copper. Can be tubing or wire. Bare wire under pencil lead thickness is accepted. |  |
Insulated #1 Wire | Insulated Copper wire that is 16 gage or thicker (1/16 inch). If wire is stranded, each wire must be 1/16” or thicker. Must have a copper recovery of 70% or more. |  |
| Insulated #2 Wire | Insulated Copper wire smaller than 16 gage (1/16 inch) and has a copper recovery of 55% - 69%. The copper wire may be coated by tin or nickel. All stranded wire smaller than 1/16”. |  |
| Strippable Copper Wire | Copper wire that is at least ½” thick with one layer of rubber or plastic insulation. |  |
Brass
Yellow Brass | Brass that has a yellowish look in appearance. Commonly valves, meters, faucets. No Contamination. Free of iron, paint, plastic, washers, glass, etc.. |  |
| Red Brass | Brass that looks reddish in appearance. Has a higher copper content. Commonly valves, meters, faucets. No Contamination. Free of iron, paint, plastic, washers, glass, etc.. (78% – 82% Copper) |  |