Surplus Wire Buyer FAQ

Ohio Wire Buyers buys reusable surplus electrical wire and cable from businesses anywhere in Ohio, with a written offer before pickup and payment terms confirmed in writing. This surplus wire buyer FAQ explains what to keep intact, what information to send, and when a scrap recycler is the better choice.

0100 FTWhat electrical wire and cable do you buy?

We buy new or unused full reels, partial reels, boxed coils and cut lengths, plus used cable only when it remains reusable. Sellers include contractors, distributors, plants, utilities, facilities and project or decommissioning firms. The wire and cable categories we review include building wire and cable assemblies; identify each item rather than describing the entire lot simply as electrical wire.

0200 FTDo you buy partial reels and cut lengths?

Yes, when the material can be identified and reused. A factory tag describes the original put-up, not necessarily what remains after a pull. List each continuous length separately and label estimates honestly; several short pieces are not equivalent to one unbroken length. Our guide to selling full and partial wire reels explains the importance of packaging and remaining footage.

0300 FTSurplus wire buyer FAQ: do you buy used cable?

Only if it is still reusable. Explain its former service, removal method and known jacket or conductor damage; photos cannot establish every aspect of cable condition. For decommissioned cable, have qualified personnel handle removal and verify deenergization under applicable electrical safety procedures. OSHA's electrical work-practice rules require lockout/tagout measures and qualified-person testing for the deenergized work they cover; an open switch alone is not verification.

0400 FTDo you buy aluminum as well as copper?

Yes, we review reusable wire and cable with either conductor material. Do not identify the conductor from the armor or outer jacket: a cable's armor is a different component. Photograph an already exposed cut end and the material markings. UL's marking guide explains how aluminum and copper-clad aluminum are identified. Include that distinction when submitting the wire or cable type.

0500 FTDoes brand or wire size affect an offer?

Both help establish exactly what product is available, but neither establishes value alone. Send the manufacturer, complete catalog number if available, printed size, conductor count and ratings. Our wire brand information can help you recognize a label. A familiar manufacturer name does not replace footage or condition information, and buying its surplus product does not imply a manufacturer partnership or authorization.

0600 FTWhat does THHN/THWN-2 on the wire mean?

Those markings identify building-wire types; photograph the complete legend rather than only the first abbreviation. Southwire's cited copper product uses PVC insulation with a nylon sheath and is rated 600 volts. It lists THHN for dry locations and THWN-2 for wet or dry locations up to 90°C, with additional application limits. Our THHN/THWN-2 wire page explains resale identification; these temperatures are not a blanket installed ampacity rating.

0700 FTWhat should I send for an offer?

Send a whole-lot photo, reel tags, legible jacket print and already exposed cut ends, along with a footage list or estimate. Keep matching products grouped, but give each partial reel its own entry. Use the offer form and identify what is confirmed versus estimated.

0800 FTWhat if I do not know the remaining footage?

Say that it is unknown and send the available evidence. Original tag footage can be misleading on a used reel; visible jacket footage marks or job records may help establish the remainder. Do not unwind heavy cable just to obtain a quote. The remaining-footage guide explains measurement options and why estimates need their method recorded, not just a number.

0900 FTHow is the offer price determined?

We review the identifiable product, usable footage, condition and documentation, rather than treating everything as a pile of metal. Describe mixed lots item by item so an intact reel is not confused with damaged remnants. Under our written-offer process, we respond with questions or an offer before arranging pickup. A photo submission alone does not establish a purchase agreement.

1000 FTCan you pick up wire anywhere in Ohio?

Yes. Ohio Wire Buyers arranges pickup at the seller's jobsite, warehouse, plant or yard anywhere in Ohio. Send the material's actual location and a contact who can coordinate access. Our Ohio service area describes statewide coverage, not office locations. Pickup arrangements follow review of the lot and written terms; do not assume a particular collection date before it has been agreed.

1100 FTCan I bring the wire to an Ohio buying yard?

No. Ohio Wire Buyers has no Ohio street address, office, yard or drop-off facility. Keep the material at your business location while we review the submission and arrange pickup. The statewide pickup service is designed around where the wire sits. Do not transport reels to an assumed local address or mistake a service-area page for directions to a buying yard.

1200 FTWhat loading details should I provide?

Describe the loading area, truck access, available forklift or dock and any site restrictions. Include known reel weights, but distinguish documented weights from guesses and identify damaged flanges or unstable stacks. These details belong in the pickup discussion before equipment arrives. Do not move a heavy reel merely to improve a photo; explain blocked access so handling can be planned safely.

1300 FTWhen and how will I be paid?

The payment method and timing are confirmed in writing before pickup. Ask for clarification if the written terms do not answer those questions for your transaction. Our selling process does not promise cash on arrival or a universal payment schedule. Keep the written offer and payment agreement with your inventory records so the person releasing the wire understands what has been agreed.

1400 FTWhat proof of ownership do you need?

We verify the seller and proof of ownership and keep a written purchase record. Useful documents include an invoice, purchase order, closeout paperwork or company letter. Identify the business that owns the wire, especially when it is stored on somebody else's jobsite. The seller-paperwork guide helps organize records; physical possession does not, by itself, explain who has authority to sell.

1500 FTWhat happens if the pickup count differs?

At pickup, we check the count against the written terms. Beforehand, tell us if your crew has used more wire, moved a reel or discovered damage since the photos were sent. The offer and pickup process depends on an accurate description of the available lot. Do not silently substitute another reel, even if its color or apparent size looks similar.

1600 FTHow is selling reusable wire different from scrapping it?

Ohio Wire Buyers buys wire as product for resale and reuse, not scrap metal by the pound. That makes identity, continuous length, packaging and condition important alongside conductor material. Our surplus-versus-scrap comparison explains the distinction. If the wire is not reusable, we say so; a scrap recycler may then be the appropriate buyer. Reuse is not guaranteed to beat every alternative offer.

1700 FTShould I strip insulation or cut cable before selling?

Not before the reusable-product review. Stripping removes the original insulation system, while chopping a continuous cable into short pieces changes what another buyer can use. Keep labels and original packaging with the material and photograph existing damage instead of trimming it away. The reuse-versus-scrap guide helps decide which route fits; processing for scrap can eliminate the product-sale option.

1800 FTHow much is 100 lb of copper worth?

For scrap, multiply the recycler's payable weight by its quoted rate for the actual grade. At an explicitly hypothetical $3 per pound, 100 pounds would equal $300 before any deductions; this is not a current quote, and prices change daily. Insulated cable weight is not pure copper weight. Our copper-wire value guide separates metal calculations from offers for usable wire.

To have your lot reviewed as reusable product, request a written offer with photos and footage, or call 951-403-5738 to discuss what information to send.