Types of Wire We Buy: Surplus Wire and Cable

Building and Service Wire: Types of Wire We Buy

Start with the jacket markings or reel tag rather than the insulation color alone. For building and service wire, show the conductor size, copper or aluminum construction, insulation rating and remaining footage.

Our THHN and THWN-2 wire guide explains what to photograph on common building-wire reels. Keep different sizes and ratings separated so each item can be identified.

• THHN / THWN-2 wire: full and partial reels of single-conductor building wire.
• XHHW-2 wire: insulated conductors with readable size and rating information.
• USE-2 / RHW-2 wire: surplus conductors identified by their jacket legend.
• Romex NM-B and UF-B cable: unused coils, boxed cable and identifiable remaining lengths.
• SER and SEU service entrance cable: material with conductor configuration and footage information.

Industrial Power, Tray and Distribution Cable

Industrial cable needs more identification than an outside diameter. Include conductor count, conductor size, voltage rating, shielding or armor details, and photos of the ends.

See our tray cable buying guide for TC and TC-ER material, or the medium-voltage cable guide for larger power cable lots. Describe any removed terminations, exposed ends or jacket damage.

• Tray cable, including TC and TC-ER: multiconductor cable on reels or in usable cut lengths.
• MC cable: metal-clad cable with identifiable conductors and jacket or tag information.
• Armored MC-HL and Teck cable: industrial armored cable with readable specifications.
• URD cable: underground distribution cable with conductor configuration and markings.
• Medium-voltage power cable: cable with voltage class, shielding details and condition information.

Control, Instrumentation and Flexible Power Cable

Control and flexible cables can look similar while having different constructions. Photograph any pair numbers, shielding descriptions, conductor counts and jacket designations so we can review the material accurately.

Used flexible power cable may still be reusable, including decommissioned power and battery cables with lugs. Show the complete length, both ends and any splices rather than only the cleanest section.

• Control cable: multiconductor cable with identifiable conductor sizes and counts.
• Instrumentation cable: paired or triad cable with available shielding and construction details.
• VFD cable: variable-frequency drive cable with readable jacket ratings.
• Welding cable: flexible cable with size markings and visible insulation condition.
• DLO cable: cable identified by its jacket legend, size and rating.
• Portable cord, including SOOW and SJOOW: reels, coils and reusable lengths.

Copper, Aluminum, Solar and Communications Cable

These remaining six categories include bare conductors, renewable-energy wiring and low-voltage cable. If you want to sell Cat6 cable, include the category, shielding, jacket rating and box or reel label; our data cable guide covers those details.

To sell fiber optic cable, show the fiber count and cable construction on the tag. Copper cable buyers and aluminum cable buyers need clear identification too: conductor material alone does not establish reusability.

• Bare copper wire: identifiable solid or stranded surplus conductors.
• Solar PV wire: marked photovoltaic wire on reels or in remaining lengths.
• Fire alarm cable: cable with readable conductor count, size and jacket rating.
• Cat6 and data cable: boxed coils, reels and identifiable surplus lengths.
• Fiber optic cable: reels or lengths with fiber count and construction information.
• Aluminum wire and cable: reusable surplus with alloy or conductor information where available.

Full Reels, Project Leftovers and Used Cable

We review new and unused full reels, partial reels, boxed coils, cut lengths, cancelled-order material, distributor and plant overstock, and project leftovers. Re-reeled cable and used cable are also candidates when they remain in reusable condition.

If you want to sell wire reels, retain the original tags and identify which footage figures are estimates. Our wire reel selling guide covers reel lots, while wire sizes we buy helps you organize sizes from AWG through kcmil.

Reusable wire is usually worth more sold as product than sold as scrap by weight because the buyer is paying for usable wire, not just metal. If material is not reusable, we say so honestly; a scrap recycler may be the appropriate destination.

Get an Offer for Your Surplus Wire and Cable

Send photos of the whole lot, reel tags, jacket print legends and cut ends, plus a list or footage estimate. Note missing labels, weather exposure, damaged jackets and mixed lengths; these details help us understand what you have.

Use the wire offer form, call 951-403-5738 or email industrial832@gmail.com. We review the material and make a written offer before pickup, with payment method and timing confirmed in writing before pickup.

Texas Pickup and Houston Receiving

We arrange pickup anywhere in Texas. Tell us how the material is packaged, where it is stored and what access is available for collecting the lot.

You can also drop off by appointment at 6402 McGrew St, Houston, TX 77087, in southeast Houston near I-45 and Loop 610; call first. At pickup or drop-off, we check the count against the written terms.

We verify the seller and proof of ownership, such as an invoice, purchase order, closeout paperwork or company letter, and keep a written purchase record. Review our Texas wire seller paperwork guide before arranging the transfer.