Aluminum:
To receive the highest value possible, all steel or foreign components must be removed from the aluminum. Remove screws, brackets, rivets and any other material that will attract a magnet. The highest priced aluminums are those that are non-painted or tarnished. Various aluminum alloys have different values. For instance aluminum car wheels and window frames warrant a higher price then cast aluminum. Your Bruno's representative will be happy to explain the difference to you.
Copper:
There are four basic grades of Copper.
[1] B&S Bright and Shiny: Shall consist of stripped, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire not smaller than 16 gauge per strand.
[2] #1 Burnt: Shall consist of clean, burnt, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire and cable not smaller than 16 gauge per strand.
[3] #1 Tubing: Shall consist of clean unalloyed uncoated tubing or solids (clippings, punchings, bus bars, ect.).
[4] #2 Copper: Shall consist of miscellaneous, unalloyed copper scrap (wire, tubing, or solids) having a nominal 96% copper content (minimum 94%).
Coppers should also be free from the following: Excessively leaded, tinned, or soldered copper scrap, brasses or bronzes, excessive oil content, iron and non-metallics, copper tubing with other than copper connectors or with sediment, copper wire from burning, containing insulation, hair wire, and should be reasonably free of ash.
Insulated Copper:
Insulated copper varies widely in pricing. The price structure is predicated on the percentage of recovery; that is the amount of copper relative to the amount of insulation. Good #1 insulated copper can bring more that twice the value of the #2 insulated copper to your pocketbook. At times it will be worth your while to strip the insulation from your wire. As always, your Bruno's representative can help you with your decision to strip the wire by indicating price differences as well as strip procedures.
Yellow Brass:
Many materials are made from yellow brass such as: faucets, tubing, bolts, etc. To get the most value from your yellow brass, all conflicting metals must be removed. If you are not sure if you have yellow brass, file the outside slightly. If you see a pale yellow tinge, then you can be almost certain that you have yellow brass.
Red Brass:
Red brass carries a higher value than yellow brass. You will find red brass used in applications such as: valves, bushings, pump parts, and etc. To determine if you have red brass, once again, use the file test. You will notice a burnt orange hue to the material. A Bruno's representative will be happy to assist you in understanding the differences in your brasses.
Radiators:
The standard radiator is well worth recycling. To maximize the value you need to remove all pieces from the radiator that are magnetic.
Aluminum/Copper Radiators:
ACR has a higher value than the standard radiator. This is due to the copper content in the radiator. As a reminder, you will get the most value from the material by removing all magnetic components.
Heater Cores:
Heater cores have the appearance of a small radiator. However they carry a relatively reduced value in comparison. This is because heater cores have a higher lead content then standard radiators. The material assumes a value that is below that of a radiator.
Stainless Steel:
High quality stainless steel is completely non-magnetic. Once again to maximize your money, remove all other metals. Many of the stainless steel pieces you will find also have other metals attached. Most times, but not always, it will be worth your time to clean your stainless. If your stainless pieces have a slight magnetic draw, Bruno's would advise you not to take the time and effort to clean them. The stainless steel with a draw could be considered a 400 Series stainless steel and only has a value comparative to steel.
