Apparently, scrap wire from an alternator is pretty badly looked down on.
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For Sale - Rewound Alternator Rotor
- Thread starter Jim
- Start date
Clean copper with no insulation may pay as much as $5 / lbs 
Just wanted to add a vote of my appreciation for Jim's rotors!
In addition to the rewound rotor, I completely renewed my charging system e.g. cleaned connections, new brushes, NOS OEM rectifier (holding others, inc. an XS400 unit in abeyance if there's a problem), new solid state regulator, new Yuasa AGM battery, aso.
From first fire-up, 13+V at idle, ~14.5V @ 3000 RPM. Seems good to me!
In addition to the rewound rotor, I completely renewed my charging system e.g. cleaned connections, new brushes, NOS OEM rectifier (holding others, inc. an XS400 unit in abeyance if there's a problem), new solid state regulator, new Yuasa AGM battery, aso.
From first fire-up, 13+V at idle, ~14.5V @ 3000 RPM. Seems good to me!
I've worked in the scrap metal industry for the last 18 years, particularly with non-ferrous metals. Copper is riding high and would be a great time to cash in. Alternator windings are enameled copper which would fall under the #2 classification. With market prices today, you would be looking around $5.40 / lb at one of our retail locations.
If you sell it to KC Iron and Metal, it will ultimately end up here in my scrap yard in Ft. Wayne. That is #2 copper all day long. Not sure where those prices came from Jim, but we are buying it retail at $5.40 a pound from the general public.
It was the first hit to pop up when I googled it. Didn't investigate any further.
https://www.scrapmonster.com/scrap-yard/price/copper-scrap/missouri/3/3390
Or maybe the alternator wire is not as good because it is made to carry alternating current not the better wire like they used for DC current! Yep! the alternating current wears out the molecules from all the switching of the direction of flow!
It would be neat to smelt it all down and make round stock out of it. Then you could make a shitload of copper washers and sell 'em here in little "kits".
The plan is to make stuff on the 3D printer and then cast it in bronze. Don't recall the proper mix, but as you melt the copper wire down, you can add to it and make bronze.
At least that's the plan....
Still doing rotors.
