Copper Stackers Interest Group

For all the Copper Stackers out there this thread is for you.

Normally I post my copper chit chat on scrapmetalforum.com or iforgeiron.com however this is a bit more stacking related so to all the copper haters out there you can leave now.

Let’s get a few things out there in the open for newbies to copper.

• Copper is a base metal not a precious metal. Even though its precious to me it does not make it a precious metal.
• Buying copper from a bullion dealer is not a good idea for investment because of the extremely high premiums.
• Calling copper “investment grade” or “bullion” is silly as there is no such standard. C10100 or C11000 grade alloys are the standard for 99.99% and 99.9% pure copper respectively but are still called and alloy.
• Copper bars that look like bullion bars are basically just consolidated scrap or stamped busbars. But are still nice to hold and look at.
• Copper is awesome even though is tarnishes quickly and has a bit of a smell.
• Copper is only worth collecting if:
  • You get it free.
  • You get it cheap.
  • You love collecting it no matter the cost.
• You will only sell your copper to a collector or a scrap dealer. Manufacturers that use the same copper you have will always have a supply chain that gets them a better deal than you could ever offer (including giving it to them for free because its not worth it for them to break the supply contract or your volume will just be a pain for them to hassle with.)
• You will NEVER get spot value for copper from a scrap dealer no matter how hard you try…..trust me. Its usually spot -$1 to -$2.5 per kilo.
• Copper is usually traded in the commodities market using USD per pound.
• Nearly all dealers offering a 1oz rounds or bars of copper are NOT using troy ounces however if you weigh your item it will probably be well over weight anyway.
• Copper takes up heaps of space. Your partner will not approve if they don't understand it....trust me.
• Copper is not the poor mans silver nor is silver the poor mans gold.
• The silver copper ratio is similar to the gold silver ratio.

Copper alloy information:
C10100 copper, also known as Oxygen Free Electronic (OFE) is 99.99% copper and due to low oxygen content achieves the highest level of electrical conductivity at 101% IACS, that is available in a commercial grade copper. As such it is used extensively in electrical conductor cabling, audio and electronics wiring industries.

C11000 copper, also known as Electrolytic Tough Pitch (ETP) copper is 99.9% purity and is more commonly used in the general electrical cable industry. ETP copper is rated at >100% IACS electrical conductivity, however most commercially available ETP is tested at or near 101%.

I am wondering who out there is stacking copper? I know i am.

Show me your STACK

This is some of mine that is not in my scrap pile

SBA Copper 1kg by Cind3r posted Jul 24, 2019 at 8:55 AM

Coins 1 by Cind3r posted Aug 6, 2019 at 8:33 AM

Coins 2 by Cind3r posted Aug 6, 2019 at 8:33 AM

Copper Rounds by Cind3r posted Aug 6, 2019 at 8:33 AM

Copper Bars by Cind3r posted Aug 6, 2019 at 8:33 AM

 

I love the "Keystone Coppers" brand..... They are marked avoirdupois ounces, but I guess that is so it is easier to convert to the USD per Lb metric.

 

Excellent post Cind3r thank you. Lots of great information.

I have a favourite piece of copper which is a small cylinder that looks like your copper rounds photographed above. From memory I got it from inside a CPU cooling vent, it was originally surrounded by aluminium fins.

I was planning to take my copper scrap pile to the scrap dealer soon as it is mixed up with my aluminium scrap pile which is becoming a home for mice mud and weeds.

So what are you doing with all your pipe offcuts, bits of wire etc? It wouldnt be economic to melt it down, but in bulk form it takes up so much space.

 

Where does one store tons of copper?

 

Funny thing is the Keystones are very over weight 52g over the stamped weight

Funny you should mention that. There is a cast bar i poured in the original post pics near the Keystones. I made a 5.5kw lithium ion battery bank to run my 6kw inverter in my shed so i can use stored solar power to power my furness and melt my scrap.

Furness was $380 off ebay - made in Italy 3kg 1250c max temp

Furness by Cind3r posted Aug 6, 2019 at 9:56 AM

Melting Pot by Cind3r posted Aug 6, 2019 at 9:56 AM

Homemade Copperbar1 by Cind3r posted Aug 6, 2019 at 9:56 AM

 

Yeah its not as easy as gold and silver that's for sure.

I have my stack in my shed and am slowly consolidating them into bars. I have just over 120kg to sort out (only melted 27kg so far).

 

Also a cube 48.125cm3 is about 1000.74kg so it doesnt take up that much room

 

I have a bunch of copper rounds that I got a few years ago at $1 per piece, still overpriced but nothing like todays prices. I reason that I can sell them for their artistic value later. I am not expecting to make too much on them. I got 100 of the "Voters Choice" copper rounds free from Osbourne Mint as I was the one who suggested the design to them They were sold over here in the USA as they have Democrats and Republicans on them. I am picking up about 20 ozs of copper rounds every 6 months just as a sideline. I am also picking up pre-1982 pennies over here and keeping them along with ordinary nickels which are 75% copper.

 

I have some Buffalo/Indian rounds. The capsules are worth more than the copper. However, I sell them for $5+ at my monthly market store for a tidy profit.

 

Don't know about copper, but silverbullionsg is selling 2-ton EV grade Ni with storage option. The price has gone up quite a lot since I first checked it a year ago. I live in an apt, if not I might have bought 2 bags.

 

Thats awesome! I bought 1.125kg of 99.96% pure nickel strip for ummmmm well ummmmm i dont know lol portfolio diversification? hehehehe

 

I think there’s still chance to get nickel for cheap should there be a global recession. I won’t buy at this price, just as I won’t buy palladium.

 

that gives me tingles

 

I don't know, looks like you are stacking a lot of Bronze as well.

I only stack the AOCS rounds https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?r=aocs&p=1&x=0&y=0 and not religiously, I have a lot of gaps in the collection.

I am not a big fan of the stuff because of the reasons you mentioned.

If I was going to stack copper I would probably buy the reels of copper tubing used by plumbers, but I haven't got the space for that.

 

I think the Australian 1c and 2c pieces are closer to brass than bronze (Composition: 97% Copper - 2.5% Zinc - 0.5% Tin) but you are correct it is not pure copper stacking. Im stacking these due to their melt value being higher than their face value.

 

What kind of premiums does it incur?

 

That is one sexy looking block. I am with Cind3r - I want one

Who makes these things?

 

it is quite a work of art imho. I would love to have a couple of 5kg blocks like that in my home. One can dream.

 

I'm in for a few 5kg bars

I did contact SBA refinery about the 1kg bar I found and got a quote to order a minimum of 100 bars at $50.3 each to my door.....seems a bit pricy but I'm still contemplating.

If anyone is interested please let me know.

I am also chasing other sizes from them including half kilo and 5kg bars.

 

Got a Geiger 100oz just like: https://www.apmex.com/product/103964/100-oz-copper-bar-geiger-poured-9999-fine

It’s a great talking point.