Cheap Wire!!!

[GregM]

I have collected over the years a wide varity of wire, I even bought some of it. When the LAN was installed in our office building many years ago, I collected and brought home boxes and boxes of the scrap wire. I got rid of a lot the cat5 wire when we moved but still have more than I'll ever use. I have collected the old wire used way back when we only had printer sharing setups in several of the departments. I even bought a DASD control unit the company had no further need of and stripped out all the usable terminal strips, led's, switches, you name it. Took the scrap aluminum and steel to the recycler and pocketed a few dollars. With the constant changes in computer hardware the wiring has been changed in the computer room a number of times. I collect all the usable wire that would have otherwise been discarded.

[Anonymous]

Buy the best and you won't regret it.
BillFromWayne

[Dr. John]

The fellow that built my house let me have some leftover Romex cable that I'm saving for the layout. Also some lefteover chipboard and 2x4s.

I also have one sack of brown mortar for tile work that I may try out as scenery material.

Hey, it's free! Can't hurt to try!

[jwse30]

About 5 years ago, I probably worked on the best job of my life. It was at my town's high school (usually I work in the steel mills, so that in itself put it high on the list), and we were replacing the fire alarm system.

In addition to taking home all the partial reels of 2c 14, 2c 16, and 7c 16, we also had to gut the '60s era system, which reaped dozens of terminal blocks, 12v relays, and quite an assortment of pushbutton switches.

The downsides to that job were that 1, it had to end. and 2, I got half a dozen electromagnents (from door closers). I tried to use one of these magnets on a homemade crane on my layout, and it lifted the load right out of the car. A second later, it lifted the rear truck right off the rail. A second later it blew the fuse on the transformer. A second later I unhooked the crane, and never looked back til today :)

J White

[eZAK]

Joe,
It's not a matter of ' what turns you on'.

It's more of a neccessity!
You know....The mother of invention!

A lot of people out there enjoy this hobby for way less than $2800 a year!

If you can afford more power to you.

[Anonymous]

Whatever turns you on. I can hear it now..."Honey, I know I spent $2,800. on engines last year...but I DID save $8. on wire."

[eZAK]

QUOTE: Originally posted by underworld

Scrap yards and construction sites are great for bargain finds. For construction sites I just ask for the foreman and ask if I can have what they are throwing out. It's amazing the amount that gets tossed on residential jobs.

That's exactly what I do![8D]

But then again I'm the guy working with the wire[;)]

With the price of scrap at .20c per # there should be plenty around.
I remember when it was .95c. You would not throw out 10' of it.
Now short pieces are only good for camp fires.[;)]

[underworld]

Why blow ca$h on insulation when you can get it for free!!!

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[FJ and G]

since we're on junk, thought I'd mention the owner of a newspaper I was editor of in Arkansas.

THis guy was/is a millionair (about 75 yrs old).

But you'd never know it. He insulated the walls of his house with soda cans that he had us save.

[underworld]

Scrap yards and construction sites are great for bargain finds. For construction sites I just ask for the foreman and ask if I can have what they are throwing out. It's amazing the amount that gets tossed on residential jobs.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Roger Bielen]

Got y'all beat. When the company I used to work for took over a vacated property nextdoor that made high end car stereo wire and components me and my maint. crew were responsible for cleaning up the leftovers among which were four 1000' spools of different color wire of about 14 ga. Needless to say I still have enough left to build another layout or two.

[lionelsoni]

Lowes lists 14-2 NM-B at $22.90 for 250 feet. That's about 3 cents per foot of conductor.

[FJ and G]

This is beginning to sound like Junkyard Wars! [:D]

[Dave Farquhar]

Good tip, Jerry. I knew scrap metal yards buy wire (and they don't pay much for it) but it hadn't occurred to me to buy it there. But they'd just as soon sell it to us as to anyone else; our money spends exactly the same.

I can't head to my local scrap metal yard this weekend, but maybe next weekend. I could go for a hundred feet or two of heavy gauge wire for a few bucks.

[FJ and G]

Good for you Jerry. Your are quick witted and sharp when it comes to bargains!

I use 14 gauge wire from Romex cable--a lot left over from finishing my basement. I use the black and white wires for the layout and the copper ground wire for the center rail. I even use the coating of the Romex to make insulated rails, dipping them in epoxy. NOTHING goes to waste.

We're both frugal

[1688torpedo]

Hello Jerry ! Now you can set up a Shop called Madison Hardware and sell surplus wire for Model Railroaders, Peanut Butter for Beagles,and Root Beer with Spam for those who are nostalgic.[:)][:P][8D]................Keith

[laz 57]

Way to go JERRY.
I got my 16 gauge stranded twins at my local army and navy store . 300 feet for 15 bucks. You did better then me.
laz57

[Anonymous]

Hey Guys!

Was just taking some aluminum cans to my local salvage/scrap yard. I noticed that they have a a wire pile. So I took a look... they had some 500' of 16 gauge stranded twin bell wire on a roll.

The instant I saw this I thought this is for my trains!!! So I asked them how much they wanted for a 200' of the roll. They said 20 cents/lb. I weighed it, and it came to 5lbs. So they billed me a buck for 200 feet of this stuff.[:D][:D]

So now I have a grocery bag full of wire and I remark that I will never have to buy wire again![:0]

For wire, check your nearest scrapyard.[:p]

Jerry