What we buy
- MC cable, including aluminum and steel armor
- AC and BX cable with a bonding strip
- 2, 3 and 4 conductor constructions with or without ground
- #14, #12 and #10 branch sizes, plus #8 through 4/0 feeder constructions
- Coils, cartons, partial rolls and unopened cartons
- Fire-alarm and specialty MC where the construction is identifiable
The armor protects the conductors, so condition usually comes down to the coil itself: whether it was dragged, kinked, crushed or stored wet. Photograph the coil end and any crushed section.
What identifies an MC or AC coil
The print on the armor or the tag inside the coil states the conductor size, count, ground configuration and voltage rating. A photo of that print answers most of the questions at once.
If the label is gone, count the conductors at the cut end and measure one conductor. A 12/2 is obvious from the two insulated conductors and a bare ground, but the armor type and voltage rating still need the print.
Cartons versus coils
MC and AC details
- Product
- MC, MC-Lite, AC, HCF, fire-alarm MC
- Armor
- Steel or aluminum
- Conductors
- 2, 3, 4 conductor, with or without ground
- Sizes
- #14 through 4/0
- Voltage
- 600V class
- Quantity
- Coil count and approximate remaining footage
- Condition
- Sealed carton, opened coil, kinked, wet
Every lot is reviewed on its details and photos; not every construction and condition is accepted.
Sealed cartons with legible labels are the easiest to quote and the easiest to move. Opened coils are quoted on remaining length and condition. If a coil has been outside, say so: wet armor and wet paper wrap are a real problem, and a photo settles it quickly.
Pickup from a shop or a floor
Coils are light enough to handle by hand, which makes them easy to consolidate for pickup. A typical load is a pallet of mixed coils from a contractor's shop or a distributor's discontinued rack.
If the cable is spread across several floors, job trailers or storage containers, list where each part is. Collection time is part of the logistics conversation.
FAQ
Questions we get from sellers
Do you buy opened coils?
Yes, if the remaining length and condition are clear. Send a photo of the coil and the tag, and note roughly how much is left.
Do you buy MC without a label?
Usually, if the construction can be identified. Photograph the cut end and the armor print, and measure one conductor if you can.
Is aluminum armor treated differently?
It is quoted on the same fields, but the armor type is worth stating. Aluminum and steel armor behave differently in storage and handling.