What's the actual price difference between Bare Bright and #1 copper?
Short answer: Bare Bright is the highest grade — clean, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire at least a certain minimum gauge, with no oxidation, paint, or insulation. #1 copper is also clean and unalloyed but can include slightly heavier oxidation or a wider range of shapes (tubing, bus bar, clean sheet). The gap between the two is usually the widest of any copper grade split, because Bare Bright needs almost zero further processing.
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List Free →Why the split is so wide
A refiner remelting Bare Bright loses almost nothing to oxidation or contamination — it goes back into high-purity copper products with minimal loss. #1 copper is still clean and unalloyed, but slightly heavier oxidation or mixed shapes mean a bit more loss and handling, which is enough to create a real, visible gap between the two grades even though both are “clean” copper.
What actually separates the grades
Most buyers use a minimum wire gauge threshold for Bare Bright — thinner wire oxidises faster and is harder to keep truly bright, so it tends to fall into #1 instead regardless of how clean it looks. Shape matters too: bus bar, tubing, and sheet are usually graded #1 even when bright, simply because Bare Bright is specifically a wire-form grade at most yards.
What to check before assuming your copper is top grade
Look closely at the wire under good light — any dulling, greenish tint, or surface film usually means it will grade #1, not Bare Bright, no matter how clean it feels to the touch.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
ScrapTrade lets you list Bare Bright and #1 copper as separate line items in the same listing, so buyers quote each portion at its correct grade instead of averaging the whole load down.
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