Copper can be worth many times more than iron per kilogram, so knowing what you have matters. You do not need special tools: a fridge magnet and good light are enough for most household scrap.
Start with a magnet
- The magnet sticks firmly: iron or ordinary steel (loha). The lowest price per kg of the common metals.
- The magnet does not stick: copper, brass, aluminium, lead, or stainless steel. Keep these aside: they are worth more.
- The magnet sticks weakly: often stainless steel, or a non-magnetic metal with steel screws or a steel core.
Then look at the colour
| Metal | Local name | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Tamba | Reddish orange when clean; brown or green when old. |
| Brass | Pital | Yellow gold. Taps, fittings, keys and decorative items. |
| Aluminium | Silver | Light grey and light in the hand. Utensils, window frames, cans. |
| Stainless steel | Steel | Shiny grey and heavy. Sinks, utensils. Little or no magnet pull. |
| Lead | Sikka | Dull grey, very heavy, soft enough to scratch with a key. |
Check the weight
Aluminium feels surprisingly light for its size. Copper, brass and lead feel heavy. If two items look alike, the heavier one is usually copper or brass rather than aluminium.
Scratch an inconspicuous spot
Old copper often turns brown or green on the surface. A light scratch shows the colour underneath: copper shows bright orange, brass shows yellow. Some cables are copper-coated aluminium: a cut end shows silver inside, and they sell at aluminium prices.
Once sorted, check today's copper rate in Pakistan and the rates for the other metals before you sell.