Material Thinking:
lectrical Wire
Harvesting and reusing old/ broken wiring, with focus on the copper strands and casing
This experiment aimed to determine if copper strands and their casings could be extracted from reused wires without excessive loss. The process was somewhat easier than retrieving entire wires, but preserving the integrity of both the copper and casing proved to be a challenge without any breakage.
Using previously gathered wires, I employed wire cutters, a box cutter, and pliers to carefully separate the copper strands from their protective casings. The process required precision to avoid damaging the copper and to ensure that the casings remained intact. While some strands came apart cleanly, others suffered minor fragmentation, reducing their overall usability.
Although the process is feasible, maintaining the full length and integrity of both components is tricky. The copper’s potential for patination and the casings’ ability to melt are areas of interest for further experimentation. Understanding how different types of wire react under these conditions will help refine their reuse potential.