Copper steel wire, also known as copper clad steel wire and copper coated steel wire, is a copper over steel wire that combines the strength of steel with the corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity of copper. Copper steel wire is mainly used for telephone cable drop wire, cable television conductor cabling and for antennae. Coupled with copper steel conductors, this wire meets specifications as a ground wire and is used for this purpose by oil and utility companies.

A category five coaxial cable used for wiring a single family home for cable television uses eight 24-gauge wires, each containing 1.22 pounds of copper per 1,000 feet for a total of 9.76 pounds per 1,000 feet. Allowing for the twist configuration of the finished cable, the total comes to 10 pounds of copper per 1,000 feet of cable. A typical single family home requires approximately 1,000 feet of cable to outfit it for cable television. However, even with copper prices remaining high, demand is forecasted as stable due to the unmatched performance of the copper steel combination.

1. Buy copper steel wire online.

2. Find polyethylene covered copper clad steel wire.

3. Include copper coated steel wire as tie wire in industrial applications.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find reliable sources of bare solid copper steel wire

Bare copper clad steel wire is useful in electrical applications for its electrical conductivity and strength at higher temperatures than steel wire alone. Look for copper steel wire from these manufacturers as reliable sources of supply.

I recommend: GC Electronics is a manufacturer and online seller of copper clad steel wire and produces electric utility wires in various diameters for video, cable, voice and communication, telephones and speakers. Browse Torpedo Specialty Wire's online catalog for electroplated copper coated steel wire for use as lead wire in components such as capacitors, diodes and resistors. Thickness of the electroplated copper varies between 1% and 75%, by weight, and is applied to your specifications according to the level of electrical conductivity you require.

Buy polyethylene covered copper clad steel wire

Polyethylene covered copper clad steel wire is used primarily for telephone lines, signal lines, remote controls, tree wire, alarm circuits and grounding wire. Polyethylene covered copper steel wire is generally available in high strength 30% conductivity and high strength 40% conductivity.

I recommend: Isotech is a copper steel wire manufacturer of shielded and jacketed wire and cable. Isotech also produces custom copper steel wire products to meet buyers' needs. Contact them for copper steel wire information and online custom quotes. American Wire Group is an international copper steel wire distributor whose product line includes polyethylene covered wire. American's poly covered copper steel wire meets ASTM-B228 standards.

Stock supplies of copper clad steel tie wire

Buy copper steel wire as tie wire for lashing and anchoring conductors to pin insulators and for securing blanket, board or pipe insulation to itself or another anchoring object.

I recommend: Nehring Electrical Works is a copper steel wire maker that manufactures and sells copper clad steel tie wire in 10 pound packages in lengths of 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 feet. Diameters in inches available from Nehring are .1285, .1144, .1019, .9007 and .0808. GLT Products produces 16-gauge solid copper and copper clad tie wire in 3-1/2 pound and 5 pound spools.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Copper clad steel wire also has the benefit of being a bimetalic product. This means the two metals are so interfused that the copper is inextractable as scrap, making theft much less likely than with solid copper wire that often goes missing from construction sites.