The Hottest New Side Hustle Is Stripping Copper Wire and Posting About It
TikTok users are posting videos of themselves stripping copper wire and selling the metal for extra cash, turning a repetitive task into a visible side hustle. The trend has gained traction as copper prices have climbed, though the videos feature people with varied motives, from electricians supplementing their income to hobbyists and people saving for a purchase.
Copper is worth more when stripped of its plastic or rubber insulation, although removing it can be tedious. International Monetary Fund data put its price at about $14,473 per metric ton, or $7.23 per pound, in September, more than double its September 2020 value. Researchers say rising prices and economic hardship can also contribute to copper theft, while legal scrappers include workers, people making ends meet and those raising money for charity.
In short
- TikTok users are sharing videos of stripping copper wire to sell.
- Copper reached about $14,473 per metric ton in September.
- Higher prices can encourage both legitimate scrapping and theft.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
For people with lawful access to discarded wire, stripping copper can turn otherwise wasted material into useful extra income. Rising prices make the effort more worthwhile, and the videos may offer a practical example of a modest side hustle for workers, hobbyists or people saving towards a goal.
The case against
The trend can make a tedious salvage activity look like an easy way to make money, while higher copper prices may also increase incentives for theft. That can impose costs on businesses and communities, so advocates of caution may argue that public attention should acknowledge the difference between legitimate scrapping and stolen wire.