When do you stop buying a full roll and do cut lengths for locally stocked wire

For romex and ser when do you stop buying cut length and go for a full roll?

  • 10awg

    Votes: 1 12.5%

  • 8awg

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 6awg

    Votes: 1 12.5%

  • 4awg

    Votes: 6 75.0%
  • Total voters
    8
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L

letgomywago

Senior Member
Location
Washington state and Oregon coast
Occupation
residential electrician
For romex and ser when do you stop buying cut length and go for a full roll.

I've always done cut lengths after 10 but even then I've done 10 2 and 10 3 so I don't waste more than a couple feet. Some guys buy the 125 ft rolls of 6 and 8 and some get the rolls of 4 ser although I've always cut lengthed that size.
 
I guess it depends on how much you use. If you are your feet a month it's probably best to buy what you need. If you're using enough that you know that you're going to need some down the road is probably best to buy in bulk because it's going to more cost effective.

Incidentally, I don't know if they still do it but at least some electrical supply houses will keep stock for you at their location, or even at your location. Obviously they are not going to do this for people buying 100 ft of something at a time but if you're a serious player in the game they will do a lot to keep your business.
 
Kind of depends on what conductors/cables your supplier will cut as well. Some don't want to cut much of anything under 6 or 8 AWG.
 
Do you think cut lengths are better for waist??.
I do not like taking time to measure accurately then pulling wire . I would rather just set reel up and doing it once. May have waist at end is only problem
 
AC\DC said:
What get me is i there no price break for buying 1000 foot roll vs 250
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Even my cut lengths for these are the same per foot that's why I even do it with 10 3 sometimes. I'd rather measure accurately and know if it's a run of 145 ft and only need to waste 5 ft or so than to have a roll of 250 then need to buy another roll of 250 becuse my next run of the same wire is 135 ft.
 
I rarely shop at a supply house because the price I get is so much higher than Home Depot or Menards. Incidentally, Menards sells a good variety of prepackaged footages on #8 & #6 - 25, 50, 75, 100, 125

10/2 and 10/3 rolls only (250')
I just want to know that I already have what I need for a dryer, water heater, air conditioner, etc.

8/2, 6/2 and 6/3 I rarely use, so I get the closest precut pack.
 
James L said:
I rarely shop at a supply house because the price I get is so much higher than Home Depot or Menards. Incidentally, Menards sells a good variety of prepackaged footages on #8 & #6 - 25, 50, 75, 100, 125
Click to expand...
So does HD, but the per-foot prices are ridiculous, especially for #10 and smaller.

(I know you mentioned larger wire sizes.)
 
LarryFine said:
So does HD, but the per-foot prices are ridiculous, especially for #10 and smaller.

(I know you mentioned larger wire sizes.)
Click to expand...
I was mistaken about them having 100 ft.
I just looked

The 6/3 at Menards is $500 for 125 ft ($4/ft), $325 for 75 ft ($4.30/ft), and $230 for 50ft ($4.60/ft)

That's not too much higher. I've mostly stopped buying wire at HD because it's all locked up, and I don't feel like waiting 45 minutes for somebody to mosey on over to unlock it
 
I don't know how to answer the poll. Am I going up or down the list to decide where to stop? Why not word it the opposite? ("When do you stop buying rolls and start buying cut length?")

We generally buy rolls for anything 6awg and under. It will eventually get used, and the price is not likely to be lower in the future.

4awg and upwards we'll consider on a project by project basis, just due to the greater cost being floated if you don't use it as quick.
 
James L said:
I was mistaken about them having 100 ft.
I just looked

The 6/3 at Menards is $500 for 125 ft ($4/ft), $325 for 75 ft ($4.30/ft), and $230 for 50ft ($4.60/ft)

That's not too much higher. I've mostly stopped buying wire at HD because it's all locked up, and I don't feel like waiting 45 minutes for somebody to mosey on over to unlock it
Click to expand...
It's more expensive there than my normal suppliers
 
I tried negotiating with platt in coosbay, manger said well that’s the price, sorry. Previous guy would give breaks. If you have a guy that negotiate take him out to dinner 5 star
 
I do not recall ever buying by the foot, except once when out of 3/0 for a service (and low on cash at the time also) and bought 27 ft of 4/0 aluminum for convenience once.

Now, got a good deal on metal sheathed 3 conductor 250 MCM at an auction once upon a time, still have the 1000 ft spool in storage.
 
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