Bare Bright: Only bright, shiny wire that is not coated fits into this category. Each individual strand of the wire must be the size of a No.2 pencil lead or larger. No contaminants allowed to receive full price, includes enamel coating.
Number 1: For wire, each individual strand of the wire must be the size of a No.2 pencil lead or larger. Corrosion and small amounts of paint is acceptable. For pipe and other copper material, it must be clean and shiny to the point that you can still read the original manufacturer stamp. No contaminants allowed to receive full price, includes enamel coating.
Number 2: For wire, each individual strand is smaller than the size of a No. 2 pencil lead. For pipe, other copper material, and wire, the only contaminations allowed is corrosion, paint, enamel coating, and solder. All other contaminants are not allowed to receive full price. (Clean copper that has been casted regardless of size gets purchased as number 2 copper.)
Number 3: Sheet copper. Examples: copper pans, flashing. The only contamination allowed is corrosion, paint, enamel coating and solder. All other contaminants are not allowed to receive full price.