By Mike Robinson on June 22, 2008 Verified by Email

I can't imagine why anyone would buy copper wiring at any place other than an electrical supply house. Home Depot and Lowes - most of the big box chains - artificially inflate their wire prices so that they don't have to manage the wild fluctuations in copper commodities.

For example, I needed some 8/3 to wire up a stove. At Lowes and Home Depot it was over $8/m. At Torbram it was $6.48. At Canadian Tire it was $11. Buying 22 meters, that's big savings. While there I picked up all the 1.5" rigid conduit I needed to complete my project, and did the whole order $80 cheaper than Home Depot, which did not carry my LBs or high pressure adhesive.

When it comes to wiring and electrical supplies, it pays big time to shop around and not automatically head to the chains.

By Mike Robinson on June 22, 2008 Verified by Email

I can't imagine why anyone would buy copper wiring at any place other than an electrical supply house. Home Depot and Lowes - most of the big box chains - artificially inflate their wire prices so that they don't have to manage the wild fluctuations in copper commodities.

For example, I needed some 8/3 to wire up a stove. At Lowes and Home Depot it was over $8/m. At Torbram it was $6.48. At Canadian Tire it was $11. Buying 22 meters, that's big savings. While there I picked up all the 1.5" rigid conduit I needed to complete my project, and did the whole order $80 cheaper than Home Depot, which did not carry my LBs or high pressure adhesive.

When it comes to wiring and electrical supplies, it pays big time to shop around and not automatically head to the chains.