Copper Wire: you can reuse pieces that are long enough, but as mentioned, it is usually more effective to cut it off the branches, and the result is too short to reuse. If you do get longer pieces, you must anneal it to re-soften it or it becomes too brittle. You do this by heating it with a torch or in a fire until it changes color, but stop before it melts. You can either let it cool naturally or quench it with water - this makes no difference in the process. It will then be 'dead soft' (which happens to be what they meant when they said 'dead as a doornail' - it was useful to use soft nails in doors so they could be bent over once pounded thru). Wipe off any loose oxidation with a rag once it's cool.
Make sure you use all proper precautions to keep from burning yourself and others, or your house or buildings.
This takes some time, so you have to balance time verses money to decide if you'd rather just buy new wire.
