What Is Brass And Where Can You Find This Type Of Scrap Metal?
While you are busy collecting scrap metal, you might come across all sorts of metal types. Iron, copper, aluminum, and steel are some of the most common metal types you might come across. But ever so now and then you might get your hands on a little bit of brass. In this guide, we are going to take a closer look at what this metal is and we share some great places where you can seek out this recyclable material.
What Is Brass Metal?
Brass metal is an alloy of copper and zinc. The proportions of copper and zinc used in these metals can vary. In modern basic bras, 67% of copper and 33% of zinc is used from the metal. Some brass types can however have much more copper with up to 95% copper. This type of metal usually also contains 2% of lead metal.
Brass metal types is a good conductor of heat and should warm up quickly if you expose it to heat. The metal is also corrosion-resistant and isn’t likely to rust away. This metal is also easy to cast because it has a low melting point.
How To Identify Brass Metal
Brass metal has quite a few unique characteristics. This metal usually has a bright golden appearance but can sometimes look reddish gold or even silvery white. The more copper the metal contains, the reddish the brass will seem while a higher percentage of lead and zinc can make the metal seem lighter or more silvery.
Bass and bronze metals can look very similar. The easiest way to distinguish between these two metals is by observing the tarnish on the pieces.
When bronze metals become tarnished, they will turn brown. Brass metal, on the other hand, will turn black. Brass also has a more yellow tint to it and tends to shine a little bit more than bronze metals.
Where To Find Brass?
Brass metal is used in a variety of products because it is malleable and easy to cast. Here is a quick look at the best places to find brass metal.
- Heaters And Plumbing
Brass metal is a good heat conductor and it is tarnish-resistant. Because of this, it is often used in plumbing to form pipes, fittings, and taps. You can also find it in heaters or boilers.
- Doorknobs And Keys
Brass is naturally antibacterial which is exactly why it is often used to create doorknobs. Bacteria won’t live long on brass surfaces which is helpful for preventing the spread of disease. This metal is also used to produce locks and keys for the exact same reason.
- Hardware Tools
Brass metal can be used to create all sorts of hardware items and tools. The metal is frequently used to make nails, bits, tacks, and measuring instruments.
- Decorative Items
Because the metal is malleable, it is often used to create decorative accessories like sculptures, wall art, and furniture fixtures. Inspect furniture items like headboards, curtain rods, and garden decorations if you are looking for brass.
- Shell Casings
You are very likely to find lots of brass at shooting ranges because shell casings are often made from this metal.
- Musical Instruments
Brass metal is great for producing musical instruments because it produces fine acoustic sounds. The metal is often used to manufacture french horns, tubas, trumpets, trombones, and many other items.
- Gears And Parts
Brass is also often used to produce small gears and parts for tiny devices like watches, compasses, and barometers. These tiny gadgets might not offer you a bulk supply of brass but it is still interesting to know that the metal has so many applications.
If you find lots of brass metal and want cash for brass then you should give Danny Scrap Metal a call. This company is always on the lookout for quality metal and they offer cash for copper and brass you might want to get rid of.