Brass vs Bronze

Hey Guys,

I'm new here, and I've collected metal scraps for years and just given them to my dad to recycle, but now I live pretty far away, so I'm starting to save my scraps I find to try to make a little extra cash.

I've got some metal castings that weigh about 25-30lbs each, and I'm not sure what material it is - Brass or Bronze or else. It is not magnetic, it is a "dirty" gold color. I think it is brass, but how can you tell?

Or - does it really matter?

Thanks,

Welcome to the forum. Yes, it matters. Does it bend (brass) or is it brittle (bronze)? Is it yellow-ish - (brass, like a doorknob) or red-ish brown (bronze)?

Both consist of copper. The difference is what it is alloyed with and the percentage.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mick

Welcome to the forum. Yes, it matters. Does it bend (brass) or is it brittle (bronze)? Is it yellow-ish - (brass, like a doorknob) or red-ish brown (bronze)?

Both consist of copper. The difference is what it is alloyed with and the percentage.

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It is definitely yellowish (kind of like a dull gold color) but not redish brown. It is a big round casting so I can't really tell f it is brittle and sure can't bend it.

I've got a dozen or so of them, so I'm hoping I can cash in on them. I think the current price for brass is $1.70/lb (for 50-100lbs - which I've got about 300lbs) in my area, but wasn't sure about bronze prices.

Probably brass. Do you have a phone # for them? Just call and ask.

I'll have to call them. Thanks Mick!