Hello from a color blind scrapper who can't tell brass from copper

Just joined today after I saw a reference on gargage journal.

I buy a lot of old tools and my favorite things to buy are lots and bundles. As such, sometimes the items have no value to me so I like to scrap the metals. Copper, brass, aluminum and even steel. Makes no sense to thow things in the garbage if you can get cash for it and help the environment. I think scrapping's kind of fun. I enjoy the breakdowns.

Anyway, anyone else have trouble telling brass from copper, and if so, are you color blind? I'm red-green color blind but don't know how that applies to my brass / copper issue.

If you tap copper with a hammer it thinks while brass has a ring to it.

Welcome from South Dakota. I have good vision, and I still sometimes have trouble telling red brass from copper. Here's a link that might help.

Some notes on brass

I have a friend with the same problem as you have. He was dealing with plumbing, so in that case GENERALLY your pipe will be copper and your fittings, elbows, etc. will be brass.there is a saying brass is cast, and I can't remember the rest. Maybe someone else can finish the saying for me. What kinds of items are you having trouble identifying?

Just miscellaneous items. Good to know that plumbing fittings are usually brass, I thought they were copper because the pipe itself is copper. I do know fixtures are typically brass.

Likewise, I assumed that the prongs on powercords are copper because the wire is copper but I just read on this forum today that the prongs are brass.

I have a hard enough time telling brass from copper let alone the different types of brass and copper within their own families.

Here's another good link:

Piping and plumbing fitting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A general rule would be if the fitting is soldered on its copper. If it's threaded its brass.

Another source for non plumbing items on the forum is the spark test. Using a grinder, you can identify all types of metals based on their spark patterns. Wish I could post a direct link, but my knowledge level does not match the technology others on the forum enjoy. Good luck.

that's how I learned it as well is if its threaded its brass but not always true as well as for helping I guess I have thick glasses but not color blind so I will wish you the best of luck scrapping and your yards if you find good ones will help you a lot if you let them know

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Originally Posted by Patriot76

Another source for non plumbing items on the forum is the spark test. Using a grinder, you can identify all types of metals based on their spark patterns. Wish I could post a direct link, but my knowledge level does not match the technology others on the forum enjoy. Good luck.

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This is a good tip, but Cu and brass don't spark. This is why sparkless hammers and tools are brass.

Eric

Hey sweaty1:

I don't know why but your problem kept me awake last night. Maybe because I have a friend named Bill and he has the same struggles as you. So I thought of a few things.

Do you have a wife or girlfriend or son or daughter living with you that you could train to recognize metals?

Another option would be to start your own thread on SMF. Some of the guys here start thier own threads to chronicle thier scrapping adventures. You could start the "sweaty color blind thread". When you run into something you have a problem identifying you could snap a pic and post it on your thread and someone here could help you identify it. I don't think anyone here would mind, and if they did they could just block your posts in thier settings.

I hope you don't give up. The struggle is real, but scrapping is very rewarding.

Welcome from south of the city