A question on brass

Hey guys,

I had about 220 lbs of brass come in yesterday. It was mostly stuff from all different sizes of propane tanks. Some of it is straight up brass fittings. I had a question on the valves though. I removed the white metal (zinc ?) shutoff handles and anything non-metallic that i could get at.

You can't get at the innards of the valve though. There's a check valve in the inlet side and an overpressure relief valve built right into it. The non-brass stuff adds very little weight.

Is this generally a non issue or are they fussy about valves at the yard ?

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Originally Posted by hills

Hey guys,

I had about 220 lbs of brass come in yesterday. It was mostly stuff from all different sizes of propane tanks. Some of it is straight up brass fittings. I had a question on the valves though. I removed the white metal (zinc ?) shutoff handles and anything non-metallic that i could get at.

You can't get at the innards of the valve though. There's a check valve in the inlet side and an overpressure relief valve built right into it. The non-brass stuff adds very little weight.

Is this generally a non issue or are they fussy about valves at the yard ?

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I've always left stuff like that on and never had an issue, at 2 different yards. As long as its MOSTLY clean theyll usually take it as clean brass. at least by me. I wouldnt bother and just take it to the yard as is.... at the very worst, the yards by me have a "clean brass" and a "mixed brass" categories. Ive never had them downgrade me to mixed, but even if they did I think right now its $1.16/lb vs $0.80/lb, so not the end of the world. But I would say try just leaving it

Yeah, i've never had an issue before either. They only have one category of yellow brass at the yard i go to. It's currently 1.10/lb

As long as a magnet wont stick or pull to the valves you should be fine. Its most likely just a piece of rubber in there

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hills

Hey guys,

I had about 220 lbs of brass come in yesterday. It was mostly stuff from all different sizes of propane tanks. Some of it is straight up brass fittings. I had a question on the valves though. I removed the white metal (zinc ?) shutoff handles and anything non-metallic that i could get at.

You can't get at the innards of the valve though. There's a check valve in the inlet side and an overpressure relief valve built right into it. The non-brass stuff adds very little weight.

Is this generally a non issue or are they fussy about valves at the yard ?

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Sounds like a 3rd world issue just pass it on to me :)

My yards would down grade it. Since brass is such a soft metal, a proper size drill bit will solve the problem. Just make sure to include the drill shavings with the brass.

I appreciate the help everyone. I'm still kinda new to the non ferrous and there's always more to learn.

Much as anything, i would like to turn in a good product so i'll spend some more time processing the valves.

A lot of it is trial and error to find the quickest and easiest way of doing things. Getting the white metal valve handles off was a bit of a trial till it dawned on me cut the valve stem just below the handle w/ a sawzall.

I'll try drilling out the over pressure relief valves in the A.M.

Seems like every day is an adventure lately. Took in a propane fired pool heater today. I was thinking what the heck .... a pool heater in Maine? Not something you see every day way out here in the sticks.

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Originally Posted by mikeinreco

Sounds like a 3rd world issue just pass it on to me :)

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Jeez Mike ... i know times are hard but are you working barefoot these days ? o:)

No just processing 1000's of pounds of power supplies

Brass being always a highly mixed alloy most yards have a higher allowance for 1-2% contamination in clean yellow brass, less to none for specific brass alloys or red brass, hard brass and so on. YMMV tho at your local yards.