bronze question

Quick question. Is bronze magnetic in the least? Have some interesting pipe connectors that appear to be orange in color, but slightly magnetic. Thinking bronze, but never really ran into it before.

Thanks for the help.

I have seen some brass that is slightly attract/ repell magnets.

I don't know if this will help, but i have seen bronze that a magnetic sticks to. Were i work we use two different bronze materials.
aluminium bronze, and nickel bronze. Nickel Bronze i believe is magnetic, because nickel is magnetic.


Hope this helps!!
Disclaimer I'm not %100 sure

-Ryan

i was thinking bronze had tin mix with copper
a quick google search had this on line one, courtesy of wikipedia
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity,

i don't think think that tin is whats causing it to be magnetic, cause tin is in all bronze and its just some bronze thats magnetic

The only metals that a scrapper will run across that are magnetic are nickel, cobalt and iron. Bring it to your local yard and have them shoot it with the XRF gun.

Originally Posted by BohemianLush

The only metals that a scrapper will run across that are magnetic are nickel, cobalt and iron. Bring it to your local yard and have them shoot it with the XRF gun.

There are so many different alloys similar to what scrappers call "bronze" or "brass", it would take days to explain them all. With that being said, most yards only buy a few different classifications from the general public: Yellow Brass, Red Brass, Hard Brass. With this being the case, it probably is an alloy with some ferrous content- and I can't imagine the OP's item being large enough to be worth it for the yard to shoot- you would be best in this scenario to haggle with your local yard on the price (obviously, in most cases, the warehouse guy will not have a clue- so, talk to someone with a little clout!).

If it lightly draws a magnet a magnet it is very likely aluminum bronze. You will see it often in marine applications. If you find a propeller of a boat you think is brass it is likely aluminum bronze. It is worth the same as yellow brass typically. Some places will also call it ampco bronze.

I say if a magnet sticks or is drawn to it then it is tin that is added to the copper. A magnet will not be drawn to aluminum or copper but I have never seen a magnet fall off of tin. My .02

Originally Posted by happyscraper

I say if a magnet sticks or is drawn to it then it is tin that is added to the copper. A magnet will not be drawn to aluminum or copper but I have never seen a magnet fall off of tin. My .02

Tin by itself is not magnetic. What is commonly refered to as tin is actually steel which may or may not have a thin layer of tin plated on to it.

Some brass from India for example will have a slight pull on a strong magnet. Things like those nick nacks and candle e. There is a small amount of iron in it.

Originally Posted by CGsEnterprises

There are so many different alloys similar to what scrappers call "bronze" or "brass", it would take days to explain them all. With that being said, most yards only buy a few different classifications from the general public: Yellow Brass, Red Brass, Hard Brass. With this being the case, it probably is an alloy with some ferrous content- and I can't imagine the OP's item being large enough to be worth it for the yard to shoot- you would be best in this scenario to haggle with your local yard on the price (obviously, in most cases, the warehouse guy will not have a clue- so, talk to someone with a little clout!).

Bronze is copper and tin and brass is copper and zinc. Although there might be slight traces of other elements in the composition, brass and bronze must contain these elements. As for not being enough in weight to shoot with the XRF gun...he didn't even mention weights. When one of my customers bring in an item and doesn't know what it is I will shoot it for them no matter the weight. This is a courtsey that any yard worth its weight in salt should do for their customers. Hell, I even told anyone on SMF to send me a small sample along with a self addressed envelope and I will shoot it and send you a copy of the element breakdown. You mentioned haggling over price. I guess as a buyer for the company I would be the person with the "clout" to decide price. I never haggle over price if I don't know what the worth of the material is. That would be like haggling over the price of a car without knowing the make, model and year.

Yeah, I guess I shouldn't have assumed the weight of the object...but honestly, most yards making money to buy a gun are more concerned with their corporate accounts. It's pretty cool to know you offer that, but I can tell you, you are one of few that have that kind of time on their hands. As far as the haggling, I guess it depends on the context. If you are in a car lot full of like makes and models, it should be pretty easy to identify the one you are looking at. Either way...it was just my thoughts.