Experienced Scrapper
What is this??
Can anyone help me identify this metal. First it is non magnetic, it is pretty heavy and it looks like brass. The problem I am having is that if you look inside the texture of the metal is odd. It also seems brittle. Could this be brass, lead, maybe pewter? Hopefully the pictures show it well enough.
Thanks for the help.
Last edited by worley76; 08-26-2011 at 03:06 PM. Reason: photos didn't work
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spark test it. whats stopping you from thinking its actually brass?
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My guess is brass but I'm no expert. I've seen a lot of candlesticks, etc. that look like that. Whenever something is cast, you will have that grainy texture on the unfinished surfaces of the piece.
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Can you grind off some of the surface to get to the clean color? Looks to me like brass.
People may laugh at me, but that's ok. I laugh all the way to the bank.
I agree, that interior texture seems consistent with cast brass
Experienced Scrapper
I guess the color of the inside is what makes me wonder whether it is brass. I am going to break out the grinder in the morning and get down to the inner color. Is cast brass worth much?? Thanks for the help everybody.
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I also vote for cast brass, should still fetch brass price.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
Its diecast. By me it goes for .20 per pound. I think it is also called zinc.
Experienced Scrapper
i agree with diecast. pulled some off an old lamp a couple weeks ago
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I think you would come out better selling it as is,good luck!!!!
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I was just going by the look in the bottom but also the discoloration around the top part, kinda looks like it's turning green(which brass does). Diecast does not.Its diecast.
Take it to the yard and ask them to put the gun on it, then you'll know for sure.
Experienced Scrapper
Well I took the grinder to it today and I don't think it is brass. It is shiny silver under the outer coating. I believe it is diecast. I am going to ask the folks at the yard and hopefully they will be honest about it. I am not sure if they have gun to test it but we will see. Once agin thanks alot for all the help!!!!
Experienced Scrapper
Is there a value to pot metal? It isn't magnetic and doesn't spark so I assume it has some value greater then scrap metal.
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WTH is ''Pot'' metal? I'm going to go look that up as I've never heard that one before!
I just took in a reeeeeealy old lamp base that I thought was brass and after grinding thought it was going to be cast but my yard weighed it as zinc so thats probably what yours will end up being.
worley - I get about 30 cents more for zinc based items by me.
Experienced Scrapper
My yards doesn't list zinc as an item but maybe it will be bought as lead. Going to take it in this Friday and see. Thanks for all the help.
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Could be listed as Die cast. Same as zinc
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worley, dont forget to stop in and let us know what you got it listed as at the yard!Originally Posted by worley76
Experienced Scrapper
Will do!!!
Experienced Scrapper
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that is die cast zinc, or pot metal. give it the acid test. it will smoke and turn black.
Experienced Scrapper
FROM WIKIPEDIA:
Pot metal, also known as monkey metal, white metal or die-cast zinc, is a slang term that refers to alloys that consist of inexpensive, low-melting point metals used to make fast, inexpensive castings.
There is no scientific metallurgical standard for pot metal; common metals in pot metal include zinc, lead, copper, tin, magnesium, aluminium, iron, and cadmium. The primary advantage of pot metal is that it is quick and easy to cast. Due to its low melting temperature no sophisticated foundry equipment is needed and specialized molds are not necessary. It is sometimes used to experiment with molds and ideas before using metals of higher quality. Examples of items created from pot metal include toys, furniture fittings, tool parts, electronics components, and automotive parts.
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