Brass Buyer’s Guide

Brass, Customer Buying Tips
Mar 312010

History

Brass objects appeared in China in the third millennium BC and by the third millennium BC brass began to pop up in sites from the Aegean Sea to the Persian Gulf. Back then, early copper-zinc brass alloy composition varied, as copper was smelted having a range of zinc from a 5% to 15%, most likely a result of naturally occurring zinc-rich copper ore being used.

Brasses’ near gold-like sheen inspired the Age of Alchemy, the metal spreading across the known world because of its beauty and durability. Yet until the mid 1700’s, the alchemists had no clue that the zinc powder used in the melting pot was actually a metal.

Today numerous types of brass are created in alloys using everything from tin to arsenic, aluminum to lead, manganese and so on.

This wide range of characteristics makes brass suitable for limitless applications, from industrial uses like spark reduction in electrical components and everyday uses, ranging from musical instruments to zippers. Yet its muted yellow color sometimes referred to “gold-like” makes brass an ideal metal for decoration in homes and offices.

Brass is also sought out for its resistance to tarnishing. Once polished, it will retain its finish for a long time without requiring attention, which is why it was used as a mirror in antiquity.

Another excellent characteristic of brass is its malleability. Brass is more ductile than copper or zinc alone. It also has a fairly low melting point depending on the alloy, and its molten flow characteristics makes it popular for casting.

QuickShipMetals.com sells brass sheet, brass rod, coils or foil most commonly used for counter tops, backsplashes, accents around cabinets and mantels as well as decorative artwork and accent pieces like name and light-switch plates.

Brass Sheeting and Coils (Foil)

QuickShipMetals.com offers brass sheeting and brass sheeting coils manufactured under the specifications of ASTM B19 and B36. The sheeting’s soft temper comes from the brass alloy C260, an alloy also known as yellow brass or cartridge brass that is roughly 70% copper and 30% zinc as classified by the Copper Development Association.

Alloy 260 Composition: 68 to 71% Copper; 28 to 31% Zinc; 0.07% Lead; and 0.05% Iron

Alloy 260 is highly corrosion resistant with excellent electrical properties, and capable of developing high tensile strength and hardness. Temper ranges from dead soft to extra strong.

Malleable and ductile, 260 brass is easy to form. Over time the brass surface reacts with air and forms a protective patina.

Note that 260 brass sheet is not recommended when machining brass or welding. And it will not harden when heat-treated.

Thickness

Calling out the gauge of the metal is another way of saying the thickness. It is important to keep in mind that with gauge, the larger the number the thinner the material. Brass sheet with a thickness of 24-gauge is much thinner than 16-gauge.

QuickShipMetals.com sells brass sheet that is thicker than its brass coil sheeting. The thicknesses of our brass sheet begin at 0.02” and goes up to 0.125”. If you are in need of something thinner than brass sheet, our brass coil sheeting ranges in thickness from 0.005 or 8 Gauge to 0.020 or 24 Gauge.

This cross-reference table – based on Brown and Sharpe – will help you convert gauge to inches and pounds per square foot.

Brass Sheet from QuickShipMetals.com:

Gauge No. Inches Lbs./Sq. Ft.
24 0.020 .89
20 0.036 1.42
18 0.045 1.79
14 0.064 2.84
8 0.125 5.70

Brass Coils from QuickShipMetals.com:

Gauge No. Inches Lbs./Sq. Ft.
24 0.020 .89
30 0.010 .45
36 0.005 .23

Flexibility

If flexibility is an issue, here’s a simple way to compare the thickness and flexibility of brass metals from QuickShipMetal.com. The thickness of metal sheeting is listed in decimals, such as 0.20. Metal sheeting with the thickness of .010, compared to our American system of fractions, would measure to less than 1/64 inch.

Now, let’s go one step further with a comparison of the flexibility of the metal that you can relate to an item in your everyday life. If you may have a Blockbuster membership card or a Bonus rewards card, brass sheeting with a .010 thickness will have the same flexibility as either of these cards. Keep in mind that these two cards are thinner than a standard credit card, which is less flexible. A standard credit card measures .028.

Solid Brass Rods

QuickShipMetals.com offers brass round rod manufactured under the specifications of ASTM B16, SAE J461 and J463. Made of brass alloy C360 round brass rod is known for its strength and corrosion resistance with properties closely resembling that of steel. The rods’ half-hard temper is ideal for high-precision machining, making it an industry standard.

Alloy 360 Composition: 61.5% Copper; 35.5% Zinc; 3% Lead; and 0.35% Iron

360 Brass round rod is an excellent metal to use because it resists corrosion, is durable and attractive. Over time the brass surface reacts with air and forms a protective patina. These qualities make brass round rod a fantastic metal to use in automobiles, industrial equipment, plumbing, as well as for decorative hardware.

360 Brass round rod can be cut down and molded fairly simply to meet various project specifications. However, this specific brass alloy has only fair to poor characteristics when used in forming operations. And while 360brass rod is highly recommended for machining, it is not suitable for welding, though 360 brass can be soldered and brazed to a limited degree.

QuickShipMetals.com sells brass round rod in numerous lengths ranging from 12” to 96” depending on diameters, which range in standard increments from .25” to 3.0” – the following quick links will take you to the exact-diameter product page:

Brass Round Rod – .25" Dia. Brass Round Rod – 1.375" Dia.
Brass Round Rod – .312" Dia. Brass Round Rod – 1.5" Dia.
Brass Round Rod – .375" Dia. Brass Round Rod – 1.625" Dia.
Brass Round Rod – .5" Dia. Brass Round Rod – 1.75" Dia.
Brass Round Rod – .625" Dia. Brass Round Rod – 2.0" Dia.
Brass Round Rod – .75" Dia. Brass Round Rod – 2.25" Dia.
Brass Round Rod – .875" Dia. Brass Round Rod – 2.5" Dia.
Brass Round Rod – 1.0" Dia. Brass Round Rod – 2.75" Dia.
Brass Round Rod – 1.25" Dia. Brass Round Rod – 3.0" Dia.
 

Common Uses for Brass Sheet and Rod

The most popular type of brass sold at QuickShipMetals.com is 20- and 24-gauge brass sheet, which is thin enough to adapt to numerous art and home hobby projects. Brass is also sold for a number of DIY projects that range from fireplace surrounds to garden markers, including …

Fireplace Surrounds, Kick Plates, Fishing Lures, Trivets, Dog Tags, Wind Chimes, Garden Markets, Ventilation Grates, Heat Diffusers, Furniture and Door Inlays, Name Plates, and Tabletops.

Even with so many potential applications and options for using brass it really isn’t difficult to pick the right type for any project. If you still have questions, link back to our friendly customer service staff at QuickShipMetals.com or call toll free 1-866-334-2177.

Posted by Frank Ross at 12:14 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Mastering the Metal Box

Fun Projects, Simple Solutions
Mar 122010

The first step in building a metal box is to notch the corners.

To kick off Metallic Moments, our series on metal working and fabricating, let’s take a look at one of the basic techniques in metal work – making square corners. Jim Koper is a master metal worker at Storm Copper and he has a passion for custom work that lets him exercise his creative nature.

“The first step to making a metal box is notching out the corners so they’ll meet at the right angle when you bend them together. While you can bend sheet metal up to 16 gauge by hand, using a piece of wood and a mallet, it is a very difficult and tedious process. And for 18 gauge you’d really have to struggle with it. So, once I’ve notched all four corners, I’ll be using a box and pan handbrake to bend the sides,” he said.

Koper went on to explain that a sheet metal handbrake bends sheet metal by using a hinged clamping bar to hold the metal down against the bed. A hinged bending “leaf” is lifted to fold the metal around the fulcrum point of the clamping bar to the desired angle. However, with a standard hand brake can only bend three sides. A box and pan brake is designed to prevent the metal from hitting against the clamping bar when the 3rd and 4th sides are being bent. The clamping bar on a box and pan handbrake is divided up into many assemblies called “fingers” which can be removed at each end of the box.

Once the corners are formed, Koper uses a TIG welder to seal the two pieces of each corner together, and then he grinds away the excess bead to dress up the seam and make the corners into a smooth joint. Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, is an arc welding process that uses a nonconsumable tungsten electrode to weld two pieces of metal together. During the bonding process, the area to be welded is protected from atmospheric contamination by a shielding gas and a filler metal is normally used. The shielding gas is usually an inert gas such as argon.

“The twisted handles I put on top are made from ¼” square stock that has been heated to 1200 degrees to anneal or soften the copper. Then once it cools, I put one end in a vice and use an adjustable wrench to twist it, and then make the curve by bending it over a piece of pipe,” he added.

The next step is to pickle the whole box in muriatic acid to remove the scale that develops from welding, and then it’s just hand polishing to develop the final finish. While admiring his work, Koper offers a bit of encouragement to those who would like to duplicate this box. “Boxes aren’t that difficult to make, just basic hand work.”
This beautiful copper box was fabricated using .024 gauge decorative copper sheet. Contact our friendly customers service staff at 1-888-334-2177, or order online at quickshipmetals.com.

Posted by Frank Ross at 10:59 am Tagged with: , , , , ,

A masterful job on a Master Craft

Fun Projects, Problem Solved
Mar 042010

When Chris got a chance to purchase the boat of his dreams he didn’t hesitate, even though he knew he’d have to update it a bit. The dash was faded from the sun and being a metal worker he knew just what he wanted to do. With two pieces of brushed stainless and the purchase of some custom bits to drill the holes, this 18′ 1985 Master Craft Competition ski boat is just about ready for the water and a summer full of skiing! One thing for sure, with the brushed stainless steel, there won’t be any problem with the dash fading now. Thanks to the folks at Quick Ship Metal for a great price on the metal.

Need some stainless steel? Here’s the good stuff at a great price!

Posted by Frank Ross at 4:21 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

Enjoy a Metalic Momentic

QuickShipMetals Announcements
Mar 032010

As a collective society we tend to think of ourselves as very sophisticated, more refined and better educated than our ancestors. To some degree that may be true. After all we have the iPod and the iPhone, and some of us can actually use them.

Much of our national pride in anchored to technology, but just a few years ago only one in 10 homes in this country had a telephone. These wooden boxes with gleaming brass bells mounted prominently above the mouthpiece were considered a luxury. They were mounted permanently on the wall, connected to the world with small copper wires.

Politicians like to take credit for the fact that our nation put a man on the moon, but I can remember standing outside in our front yard, looking up in the dark sky, as the Russian Sputnik passed overhead. Sunlight reflecting off of its metal surfaces glowed brightly as neighbors remarked that people have lost touch with reality.

Sadly, they were right, but not for the reasons they were considering. In our rush to adapt new technologies, we have lost the connection to and awareness of things that were common knowledge for elementary students only a generation past.

For example, on a really cold winter’s day, people often say, “It’s cold enough to freeze the balls off of a brass monkey,” snickering at the visual image and sexual connotation that remark conjures up. But, historically, the term had nothing to do with the animal, nor its anatomy. In the early history of the world’s navies, power was projected with a fleet of wooden warships bristling with cannons and the will to use them. In battle, it was critical to have a ready supply of cannon balls placed in strategic positions on the gun deck. To keep them in place, they were stacked on a metal plate with indentations to keep them from rolling away. Starting with a base of sixteen, these square-based pyramids could hold a supply of 30 cannonballs in a small area next to each cannon. These monkeys were made of brass, so they wouldn’t rust in the harsh environment of salt and sea. Unfortunately, one thing the navy didn’t consider is brass contracts faster than steel. When it was really cold, the brass contracted so much it would literally squeeze the steel cannon balls out of the rack and they would roll about on the deck, while sailors scampered about to gather them.

And what about the term, right-hand man? We use it often, and although there is a general understanding of the meaning, the origin and importance of the term has been lost to a population with a disdain for history. During this same period in time, a gentleman defended himself with a blade of cold steal that he carried on his left side. If an enemy wanted to do you harm, all they had to do was win your confidence to the point that you allowed them to walk on your right side. When an assailant approached, the deceiver only had to do keep you from drawing your sword by restricting the motion of your right hand, and in the flash of a blade of steel you were done in. Therefore, only your most trusted friend was allowed to walk on your right side, and he became known as a right-hand man. Unfortunately, as Caesar found out the hard way, right-hand men could be bought for a price or the promise of power.

Only a few years back, every community had a blacksmith. Although scarce today, there are still many men practicing this time-honored craft. The term “smith” means they make things, or are craftsmen, and the “black” part of “blacksmith,” means that he is someone who works in “black” metal — iron — as opposed to the “white” metals such as tin or silver. While Hollywood has popularized the image of a man pounding out horseshoes in the old west, these craftsmen were important because they created many things that were necessary for our daily existence. From plowshare to wagon wheel, hinge and hearth as well as the cooking vessels than hung on the hearth, if it was made of iron, it came from the village blacksmith’s forge.

While we may have lost the awareness of these men and their skilled craftsmanship, we have not lost our affection for things of metal. In our homes and offices, we surround ourselves with metal décor and accent our rooms with stainless steel, copper and brass. Sure, it’s serviceable, durable and beautiful, but I think the reason we love metal around us runs deeper than we might imagine. There is a sense of strength and permanence in the touch of metal that connects us back to a simpler time when things were made to last.

In the coming weeks, I’m going to share an occasional “metalic moment” with you, and take a look at the techniques used to work with metal. Who knows, you might have the heart of a blacksmith waiting to be discovered.

In the meantime, if you’re considering a purchase of metal for a project, please evaluate the wide variety of metals offered at quickshipMetals.com

Posted by Frank Ross at 11:57 am Tagged with: , , , , , , ,
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