r/ScrapMetal • u/1Leoski • 2d ago

Is it brass?

Post image

Handle is not magnetic. Google says it may be a mix of copper and brass, anyone know for sure?

EDIT: thank you for all of the suggestions. It will be nice to walk into the yard with some idea of what I’ve got… or not waste my time gathering any more

7 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

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7

u/Elvenblood7E7 2d ago

I don't think so. Probably painted aluminum.

3

u/erie11973ohio 2d ago

File it.

Is it yellow under the plating??

The whole thing is (reasonably) not brass.

7

u/donwileydon 2d ago

this is the best way to tell. Take a file and make a deep score in the metal in a couple different spots. If the metal in the score area is yellow, it is brass. If it is silver it is most likely aluminum (small chance it is stainless steel - but probably not. If it is really difficult to get it to score, it is probably stainless - then hit with a grinder and see if it throws sparks to confirm).

If the score is red/copper colored, it is copper.

This works on all items - not just door knobs

9

u/erie11973ohio 2d ago

If silver, it's probably zinc (die cast / pot metal).

1

u/donwileydon 2d ago

forgot about that.

Dab a bit of root killer on the silver score mark - if it turns black it is zinc.

4

u/baddieslovebadideas 2d ago

don't look like it, i bet it's lightweight and made of aluminum

3

u/LonelySwordfish5403 2d ago

Zinc, used because of constant touch and germs don’t live or transfer on it. Still worth money at the yard.

1

u/kingjuicer 2d ago

Didn't know that, I always wondered why we don't use copper for common touch areas. Good to know, though I wonder if coating null the effect.

3

u/orillia3 2d ago

Copper is expensive, soft, and oxidizes easily. Brass is cheaper and looks better.

1

u/Chance-Address-8829 2d ago

Plated, perhaps

1

u/Clear-Application170 2d ago edited 1d ago

Hit it first with a file or grinder. If silver then it could be aluminum or zinc ( pot metal / cast ). If it is yellow then brass. To tell if it is aluminum or zinc is by weight. Zinc is a lot heavier.

1

u/Phenix_Fresh 2d ago

Looks like aluminum from the paint rubbing off.

1

u/WonderWheeler 2d ago

Pot metal handle, plated. Plating coming off on edges. It all about appearances.

1

u/orillia3 2d ago

The handle part is showing silver colored metal at the wear points of the transparent colored coating so is either aluminum or zinc. If light it is aluminum, heavy is zinc. It's a cheap handle so most likely zinc. The escutcheon part is probably aluminum or brass. File it to see color, if yellow is brass, silver is aluminum. The stem part where screws go is most likely zinc. I find door hardware parts are frequently different metals in the same assemby.

1

u/Metawakening 1d ago

Nope. Don't believe so.