Use a magnet. 04-23-2015, 04:20 PM #22. fciron. Originally Posted by Tank. On the other hand, some people easily point out the difference, just by looking at the material in front of them. Copper. Bronze Applications. The two metals are generally copper (90%) and tin (10%). On the other hand, bronze has a reddish-brown appearance. It will detect the presence of zinc in the metal. The reason I want to know is that I bought a beautiful pair of andirons at a great price. But I honestly don't know whether I have brass or bronze. Therefore, brass is cheaper than bronze. The main difference between brasses and bronzes is that brass is mostly made of copper and zinc while bronze is mostly made of copper and tin. The main indicating factor of the differences between brass and bronze is that bronze will have a much redder color hue than brass would. Actually, antique brass has been fetching some pretty good value in the market as well. Learn More → If you enjoy collecting antiques or found artifacts and restoring them, you may be interested in learning to identify old brass. They differ in the amont of metals used in the amalgam. Brass will look more yellowish due to its higher zinc content. The first one is to scratch the metal with a file, brass is easier to but cut. Bronze is Copper and Tin, and rather hard and heavy. Sparks indicate ferrous metal. Both will weather to the fine verdigris patina without maintenance. These tests, including magnetism and chemical reaction tests, will also help you identify whether your item’s makeup is solid brass or simply has a brass coating. Any way to tell them apart? Brass comes in many different alloys, each with … Many people find it really difficult to differentiate between Bronze, Brass, and Copper. They were covered with soot (sp) and cobwebs. Color. If you are searching for the best way to identify between brass and bronze, you only have to take a closer look at their color. This metal is dark coppery but it could turn greenish after some time. Yellow brass is sometimes called gold brass, but it's not the same thing. Properties. When it comes to bronze, this metal tends to feature a muted yellow shade-type color. Some figures vary between different types of bronze/brass, so do your research if you plan on testing the limits of your valve. The key difference between brass and bronze is that brass contains copper and zinc whereas bronze contains copper and tin. Weighs 4.71 ounces per cubic inch. Most bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, but architectural bronze actually has a small amount of lead in it. View Profile View Forum Posts Stainless Join Date Oct 2009 Location Louisville, KY, USA Posts 1,000 Post Thanks / Like Likes (Given) 215 Likes (Received) 222. Written on: July 14, 2020. The mistake is that sometimes … This makes it appear like dull gold, which is why it is often incorporated into fixtures and furniture. Telling the difference between a gold coin and a bronze coin could mean the difference between a coin worth a few dollars and one worth hundreds. Muted yellow, similar to dull gold. Art Deco sculpture materials . Most metal statues that have a dark blue-green or brownish patina are going to be bronze. I have a non-critical part I'd like to make out of bronze. You can also tell the difference between bronze and brass because bronze will have faint rings on its surface. Cast iron is a dull cement colour and bronze looks more copper-coloured. In ancient times ‘bronze’ was a term that could denote copper or the far more durable alloy fusion of copper and tin. How to Tell Authentic Bronze. Difference Between Bronze, Brass and Copper. bronze's melting point is 850-1000°C (1562-1832°F) depending on how much of each metal is in it. To tell if it's cast iron or any other ferrous metal, you can use a grinding wheel on it and look for sparks. Bronze is a combination of tin and copper, as well as a bit of lead. Composition. Both brass and bronze are copper alloys. Both brass and bronze can be often found with piping and plumbing fixtures. Below is a Comparison Chart that will clearly highlight the similarities and differences between the two metals: Brass vs Bronze. Without any applied patina, it is the same color as some brass. Corrosion is the usual "tell", with brass just not up to the marine environment for very long. Brass is corrosion-resistant, so if it shiny metallic yellow and isn't Gold, it is probably Brass. BRONZE. Some other metals and nonmetals or metalloids are also added, depending on the requirements, to obtain desired properties. 2. One test to determine whether it is solid brass or just brass-plated steel it to put a magnet to it. 3. Written by: Graham Rix. Brass is pretty soft, while bronze can be more … Bronze, brass, and copper can be difficult to tell apart if you don’t know what factors to look for. However, various methods can determine whether you have found a brass antique or an antique composed of another metal. Because bronze is an alloy densities vary. It might be brass, for that matter. Red brass is referred to as rose brass or cast bronze, but whether or not red brass is actually one of those depends on the amount of copper in the metal blend. New brass is shiny bright, without any hint of the copper. There are several ways that performs well in differentiating these two alloys. Alloy of copper and zinc in varying quantities. It’s often mixed with other metals to … It is worth taking a moment to consider the difference between an Art Deco sculpture made in bronze and one made in spelter, and the qualities of each material. If there is a yellowish color, once you file off the surface, you most likely have brass, which is more common. The oxidation is a dark brown. Copper and brass may look alike on the outside, but further scrutiny will tell you another side of the story. Brass is comprised of copper and different ratios of zinc. Discovered s. Dates to about 500 BC. That would make it very heavy. Bronze is nonferrous. This test usually consists of doing a chemical spot test that should not damage the bottom of the piece. Comparing Copper and Brass. Bronze. But with a few simple tools, one can easily tell the difference. Reddish brown . For more info on bronze and brass in valves and on their own, check out this article from ValveMan.com and this one from HenssgenHardware.com. When I cut into the bar it is a brassy color. Bronze vs. Brass. Let’s start with some handy definitions… Bronze. Like the brass, it also has bell like vibration when hit. Take the piece to be chemically tested. What is Bronze? Brass. Lesser grades of bronze can also have some zinc in the alloy, resulting in properties closer to brass. I assume the seller is not sure. I cleaned them and the color is not yellow brassy but not quite "bronzey" either. Alloy of copper and tin, may include phosphorus, manganese, aluminum, or silicon. Bronze has a dark coppery color and gets a green oxide over a period of time. Bronze is used in the construction of sculptures, musical instruments and medals, and in industrial applications such as bushings and bearings, where its low metal on metal friction is an advantage. I've only worked with bearing bronze and such like bronze … Bronze forms a patina or corrosion "skin" as it ages. Brass tends to be a dull gold color, while brass looks more brownish. Brittle, not malleable; breaks if bent. Difference Between Copper, Brass and Bronze | Metal Supermarkets I only wish there was a close-up. Solid brass is non-magnetic. Before you can determine whether the lamp or piece of hardware you want to restore is made of aged brass, however, you need to be aware of some of brass’s properties. How to Tell the Difference Between a Bronze Coin and a Gold Coin By Egon Schiele A gold American Eagle bullion coin. The reason why it resembles copper so much is because it’s actually part copper. A hand crank will rotate a threaded steel shaft and the shafting thread will push/pull this threaded flange. Bronze is an alloy made by melting two different metals and mixing them. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc and to me seems very malleable, shapeable, and fileable. Brass Bronze; Composition: Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Both can have other things added too, though bronze is much more augmented in this regard. Weight and Sound. Brass has zinc added, while bronze uses tin. So, what exactly make it possible for them to tell the type of the materials? Step 1 Take a look at the color of the coin. Bronze Brass; History: Dates back to ~3500 BC : Dates back to ~500 BC: Melting Point: 1590F (865C) 1710F (930C) … How to identify authentic Antique Bronze Sculpture. Brass is a combination of copper and zinc while brass is a combination of copper and tin. Bronze is the familiar brownish color whereas brass is the more greyish greenish, bluish. Bronze. Brass is great for making items like musical instruments or furniture. Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive, but sometimes with other elements such as phosphorus, manganese, aluminum, or silicon. Brass is worth more money due to it being made up almost entirely of copper, which is worth more than zinc. Bronze also has nautical applications because of its … Today, it can be hard to tell the difference between real bronze and fake unless you physically inspect it for characteristics like its weight, magnetism and its patina. Unfortunately, many metals resemble brass, which can make it difficult to identify a brass item. Those looking to separate them from the more valuable copper pipes (reddish) in color, toss the “yellow” metals together and call it brass. Difficult to cast. I would doubt very much that the figure is cast iron. 1. You can also heat the metal in a furnace, brass will melt faster. Bronze is a metal alloy containing copper as the main constituent and tin about 12%. Bronze vibrates like a bell when hit. I see alot of e-bay listings for items stating brass/bronze. Copper is an unusual metal in that, like silver, gold, and tin, it can appear in ``native" form -- that is, as a fairly pure metal, just lying around. Copper, by itself, is too soft, and Tin on its own is too brittle; it breaks too easily. It’s light red and turns greenish with oxidation. (Yeah, I know, taking a grinding wheel (even a Dremel) to a case is probably a no-no.) The answer is simple. Hard, takes detail very well. It can be polished to a shiny lustre with little effort. One question we often see come up in conversations is asking the difference between bronze and brass and how to identify the difference. Difference between Brass and Bronze, differencebetween.info, Why is brass more malleable than bronze?, quora.com, Rotax Metals There is what is called red brass. However, if you have an understanding of the different materials, it can actually be simple to tell the difference between them when items are placed in front of you. Now it could be plated brass on steel, which would make a magnet stick. Usually 88% copper and 12% tin. If it's a fake, it's quite possible you'll spot small differences from the original. If clean and not oxidized, the brass is a golden yellow color and the copper is reddish brown color we call copper color. How to identify between brass and bronze? It can easily be made molten at around 1600F and poured into whatever shape you want. 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