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Another can of worms

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Another can of worms

#1

Another can of worms

Stephen Shepherd in the State of Deseret

>Inspired by a thread below about imported materials, pros and cons.

Imported reproduction brass hardware is great, much better than the stuff made here. It is not necessarily the workmanship as some can be shoddy as some was in the past.

What is important is that it is made from yellow brass. And we can not make it here in this country, too much sulfur, so we get red brass.

I would rather buy locally made and would pay more, but it is just not available. Now I wish they would make yellow brass cast upholstery tacks, I would buy a 100 gross.

Stephen

Re: Another can of worms

#2

You may delete my post

Stephen Shepherd in the State of Deseret

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Re: Another can of worms

#3

Stephen, don't see a problem with it

Wiley Horne--So. Calif.

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Re: Another can of worms

#4

Dodged that bullet!

Stephen Shepherd in the State of Deseret

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Re: Another can of worms

#5

red and yellow brass

Bill Tindall, E.TN

>I once knew a fair amount about brass. What I think I remember is that how red or yellow it is depends on the ratio of zinc to copper. I don't recall sulfur entering the picture. The reproduction brass I buy from Whitechapel and Ball and Ball appears yellow, certainly yellow compared to the copper rich brasses.

Re: Another can of worms

#6

Sulfur source?...

John in New Mexico

>In old brasses, I would expect less efficient smelting leaving some of the sulfur in the metals. Today, even in the third world, ore refining is very efficient and meets the same industry standards as metals smelted in this country. I can't imagine there would be any advantage to adding it back in to make hinges and such, but maybe thats it.

John

Re: Another can of worms

#7

Re: Another can of worms

Dean Lapinel

>Yellow Brass, also considered a "Bronze", is 60% Copper, 33% Zinc, 2% Iron,1.5% Aluminum, 1-5% Manganese, 1% Tin, .5% Nickel. Brinell Hardness of 100.

Red Brass is 85% Copper, 5% Tin, 5% Lead, 5% Zinc. With a Brinell

hardness of 60, Red Brass is softer than Yellow Brass.

Lead and high copper prices an issue? hardness?

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