Selling old scrap metal is a great way to make some extra cash fast. When you’re going through the process, the more you know about what types of metals you’re dealing with, the better position you’ll be in to increase your haul. For instance, many people confuse brass and bronze, sometimes getting less value than they should from a scrap yard. Here is a guide to better understanding the difference between these two common scrap metals.

What Is the Difference?

Both brass and bronze are mixtures of copper and zinc, the central difference being bronze has significantly more copper than brass, making it more valuable. A more common material, brass can often be found as part of your plumbing infrastructure. If you look under your sink, there’s a good chance part of the fixture is made of this metal. Bronze, on the other hand, tends to be used frequently in sculpture or furnishings. Sometimes it is used for plumbing components, especially water meters. 

How Can You Tell?

It can be extremely difficult for a layman to determine if a piece of metal is brass or bronze. While experts tend to use a special element identifier called an XRF analyzer, it’s unlikely you have one at home. But there is an easy way to reach a conclusion using DIY methods. File away a small piece of the metal, and check the color that remains. If you spot yellow, you’re likely looking at brass, and if you see red, you have bronze. 

Why Does It Matter?

Knowing the difference is important because you don’t want a scrap yard to pay you a brass rate when you have bronze. If you know for a fact you have bronze on your hands, you can ensure you get more money. Some scrap yards will use an XRF analyzer and confirm anyway, but others may just take a quick look, so it’s helpful if you know beforehand. 

If you have any scrap metal to offload, get in touch with Metalico Rochester in New York. With their pick-up service, they’ll even come to you to collect the metals or car parts you have lying around. To find out how much you might be able to make from your cache, just call (585) 436-0713. Learn more about the scrap yard by visiting their website.