posted on May 18, 2005 09:46:36 AM new
I guess the title says it all: does anyone know of a simple (i.e., I can do it) test to determine whether something is brass or bronze.
Roadsmith thought it might have to do with a magnet (i.e., one will attract a magnet, the other not).
posted on May 18, 2005 10:17:52 AM new
If I recall, bronze is actually tin, copper and lead? -- none of which will attract a magnet.
Much of what I see in brass lighting, for example, is actually white metal with a brass coating. Those door knobs you have are probably brass -- perhaps with a bronze wash. I also have a hard time identifying bronze altogether, although the object can sometimes give you a clue (antique figural letter openers, some statues, etc.).
posted on May 18, 2005 10:32:25 AM new
Bronze will be much heavier if I'm not mistaken. It's hard to describe but bronze has a different feel to it. Also if you turn it upside down, bronze will show some texture where it was cast - brass is usually smooth. If you scratch the underside bronze will look like pure gold. These are all the ways I use to tell the difference and I have sold bronze with no complaints. But I too would love know if there is another method.
posted on May 18, 2005 12:17:28 PM new
both are alloy,brass contains zinc and bronze does not.
you can usually tell from the color and weight (neither attract magnet),brass is usually lighter in color and weight and thinner.(however i have seen bronze in lighter color,but heavier than brass)
if you hit the brass surface there is a melodious sound to it while bronze sound is dull,tibetan singing bowl is made of brass,not bronze.
there is also bronze finish which is resin coated with bronze the thickness of orange peel.
In recent years,bronze casting is done in thailand and then indonesia,indonesian bronze does not have enough copper(copper is expensive)
i hope all these mumbo jumbo helps,another way is to ask how much you paid for it,bronze is expensive.
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on May 18, 2005 12:46:39 PM new
Thanks to all who responded.
Stopwhining, I didn't purchase them, they were consigned to me, and the consignor I believe removed them from his home (most likely they were there when he moved in).
posted on May 18, 2005 01:35:11 PM new
According to the "Marine Metals Manual" by Roger Pretzer:
Brass-Add zinc to copper , from 5 percent to over 40 percent and sometimes add a small percentage of another element such as lead, tin, or manganese and iron and you have the makings of the large variety of brasses. Some of the most common are red, yellow, cartridge, and admiralty brass. Sometimes confusing is the fact that some brasses are called bronzes. These are commercial bronze, naval bronze and manganese bronze.
Bronze-Bronze differs from brass in that bronze has a high copper content,90 percent or above, and its three main alloying elements are either tin, aluminum or silicon. The three most used and available and accepted bronzes are phosphor bronze, silicon bronze, and aluminum-silicon bronze. He also names aluminum and tobin bronze.
