Copper and brass are two common types of metal that can be sold to your local scrap metal recycling facility. While both copper and brass can earn you cash at your local recycling center, they are worth different amounts of money on a per-pound basis. Depending on the grade of copper, it can be worth almost twice as much as brass per pound, so it’s important for scrap sellers to be able to tell the difference between the two metals. In this article, we’ll talk about several different ways that you can tell which type of metal you have! If you’re a resident or business owner in Southeastern Massachusetts that is looking to sell copper, brass, or any other type of scrap metal, please contact our team at Middleboro Recycling today for the best prices in the region!

Usage

One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between brass and copper is to consider what the metal was being used for. While both metals are used in construction, electrical, and plumbing products, they do have some unique uses that can help you tell them apart. Brass is commonly used for decorative purposes, like in door knobs, fixtures, faucets, cabinet hardware, furniture, and musical instruments. Copper, on the other hand, is most commonly used for electrical wiring, pipes, fittings, valves, jewelry, and in electronics & appliances.

Hardness

The next way to tell the difference between these two metals is to consider their hardness. Copper is much more malleable than brass, meaning it can be bent and shaped much more easily. On the other hand, brass is much stiffer and has more strength than copper. On the hardness scale, brass typically lands in the range of 3 to 4, while copper ranges from 2.5 to 3.

Color

While copper and brass have a similar appearance as far as metals go, there are some fairly straightforward ways of telling the difference between them by looking at the color of the metal. Brass has a yellowish, lighter finish with a brighter gloss, whereas copper has a more rustic, reddish-brown appearance. Brass has a similar appearance to gold and is often used as an aesthetic replacement for the precious metal.

Sound

One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between pure copper and any other metal is to use the sound test. When you perform a sound test on copper, it will not make much of a sound at all. When you perform a sound test on copper, it will ring loudly. Using a sound test to tell the difference between these metals is a great strategy when you can’t differentiate them by their color due to corrosion or paint.

Contact Middleboro Recycling!

If you have any questions about scrap metal or are ready to start selling your scrap metal in the Southeastern Massachusetts area, please don’t hesitate to contact Middleboro Recycling, located in Middleborough, MA! A member of our team would be happy to help you in any way that we can! Give us a call today at (508) 946-2383 or fill out the contact form on our website, or if you’re wondering what your scrap metal is currently worth, check out our pricing page by clicking here!