Brass, Bronze, and Copper: Know the Difference at the Scrap Yard
Key Takeaway
These three metals look similar but pay very different prices. Knowing which is which puts more money in your pocket.
Copper, brass, and bronze are all reddish or golden metals that can be hard to tell apart. Here's how to identify each.
Copper
Pure or near-pure copper is distinctly reddish-orange, especially when freshly cut or scraped. It's the most valuable of the three for scrap. Over time, it oxidises to a darker brown or green (patina). Pipes, wire, and sheet are the most common copper scrap.
Brass
Brass is a copper-zinc alloy. It appears more golden-yellow than red. Old plumbing fittings, valves, taps, and cartridge cases are typically brass. Brass is non-magnetic. Red brass (higher copper content) has a more orange-gold tone and pays more than yellow brass.
Bronze
Bronze is a copper-tin alloy, often with traces of other metals. It appears slightly more brown or reddish than brass, with a warmer tone. Old bearings, bushings, ship fittings, and bells are often bronze. At most yards, bronze is bought alongside brass at similar or slightly higher prices.
How to tell them apart
At a glance: copper is red-orange, brass is yellow-gold, bronze is brown-gold. When in doubt, ask a yard grader — they assess these metals daily and can identify them quickly.
Magnet test
None of these metals are magnetic. If a magnet sticks, it's steel, not copper, brass, or bronze.
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