Tag: metal recycling

All About Brass

Posted on by AWD Digital

If you’re looking around your home for valuable scrap metal, steel and aluminium aren’t your only options – you can also recycle alloys like brass. Brass is a very versatile metal, used for conductive purposes, in machinery, as a decorative material and even jewellery. Read on to find out more about this incredibly useful metal.


What is brass?

Brass is an alloy, which is a combination (solution or compound) of two or more elements, one of which must be a metal. Brass is the alloy of copper and zinc, which allows it to exhibit the positive characteristics of both metals, i.e. brass is a stronger metal than copper, and is considered more visually appealing than zinc. Copper is the main component of brass, accounting for 55% to 95% of its overall weight, while the second main component, zinc, makes up 5% to 40% of the total weight. The more zinc present in brass, the stronger it will be, however it will also be more susceptible to corrosion. Brass can also contain other fortifying metals like lead (which improves machinability), iron (which makes the brass stronger and easier to shape) and arsenic and/or antimony (which help prevent against corrosion in zinc heavy brass. Brass can also contain very small amounts of manganese, silicon, and phosphorus.

When was it first made?

It is believed brass was first (unwittingly) manufactured as early as 3000 B.C., by ancient metal workers who were trying to make bronze (a compound of copper and tin). Because tin and zinc are sometimes present together in the earth’s crust, and have similar properties, the metal workers would not have realised they were making a different compound. By 300 A.D., brass was a large part of the metalworking industry in Western Europe, however it wasn’t until 1746 that zinc was identified as a unique element by a German scientist named Andreas Sigismund Marggraf. The process of combing copper and zinc to make brass was eventually patented in England in 1746.

What is it used for?

Because of its durability and decorative features, brass has a very wide range of uses, both around the home and in industry. Brass is used:

As a conductor

Although brass is only 28% as conductive as copper, it is still used as a conductor of electricity, especially in instances where its durability and resistance to corrosion are of an advantage.

In plumbing

Brass is a favoured material in plumbing due to its corrosion resistant properties. Brass pipes usually contain a larger percentage of copper, and brass containing 85% copper is referred to as red brass.

To make instruments

Because of its compound properties, brass is able to produce a unique sound, making it the perfect material to use in musical instruments. While its parent metal, copper, produces a very dead and flat sound, brass is capable of achieving rich tones, and its malleability combined with its durability has allowed it to be used in the manufacture of trombones, trumpets and French horns for many hundreds of years. The brass section has been a key component of orchestras since 1815.

In ammunition

Metal cartridge casings for firearms were first invented in 1852, and although several different metals were experimented with, brass was the most appropriate metal for the job. The brass compound used to make cartridges is even called cartridge brass, and has a 30% zinc content. The softest type of brass, gilding metal, is also used to make ammunition jackets.

In jewellery

Brass is commonly used to make jewellery as it is able to be highly polished. There is even a variation of brass called Prince’s Metal or Prince Rupert’s metal (named after Prince Rupert of the Rhine) used to imitate gold.

To make coins

One of the first uses for brass was to make coins, and it is still used for this purpose many hundreds of years later. Nickel brass (70% copper, 24.5% zinc and 5.5% nickel) is used to make the British pound sterling coin, and Nordic gold (a brass compound made of 89% copper, 5% aluminium, 5% zinc, and 1% tin) is used to make 10, 20 and 50 cent Euro coins.

There are many more uses for brass, which is a testament to its versatility and durability as a metal. If you have any of these brass items lying around your home unused, it may be worth trading them in for cash. Metal Men Recycling will give you cash for scrap metal, and will turn your old brass into something new.

Fun Facts You Never Knew About Steel

Posted on by AWD Digital

Steel is an incredibly versatile metal and its unique properties enable it to be recycled over and over again without any degradation. In this week’s blog, we take a closer look at this incredible metal with some amazing facts about its physical properties, uses and the steel industry.

All about steel

All steel comes from iron (or iron ore), the 4th most common element on planet and the 6th most common element throughout the universe. Steel is an incredibly strong material; some kinds of steel can be up to 1000 times stronger than iron. Although steel is susceptible to rust, there are ways to minimise its effects. These include coating steel with materials such as zinc (galvanisation) and protecting steel from rust through continually passing an electric current through it, a process called Cathodic Protection.

Uses of steel

Steel has a huge number of uses; it is used in extremely large volumes in the transport industry to build things like ships, trains, cars and planes, in the construction industry for structures like reinforcing bars, suspension cables, cladding and roofing, in the manufacture of appliances like refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, sinks, radiators, kitchen utensils, razors and stereo equipment, and in disposable items such as food and beverage cans, aerosol cans and bottle tops. Because steel is such a commonly used material, it’s important to make a conscious effort to recycle it. In Australia 97% of end of life structural steel and 82% of all scrap steel is recycled into new products.

The steel industry then and now

Although steel has been manufacture for many hundreds of years, the steel industry really took off when Henry Bessemer, an English inventor, developed the Bessemer process between 1850 and 1855 ­– the first real method that enabled the mass production of steel. Today, steel production is booming, with 67 countries reporting the combined manufacture of 136.5 million tonnes in January 2017 alone. China produces over 50% of the world’s steel, and Japan is the second largest producer of the metal.

Steel is a truly versatile metal, and because of its incredible durability and ability to be endlessly recycled, the steel industry will likely flourish for many years to come. Metal Men Recycling will gladly accept all your old steel appliances and give you cash for scrap. We even have a 24 hour pick up service. Call us now on 03 5941 6677 and get cash for scrap!

6 Tools & Tricks of the Scrap Metal Trade

Posted on by AWD Digital

Selling scrap metal can be a great way to earn some extra cash but if you have never done it before you may be a bit unsure about how to get started. Here are a few popular tools and tips which can help you make money from scrap metal.

  1. A magnet will come in handy

While some scrap metal yards accept both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, the latter (which includes metals such as copper, aluminium and stainless steel) are more valuable to recycle and will fetch you more cash at the scrap metal yard. You can work out which type of metal you have by using any kind of magnet (even a fridge magnet will work).

If the magnet sticks to your metal then you are in possession of a ferrous metal such as steel or iron. Ferrous metal is not worth a lot but Metal Men Recycling will still accept it and make sure it is recycled properly.

If the magnet does not stick to your metal then you have a non-ferrous metal on your hands and may be able to make some serious money by selling it to scrap metal buyers.

  1. Safety gear is essential

It’s important to take certain precautions when collecting metal, especially if it’s old or rusty. You should protect yourself when collecting scrap metal by wearing clothing that covers your skin adequately, work boots, goggles and thick gloves.

  1. A metal file will reveal the true colour

As some metals are worth more than others, it can be handy to determine exactly which type of metal you have come across. By using a metal file to file down coated items or wires you can identify the type of metal. Some copper and brass pipes may be tarnished but when you use a metal file you can reveal the original colour of the metal. Copper is a reddish colour and brass pipes will appear yellowish in colour.

  1. All that glitters is not gold

Scrap metal prices vary based on material and location. Scrap metal is also graded according to what type of material it is and what condition it is in. It can be challenging at times to estimate the value of your metal unless you constantly have your finger on the pulse of the metal market (or scrap regularly). However, you can utilise sites like Kitco to determine current market prices. The most profitable scrap metals generally include copper, aluminium, silver, gold, brass, stainless steel, iron and lead.

  1. Basic information is just a click away

Basic knowledge of different types of metals is extremely useful when getting started at scrapping metal. There a lots of online guides to metal types such as eBay’s Guide to Different Types of Metals and Alloys which give you a great overview of the features and characteristics of a range of metals.

  1. You could be sitting on a gold mine!

If you own your own home/business or rent a large property, chances are you have something lying around that you could sell to a scrap metal company. From cans and wires to cars and old machinery, Metal Men Recycling will give you cash for any kind of scrap metal. To find out what items can represent great sources of scrap metal consult our informative blog or contact our friendly team.

Looking for Scrap? Here are 4 Places to Find Scrap Iron around the Home

Posted on by AWD Digital

When we think of household scrap metal, our minds often turn to things like old car shells, huge collections of aluminium cans, steel fencing, and copper wiring, however iron is also a great source of scrap metal and can be found in many furnishings and appliances around the home. Whether you’re having a big cleanout, are renovating, or simply want to make some extra cash, it’s a great idea to scour your home for scrap iron to be recycled in exchange for cash. Read on to find out where you can find scrap iron throughout your home.

Awnings and old window frames

Many older style houses (of which there are plenty throughout Melbourne) have wrought iron finishings like window frames and awnings. Because iron is so durable it makes a fantastic building material, so if you’re renovating your old home you’re bound to find iron somewhere. Not too long ago, iron was commonly used as a sturdy material for window frames, as it was able to keep the window in place and withstand high winds, and iron awnings above windows and doors were a popular form of decoration.

Ovens and stovetops

Beneath the layers of enamel, many older style ovens are actually made from valuable iron, so if you’ve got an old oven that you want to get rid of – either because it no longer works or because you’re upgrading – hold onto it and trade it in as scrap. If your oven isn’t made of iron, your stovetop undoubtedly will be, so salvage any old cooking elements and take them to your local metal recycler.

Bed frames and clothes racks

The bedroom seems an unlikely place to find scrap iron, however items like bed frames, dresser chairs, and clothing racks can all be made from iron and should be recycled rather than thrown out. Sometimes these items are coated with decorative paint, so if you’re unsure whether your furniture is made from iron make sure you scratch away at part of the surface.

If you come across any of these items around your home, don’t throw them away. Instead, take them to your local scrap metal dealer where you can earn cash for scrap. Metal Men Recycling accept a huge range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and will gladly take any unwanted scrap metal off your hands.