Brass Recycling in Austin

Brass is a type of mixed-metal alloy made up of copper and zinc. The different combinations of these elements can affect the grade of brass, color and other resiliency properties. As a rust-resistant metal, brass items make ideal candidates for scrap metal recycling. It’s also noteworthy that non-ferrous metals like brass fetch a higher trade value compared to ferrous metal counterparts like steel or iron. In this guide, we’ll look at how to recycle brass– from brass shavings to new brass cuts, brass borings, brass radiators, and more.

Responsible Brass Recycling in Austin

Because Gardner Metal Recycling in Austin wants to help our clients dispose of metals responsibly, we offer competitive brass scrap metal prices to make it worth your while. We even offer commercial services like dumpster rental and pickup so you won’t even have to leave your project site in order to make metal recycling part of your scrap metal solution.

Where Is Brass Scrap Found?

Brass is used for a variety of industrial purposes, ranging from decorative to mechanical. Although the recycling process for alloys is a bit more involved than for pure metals like aluminum or copper, the high value of brass scrap—in part because of its relative scarcity—makes it worth partnering with a metal scrap yard near you.

Brass is often found in products like doorknobs, home finishes, bed frames, musical instruments and light fixtures. However, the durability of brass also makes it useful for pipe fittings and valves, ammunition shells and automotive radiators. Common industries with brass to recycle include remodeling professionals and general contractors, demolition crews, automotive repair shops, machining and manufacturing, plumbing and electrical.

While all brass is worth recycling, not all brass is equal. Its value is dependent upon its combined ratio of copper to zinc. Copper is one of the more valuable metals, so the higher the percentage of copper contained in your brass scrap, the more valuable it is. Some brass is also contaminated with other metals.

What Is Red Brass, Yellow Brass and Dirty Brass?

While there are over 60 types of brass, there are three important distinctions you should think about when considering the value of most brass scrap metal.

Red brass has a high copper content, making it more valuable than other brass types. Red brass scrap metal generally contains about 85 percent copper and 15 percent zinc, and it will contain very little in the way of trace tin and lead. Its reddish color comes from its high copper content. Red brass recycling scraps are less common than other forms of other available scrap brass but can be found in mechanical parts like sprinkler valves and pump components.

Less valuable yellow brass is far more common and is found everywhere from bed frame hardware to light fixtures to plumbing parts. The automobile industry is a major user of yellow brass, fabricating everything from radiators to car keys from it.

While the value of red brass and yellow brass is different, both are still considered unadulterated alloys—unlike dirty brass. Dirty brass contains contaminants, which may include paint, glass, other metals or oil. One example of dirty brass common in Texas scrap metal recycling is spent ammunition casings that have primers made of steel, which is a ferrous metal. Gardner has the facilities to responsibly recycle these kinds of brass shells.

What Can I Get Out of Recycling Brass Shavings?

Brass shavings recycling can oftentimes be an overlooked secret source of cash. Industrial metal grinding, drilling, filing and boring all produce scrap metal shavings, chips, turnings, filings and swarf and more. Recycling brass shavings scrap metal can be leveraged by turning them over to an industrial metal recycling center in exchange for cash. This can serve as a convenient supplemental source of revenue that can offset some of your manufacturing overhead costs.

You’ll need to devise a way to collect your scrap by-products. Some industrial inventions, like metal chip vacuums, can make the process easier. Coolants or lubricants can be used to create a temporary web that encases the scrap metal filings. The scrap metal shavings can later be extracted using a metal briquetting system and compacted into briquettes to be conveniently transported to the scrap metal recycling facility. A little can add up to a lot– one case study conducted by US Ecology found a manufacturing client was able to generate a six-figure return by recycling grindings using a metal briquetter.

How Do I Get the Best Brass Scrap Price?

Your brass scrap value will depend on a variety of factors, but there are steps you can take to ensure that you get the best brass recycling prices. Because brass is often a part of pieces composed of multiple materials, it’s important that you separate your brass scrap from other metals, plastic, wood and rubber.

If you have an abundance of brass recycling, you can schedule a scrap pickup from Gardner Metal Recycling and save your company the hauling costs. Another way to maximize your recycling haul is to make different collections for your red and yellow brass so that you can make sure to have all your valuable red brass accounted for at the scrap yard. Finally, before you go to the recycling center, check on prices; the brass scrap price today may not be the same as tomorrow. Gardner Metal Recycling: Your Brass Scrap Metal Recyclers

We take almost all forms of brass to make it easy to recycle with us at Gardner Metal Recycling. Common types of brass scrap include:

• Door handles and locks
• Pipes and fittings
• Faucets
• Brass cuttings and shavings
• Vehicle radiators
• Brass shells

Contact us for a competitive price quote on your brass scrap or to schedule a consultation for sorting, preparing and transporting your scrap metals using one of our scrap container rentals. Find out how Gardner Metal Recycling can benefit your company’s bottom line by upcycling your trash into treasure.