neural
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2019
Posts: 114
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Post by neural on Jun 28, 2021 20:12:34 GMT -5
So.. apparently i bought quite a bit of brass when I first started making jewelry. I have .. a LOT.
If I recall correctly, it was cheaper at the time to practice with brass, because it solders at around the same temperature as silver, and you can use silver solder for it.
That said, I have a couple questions:
Some of the practice rings I did years ago appear to be tarnished, but the color won't polish off, and the look like copper. I wasn't sure if maybe I had used copper as practice metal, but I have some pieces that are only partially like this, while the rest remains brass in appearance.
Is this something beyond tarnish?
Secondly, and more important: What are some practical uses for brass sheet and wire? If I recall correctly, brass can cause skin discoloration, etc. Is it useful for other small art pieces?
Also, what are the best options in regards to brass colored solder. Is it the same as silver, where you have different levels of solder hardness, which allow you to solder at different temperatures, etc.?
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jun 28, 2021 20:44:25 GMT -5
Brass is made out of copper and zinc. The majority of the alloy is copper. More zinc in the mix makes the metal more yellow. I don't use brass, so I can't help with your other questions.
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Post by Pat on Jun 28, 2021 21:06:06 GMT -5
I use jewelers brass. Almost looks like gold.
Re solder: I use medium solder almost exclusively., even when I need to solder several times on the same piece. It doesn’t undo the previous solder jobs.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,339
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Post by quartz on Jun 28, 2021 22:15:34 GMT -5
I had a piece of brass accidently exposed to muratic acid in a closed gallon milk jug. The brass now looks like its copper component, I think the gaseous form of the acid that came through the sealed jug leached the zinc out of the brass, at least on the surface. Lots of things eat zinc quite readily.
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Post by Pat on Jun 28, 2021 23:37:57 GMT -5
quartz. Interesting. I didn’t know that.
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neural
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2019
Posts: 114
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Post by neural on Jun 28, 2021 23:50:29 GMT -5
I had a piece of brass accidently exposed to muratic acid in a closed gallon milk jug. The brass now looks like its copper component, I think the gaseous form of the acid that came through the sealed jug leached the zinc out of the brass, at least on the surface. Lots of things eat zinc quite readily. Interesting. Well, to my knowledge, the brass I have that is like this hasn't been in contact with any chemicals. It's just been stored in a dry environment for over a decade. I'll have to polish some of it to a mirror finish and see what happens to it.
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Post by pauls on Jun 29, 2021 3:39:26 GMT -5
If you put your item in pickle to remove scale it probably removed zinc as well, Pickle is Hydrochloric acid, (Muriatic)and will vigorously dissolve zinc. Another thing is heat, zinc boils off at a fairly low temperature, the fumes are nasty as any welder will tell you.
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