Monthly Archives: April, 2022

  1. Differences in Brass and Copper Scrap

    5 Ways to Distinguish Your Copper Scraps From Brass Scraps

    Two of the most sought-after scraps for scrap metal recycling are brass and copper. However, to the untrained eye, it can be difficult to find the true difference between the two metals.

    When it comes to earning top dollar on a scrap metal collection that contains both brass and copper, you’ll want to make sure each is properly separated in order to maximize your collection’s profits.

    Let’s dive in deeper and explore the biggest reason why you’d want to separate brass from copper before recycling, and the 5 easiest ways to determine which type of metal you have on your hands.

    Why Would You Want to Separate Brass From Copper?

    Sure, separating metals makes the recycling process easier and faster for the team in charge; but the biggest reason you’ll want to separate brass from copper is the separate price of each.

    Combined with each other (and potentially other metals), the two materials could diminish each other’s sales rate.

    Currently copper sells for $4.72 per pound and brass sells for $2.10 per pound. Both prices are excellent for scrap metal and the last thing you want to do is tarnish the value of your collection because it wasn’t separated.

    5 Ways to Differentiate Brass From Copper

    Aside from asking your scrap metal recycling team to separate your metals for you, here are five ways to tell the difference between brass and copper scraps.

    Color

    From a distance, both metals seem to have similar colors. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that copper has a reddish/brown finish while brass has more of a yellow tint to its color.

    Also, if you are dealing with older, corroded metals, brass loses its zinc and will become the color of copper where it has weakened. Copper corrosion results in patches of green across the metal’s surface.

    Differences in Strength

    The strength of each metal is also a key factor when determining the difference between the two.

    Both metals are extremely durable, but brass has much more tensile strength than copper, which makes it a popular choice for projects and products that require a strong metal.

    When under pressure, copper is malleable and will bend before it breaks. Brass is a hard metal that gains its strength from the excess zinc in its makeup. It is a breakable material, unlike its softer counterpart.

    Check the Code

    If you’re donating items to a recycling center and are unsure whether it is brass or copper, you could find your answer in a code engraved in your metals. Most brass pieces require a stamp that distinguishes them as such. Copper pieces are not stamped.

    Therefore, if your metal has a stamp that has a “C” followed by a few numbers, you can easily separate it into your brass pile.

    Test Sounds

    Tap your metal and listen for the sound it produces. Copper rings out a deep low sound while brass creates a higher-pitched sound.

    How the Metals Are Used

    Knowing how the metals were used before they became scrap could be the key to the easy separation of copper and brass.

    Copper is a natural metal that conducts electricity. So, it is commonly used as wiring in electrical equipment like wiring and motors.

    Due to its durability, brass is often used as a long-term solution in construction projects, plumbing, casings, and bearings. Since brass also has a color tint that could resemble gold, it is often used as decor.

    Earn Top Price for Brass and Copper With Action Metals Recyclers

    If you have brass, copper, or any other recyclable metals that you want to turn in for cash, Action Metals Recyclers is your best choice in Dallas for metal sales. We pay top price for all metals we buy and guarantee an easy, fair, secure transaction process.

    Contact us today to learn more about our services and schedule your next pick-up or drop-off.

  2. Can you recycle bullets and casings?

    Can You Recycle Bullets and Casings?

    Texas is a state that is chock full of hunting and gun enthusiasts. While the love for firearms is strong in the Lonestar State, most people don’t really want used casings or unusable ammunition just lying around their property.

    Disposing of these items is dangerous because they are deemed explosives, and even in the right situation, a used casing can start a spark that leads to an environmental disaster.

    Rather than risking it and letting your casings and bullets waste away in a landfill or buried under the soil where lead can seep into the environment, we say consider recycling these items.

    Let’s get into how to approach safe disposal and recycling practices for ammunition and casings.

    Are Your Unused Bullets Recyclable?

    The answer to this is a complicated yes and no. The reason is, that unused ammunition isn’t items scrap metal recyclers accept because they are live explosives.

    However, this doesn’t mean that you’re stuck with unusable and unwanted bullets. There are several ways you can “recycle” these products without polluting the environment.

    • Local police stations will typically accept small amounts of unused bullets. However, if you have a large collection, they may not be able to collect all of your ammunition off of your hands.
    • Reach out to gun ranges in your area and find out if they accept unused ammunition. Some ranges may be willing to take in your unused ammunition for use at their location
    • If all other recycling efforts fail, it’s possible to use the Earth911 recycling locator to find out the next hazardous waste collection event in your area. From there, you can hold onto your ammunition until the event date.

    Your Casings Are Recyclable!

    Current brass prices payout at around $1.76 per pound, making this material a very lucrative scrap if a person has a large amount of it. So, if a person has a large collection of casings, it’s in their best interest to unload them at a local brass metal recycling facility where they can make cash off of their casings and other scrap metals.

    Tips for Casing Preparation

    Although casings are recyclable products, it’s still recommended that you prepare them for recycling. Not only does preparation lead to a safer recycling process, but it also helps ensure the best price for your scrap metals.

    • Wash and dry all of your casings in order to prevent any leftover powder from sparking and starting a fire
    • Separate your shotgun shells, brass, and steel. Each of these scraps has a different makeup that could taint the overall price of your scrap sale if they are weighed and paid for at the same time.

    Earn Money for Your Brass Shell Casings Today, With Action Metals Recyclers

    If you have a collection of brass shell casings that you need to unload, the team at Action Metals Recyclers is ready to help you earn cash for your unwanted scraps. We pay the highest prices in Dallas and have all of the necessary equipment to ensure accurate weight recordings and maximum payout. We’ll collect from you or wait for you to come to us.

    Action Metals Recyclers is open 7 days a week and is ready to accept your scraps. Contact us today to schedule your next drop-off or pick-up.