Is brass magnetic? Identifying and grading scrap brass
Brass is not magnetic. It is an alloy of copper and zinc, and neither metal is attracted to a magnet, which makes a magnet the quickest way to tell solid brass from brass plated steel. Once you know it is brass, the grade decides what it is worth.
Brass: key facts
| What brass is | A copper and zinc alloy. "Brass" covers a whole family of them |
|---|---|
| Gunmetal | Copper with tin, zinc and lead. Cast easily and resists corrosion |
| Magnetic | No. Brass is non ferrous, so a magnet will not stick |
| Why red beats yellow | Red brass carries more copper and less zinc |
| Taps and fittings | A recognised grade in their own right, called cocks and faucets in the trade |
| Payment | Bank transfer or non transferable cheque. Cash is an offence |
Is brass magnetic?
No. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and neither is attracted to a magnet, so solid brass will not stick. That makes a magnet the quickest check you have.
If a magnet does grab something brass coloured, one of three things is going on: it is brass plated steel, it has a steel part inside it, or it is not brass at all. Taps and valves are the usual example, with a brass body but a steel spindle, spring or screws, which is why a magnet can catch one part of a fitting and not another. Take the steel out before you weigh in, because a fitting with steel still in it is bought as a mixed item.
Bronze and gunmetal look similar and are not magnetic either, so a magnet tells you brass from steel, not brass from its relatives. Colour does the rest: red brass and gunmetal look pinker, and yellow brass is the familiar gold colour.
What you are actually selling
The Copper Development Association describes brass as the generic term for a range of copper and zinc alloys, varying in strength, machinability and corrosion resistance. UK designations you may see stamped on components include CW614N (formerly CZ121) free machining brass, CW712R (CZ112) naval brass for salt spray environments, and CW721R (CZ114) high tensile brass used in door lock parts.
Gunmetals are a separate family: copper with tin, zinc and lead, historically chosen because they cast well and stand up to corrosion. In a yard they tend to be bought alongside red brass.
Since a yard is really buying the copper content, the ranking follows the copper. More copper, more money.
The grades you will meet
The trade uses a set of code names from the ReMA scrap specifications. The ones that come up most:
- Yellow brass (Honey), and yellow brass castings (Ivory). The commonest material: handles, hinges, decorative fittings, valve bodies.
- Red brass or composition (Ebony), including gunmetal. Higher copper, better paid.
- Brass pipe (Melon).
- New brass clippings (Label). Clean offcuts from manufacturing, consistently well paid.
- Cocks and faucets (Grape). Taps and plumbing fittings as their own grade.
- Machinery or hard brass (Engel solids, Erin borings) and turnings (Enerv, Nascent for leaded). Swarf and borings from machine shops, bought by the barrel.
These are trade conventions, not statutory grades. Each yard applies them with its own tolerances, which is why the same bucket can be graded differently a mile apart.
Why plumbing is the big source
Brass resists corrosion and machines well, which is exactly what a water fitting needs. So taps, valves, compression fittings, stopcocks and pipe connectors have been made from it for a century, and every bathroom refit and boiler replacement produces a handful of them.
Two practical points for anyone collecting it. Chrome plated brass is still brass, and still bought as brass; the plating is thin enough not to matter. But a fitting with a steel insert, a rubber washer or a plastic body is a mixed item, and it will be graded on the cheapest part unless you take it apart.
Sorting before you go
- Separate red from yellow if you can see the difference. Red brass and gunmetal are noticeably pinker.
- Keep clippings and turnings separate from solids. They are different grades.
- Take off steel and plastic. Springs, inserts and bodies all drag a load down.
- Keep taps together. They are their own grade and there is no point burying them in a mixed bucket.
Our brass scrap price page carries the current UK figure, and the directory finds yards that buy brass by postcode.
Beyond plumbing: where else brass turns up
- Electrical. Terminal blocks, earth clamps, switchgear components, light fittings and cable glands. Often mixed with steel and plastic, so worth stripping.
- Locks and ironmongery. Door furniture, hinges, letter plates, window fittings. Frequently chrome or lacquered, which does not affect the grade.
- Marine. Propellers, seacocks, port lights and deck fittings, often naval brass or bronze and well paid.
- Musical instruments. Worth getting valued as instruments before they are weighed in, since melt value is the floor.
- Machine shops. Turnings, borings and swarf by the barrel, which are their own grades and should never be mixed with solids.
Preparing a load
- Separate solids from turnings. Different grades, and mixing them costs you the difference.
- Take out steel springs, inserts and fixings. A valve with a steel stem is a mixed item until you take it apart.
- Remove plastic bodies and rubber washers. Same reason.
- Keep taps and fittings together. They are a recognised grade of their own.
- Do not clean or polish anything. It makes no difference to the price and takes time you are not paid for.
Why brass tracks copper
Brass is a copper and zinc alloy, so a yard is effectively buying the copper content and discounting for the zinc. That means the brass price follows the copper price rather than moving independently, and a week when copper is strong is a week when brass is strong. If you are timing a sale, watch copper.
It also explains the ranking within brass. Red brass and gunmetal carry more copper and less zinc than yellow brass, so they sit above it, and that gap widens when copper rises.
Our brass scrap price page carries the current UK figure.
Plumbers and electricians accumulating brass across several jobs are usually better off with a collection than repeated trips, which our guide to scrap metal collection explains.
Frequently asked questions
What is brass made of?
Copper and zinc. Brass is the generic term for a whole family of copper and zinc alloys with different strength, machinability and corrosion resistance.
Why is red brass worth more than yellow brass?
Because it carries more copper and less zinc, and a yard is in effect buying the copper content.
Is chrome plated brass still worth anything?
Yes. The plating is thin and chrome plated brass is bought as brass. A fitting with a steel insert or plastic body is a different matter and may be graded on the cheapest part.
Is brass magnetic?
No. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and neither is attracted to a magnet. If a magnet sticks to something brass coloured, it is brass plated steel, it has a steel part inside it such as a spindle or screw, or it is not brass.
What is gunmetal?
An alloy of copper with tin, zinc and lead, historically used because it casts easily and resists corrosion. In a yard it tends to be bought alongside red brass.