Metals are great not only because they are versatile and can be easily formed into many different shapes, but also because you can easily incorporate other elements with them. For example, brass surfaces are not only good for being a base for stones and other accessory elements, but also for engraving.

This is, in fact, a very common practice especially for jewelleries and name plates. The material of brass is perfect for this particular work because it is able to display the text or engraved marking clearly and visibly, even from afar.

Engraving Metals

Brass, copper, bronze, silver, gold—all these metals can technically be engraved upon. It could be of an intricate design or an elegant calligraphy of an initial. Whatever the design, it is sure to come out looking very sophisticated.
If you are looking to expand your skills working with metal, you may want to consider this particular craft. Of course, a primary requirement here is for you to have easy access to the materials, such as engraving brass, among others.

How to Engrave

Depending on your skill set—and how steady your hand is—you can actually opt to manually engrave on the metal. If you’re looking for a bigger mass production type of project, you might want to consider investing in an actual laser machine to get things done much faster. It should save you not only time but actual manpower, since engraving is no walk in the park.
Getting right material, such as the engraving brass, is important because you want the metal to feature a thickness that is just right for the process. If you observe items like brass plates, plaques, signages, or even trophy plates, you’ll see that they usually come in .020” and .025” in thickness. There are also others that come at a much thinner 0.16” thickness, and is also popular for its ease of use.

Mix N’ Match

The great thing about brass as an engraving material is that it is flexible enough to be combined with other materials. This is important if you want your engraving to have a sort of illusion of depth to give the engraving more character.
The deeper the etching is, too, the better the visual quality of the material. If you are looking to make signages, you’d want to achieve this effect so that the text can be easily seen even from afar. Whatever the message is, it’s going to be more effectively delivered through the engraving brass.

Engraving Tool

Even with the engraving metal, you’re not going to accomplish much without the engraving too. If you’re going to do this by hand, a pneumatic graver is the right tool for you. It is easily held by hand, fitting into your palm, and easy to push and drive to the metal to achieve desired effect.

Do take note that there are different kinds of graver tips. If you’re new at handling this kind of tool, the square “V” cut should be a good tool to start getting familiar with. Apart from these gravers, of course, you can also rely on the good ol’ hammer and chisel, or even a compass point or craft knife.

Ready the Surface

First wipe clean the surface f the metal with a damp cloth, followed by a dry one. Expect engraving brass to have a coating of protective layering, which the engraving tool will cut through to, so make sure to re-apply a new coating finish after your task. You want the material’s color and appearance to remain consistent so make sure to go over the particular engraved area for finishing.
Before you get started, get in touch with a reputable metals supplier like Rotax Metals so you can have the proper material for your project.

Sources:
Engraving Brass How-To: Beginners and Hobbyists. JockeyJournal.com.
Commonly Asked Engraving Questions. EngraveCon.com.

Copper and brass sheet metal are used for a number of different applications. The sheets can be used as a part of architectural detail or sometimes for added aesthetic flare. The tricky thing about copper and brass is that sometimes they can look too similar. This can be problematic when someone is looking for specific properties of either copper or brass.

Using the wrong type of sheet metal can have disastrous effects, especially when the sheets are required to hold any form of structural integrity. Before using any sheet metals for your next projects, try these tricks to differentiate brass from copper:

Method 1: Checking the Color

Brass and copper sheets develop patina as they age. This can result in a dark surface with green specs. Clean the metal using brass cleaning techniques because it is safe for both copper and brass. When the sheet metal is clean, hold it up to a florescent light source. Do not use sunlight as the yellow light can affect the color of the sheet.

Copper is a single metal meaning its composition is almost exactly the same. Brass is an alloy and the colors of the sheets will vary, depending on the combination of metals. The best comparison for copper is the US penny because they are copper plated. If the sheet’s color resembles the penny, you have a copper sheet on your hands. However, if the color is visibly different, then you have a brass sheet metal.

It is also handy to keep in mind that copper is known for its reddish coloring while brass may have variations that can range from orange red to yellow. Yellow brass contains a higher concentration of zinc while the darker brass, also known as red or orange brass contains more copper, up to 80%.

Method 2: Check for Codes Stamped on the Sheets

Checking for codes makes identification easier. Most brass pieces, even sheets that are made for industrial use must have a stamped code on them. This makes it easier to identify the metal or the alloy. North American and European manufacturers label brass pieces with a “C” which is then followed by a series of numbers.

Copper pieces are usually left unlabeled, so do not get confused when you see codes like C3, C4 or even codes like C10100, these are all brass pieces. However, these codes will not be seen in older brass pieces as this is a relatively recent identification system.

Method 3: Ask Your Trusted Sheet Metal Supplier

The best way to be 100% sure of the type of sheets you are about to use is to ask your supplier about them. Although this may mean buying new sheets instead of recycling the old ones you have at home, at least you know in full confidence that you have a brass sheet metal in your hands and not copper.

About Rotax Metals: If you are concerned about the effects of your metal and alloy use on the environment, you are making the right choice with Rotax Metals. Since 1948, when Rotax Metals opened its doors to supply the public for their metal needs the main priority has been sustainability. All facilities are equipped with solar panels and all transactions stay paperless unless specifically requested by the client. At Rotax Metals you don’t just get high-quality metals; you also help the environment along the way.

Sources:
How to Tell Brass from Copper, WikiHow.com
Difference Between Brass and Copper, DifferenceBetween.info