Brass is avoided in specific applications—like food prep, harsh marine environments, and medical devices—due to lead leaching, galvanic corrosion, and high maintenance costs. For general hardware, cheaper, stronger, or more durable alternatives are often preferred.
Brass hardware is making a luxurious comeback in 2025, reclaiming its place as the finish of choice for high-end interiors. Once a staple in historic homes and classic design, brass is now being reimagined for modern spaces, offering a blend of timeless beauty, durability, and warmth.
Does brass rust? No, but it can corrode in extreme moisture.
No, scrap copper is worth significantly more than scrap brass. Because copper is a pure metal and a critical global commodity, it generally commands nearly double the price of brass.
To make $100 from scrap aluminum, you need anywhere from 55 to 200 pounds, depending on your local scrap yard’s payout rate.
Gold is universally referred to as the "king of metals". This title honors its historical status as the ultimate store of value, its unique radiant color, and its chemical invulnerability to corrosion and rust.
Vinegar is a mild acetic acid that rapidly dissolves tarnish and copper oxides on contact. While it effectively restores shine to solid brass, leaving it submerged for too long or using it on brass-plated items can permanently damage the metal.
Metals that never rust are those that do not contain iron, such as gold, platinum, and titanium, as rusting is technically the oxidation of iron. Aluminum and stainless steel are also widely used corrosion-resistant materials that do not rust, but instead form a protective oxide layer that shields the metal from further damage.
Yes, WD-40 is an excellent and safe household hack for cleaning brass. It effectively dissolves grime, lifts tarnish, and leaves a protective, water-resistant film that helps prevent future oxidation.
Matte Black: The Modern Classic
Matte black door handles create definition against light or neutral doors, while their soft finish hides fingerprints and everyday wear. Chic, versatile and practical - this finish continues to dominate the market and shows no signs of fading in popularity.
Bronze is poised to lead 2026 design trends, valued for its earthy elegance and ability to add warmth and depth to any space. Designers favor finishes with patina and soul, and bronze's versatility pairs well with rich palettes and natural materials.
Vintage Lithography Artwork and Paintings
Vintage paint-by-numbers continue to sell well. Also lithography prints from the 1930's-50's have been popular pieces in my local booth space. I used to find vintage art easily at the thrift store, but not much anymore.
Copper is the only metal that is antibacterial. It is also called "germ-killer" because its alloys show antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties. It is scientifically proven that copper continuously kills more than 99.9% of the microbes that have caused infections within two hours of contact.
The U.S. isn't discovering copper — it's stockpiling it. Quietly, American warehouses have turned into a modern-day metal fortress, with 590,000 short tons of copper sitting in COMEX-approved storage — the highest level in more than 30 years.
One of the primary reasons jewelers mix copper with gold is to increase its hardness. Pure gold is soft and prone to scratches and dents, which makes it unsuitable for everyday wear. By alloying gold with copper, jewelers create stronger and more resilient metals.
Yes, Dawn dish soap is perfectly safe and highly effective for cleaning brass. It works wonderfully for washing away surface grease, dirt, and built-up grime.
Brasso is a liquid metal polish primarily designed to shine, restore, and protect metals like brass, copper, and chrome. Bar Keepers Friend (BKF) is a versatile, oxalic-acid-based cleaner that excels at deep cleaning rust, mineral stains, and tarnish across a wide variety of household surfaces.
While a professional polish may be necessary for tougher jobs, you can get your stainless steel looking great with something you have right in your pantry: olive oil! From your stainless pots and pans to the door of your refrigerator, a few drops of oil will get the job done.
Platinum and palladium are both widely considered to be approximately 30 times rarer than gold in the Earth's crust. Because of their scarcity, they are highly sought after for both investment purposes and demanding industrial applications like catalytic converters and hydrogen fuel cells.
ARMOR WRAP® VCI paper 35M and ARMOR WRAP® VCI paper 60M are approved by the United States Military and listed on the Qualified Products List (QPL) for MIL-P-3420 for preventing military equipment corrosion.
Strength in metals is measured in different ways, including tensile strength (resistance to being pulled apart), compressive strength, and hardness. Based on these core properties, the top three strongest and most widely recognized metals and metal alloys are:
Antique Brass Maintenance
Of course, if you happen to have a professional brass polish, then any tarnish will buff right away. If you don't? Sailors are known for their resourcefulness and, in a pinch, can whip-up a paste with lemon and salt or baking soda. The key is a bit of acid and a gentle abrasion.
To make brass shine like new gold, use a specialized metal polish or a homemade acidic paste. Scrub away the dark tarnish, wash the item thoroughly with warm soapy water to remove any residue, and buff it to a mirror finish.