Brass Scraps
Old brass, judiciously selected, may be made to do excellent service. As the regulation mixtures for the several articles made in brass are pretty much the same all over, it is a simple matter to make such choice from the old scraps as will almost answer present needs very often by making such additions as are necessary to bring the mixture up to the required standard in any of the metals which the scrap may be lacking in. Another important feature in using scrap-brass is to remember that, when it is melted over again, more or less of the zinc and lead oxidizes and wastes; this, of course, changes the original proportions, and must be made good by additions of the above metals. For old brass that has been remelted more than once, it is well to add 1 pound of lead to 16 pounds of scrap; a little less will do when the metal has not been recast.
Brass borings and turnings may be melted with little or no waste by packing the crucible full and hard, using a cover and luting it well. Add a little lead when melted. See BRASS; CRUCIBLE.