I think it depends on the type of component mixture?
There are tables to let you know the variuos compenent mixtures
for the specific type of function you want to use the brass for.
Alpha and beta brass have different working qualities.
For example: brass for shell case’s has to be plastic enough to
withstand the pressures of expansion while being fired and then
shrinking back to the previous size.
The other type of brass isn’t so ductile and would rupture.
Then there is the hot and cold rolled varieties of brass and associated
curves of workability.
Copper bar stock was used to impression a key to an ancient
locked cell I came across. The brass levers made a nice clean
mark on the prepared blank I cut. It was alot faster to cut the
copper and had less torqueing damage on the detention lock parts.
Also I have some soft bronze bar stock for impressioning other tricky locks.
If you impression there is almost always some damge caused.
Once I found a sheet of tempered brass that could be cut down
to a paper thickness and still throw the bolt of a 6 lever
Cell Block Detention lock of 1930’s manufacture.
The lock in turn is made of brass and bronze.
It seems that a metalurgist would be a good person to consult?
Some Chinese swords have copper hammered into round holes
in the blade to react with the blood when the sword slices the flesh.
Oil and water dunking alos effect the tempering process.
The amount of various metal crystaline structures changes with
the various temperatures and dunkability.
The fumes are dangerous with oil.
Brian ……………………………….
