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At the local thrift shop on the way home from work, I found a pile of FOUR DOZEN dresser/cabinet nobs. They LOOK like brass. They are heavy and I think they are heavier than steel. The inner threading appears to be brass colored. It is $10 for them, non negotiable. They come with some screws which are very magnetic but colored brass. The nobs themselves are very slightly magnetic at best... I am hesitating buying them but they are very heavy for their size. I wonder if they are worth getting. Is there any other way to determine if it is brass when I am right there in the store? There seems to be some darkened tarnish/wear on the back where it was against the wood, but it is very clearly not "scraped or worn off" which leads me to believe they ARE brass but I am just too unsure to pull the trigger. What do you guys all do when you are at a thrift shop or goodwill in a spot like this? I am just learning and it is clear that I am missing out on some opportunities here!!

If they were really brass,they would not magnetize at all. At least this has been my experience with brass items.

Often times vintage hardware is worth far more than scrap for those restoring old furniture. Some pieces are also very collectible.

What kind of magnet are you using? Some lower grades of brass are slightly magnetic if you test them with strong rare earth magnets. Also, sometimes brass hardware and candlesticks have small pieces of steel embeded in them at the attachment points.

Common household items made of brass plated steel will be very strongly magnetic.

Another possibility is that they are diecast - either zinc or potmetal that is brass plated.

I love it when Dr. Cadmium swoops in and provides the answer.

thanks for the help! I think I will probably hold off and wait till I can find the same stuff at a tag sale for $2 until I know more

Dr. Cadmium wrote:Often times vintage hardware is worth far more than scrap for those restoring old furniture. Some pieces are also very collectible.

I would think you could get at least a buck per knob on ebay if they are in usable (good appearance) condition.

I have found some suspicious knobs like that before (looked like antique brass but heavy). I cut one apart and found it to be plated pot metal. It went in with all the other steel scrap.

Tantalar wrote:What do you guys all do when you are at a thrift shop or goodwill in a spot like this?

Do you have a small jewelers file, about 6" long and very descrete. Hit it with a few swipes on an edge and check with a loupe.

$10 is pretty high around here I think even it they were brass they would have to weigh over 5 lbs to break even. I would pass.

Last time I had a bed frame looking like the brass I was told and shown that the brass was layered on the other steel like a skin. Supposedly is worth taking the time to peel off the brass. A file test is always a great way to test for brass.