copper/brass or coated?

[stonewallrabbitry]

I am just getting into trying to scrap some items and this saturday is the biggest community yard sale in the area. My question is how do I tell if an item is copper,brass or some type of copper/brass coated steel?

[scrapman1077]

carry a magnet!

[stonewallrabbitry]

I can't believe I did not think about that, thanks

[hobo finds]

as for brass and copper file it down and see. Yellow color brass...

[Robarons]

Use your head!

These base metals were cheap for many years before 2000 (copper $1 a pound or less) and a lot of this crap was made before then- so if looks like it, it likely is.
Common Brass items like candle sticks often have a made in India Sticker on them- brass colored items that almost look too shiny or fake looking tend to have 'Made in China' stickers on them and tend to be zinc/pot metal.

Aluminum pans and stuff like that is quite common as well!