Bronze Screws - reclaimed

[Lion]

Will end up with a 100+ bronze screws reclaimed from a hulk, mostly 10 & 12 G in apparent good condition.

Due to cost these could be handy during the current rebuild project. Are they OK to use ? ; or are they likely to have
some non evident loss of integrity ?

Lion

[rbgarr]

Sometimes older bronze screws/bolts will crack and 'peel' if you put one in a vise and bend it with a hefty pair of pliers. It will look like it's crystallized inside. Sign of weakness.

[John R Smith]

For a start, are you SURE that these screws are bronze, not brass? When they are old, it is often easy to confuse the two.

Second, is it really worth the cost saving when you could compromise the integrity of your restoration work? The most valuable item in any self-build or restoration project is your time, not money. What are you going to save? Say new bronze screws are 30 pence each (here in Truro). That's 100x30 pence, 30 GBP. I'd rather reach into my pocket and pay the thirty quid any day of the week. Keep the old ones for jobs that don't matter round the garden ;)

John

[Scott Rosen]

I agree with John. Don't reuse old bronze screws, except for non-structural stuff around the house and garden.

[CharlieSanti]

I put all take out bronze screws in a bucket and use them in foundry when we cast parts. It adds up after a while and its a bit of recycling.

[Concordia..41]

We're saving ours (3,000+) and assorted hardware that's being replaced and we're going to have it cast into something - don't know what yet.

The first choice is an anchor - we've about 35lbs so far, but I'm not sure that even after smelting (is that the right word?) that there still wouldn't be a loss of strength. Thoughts anyone?

[ 03-15-2003, 09:34 PM: Message edited by: Concordia..41 ]

[Lion]

Thanks folks...I've got the message. Like Margo's suggestion, might use them to cast a (Re) builders plate.

Lion