Sifting Pans: Separating Brass And Steel

Sifting pans are a popular method for separating brass from steel pins. The process involves using two pans, one with a coarse mesh to catch the brass and another with a fine mesh to separate the pins. This method is efficient and can be used with most brands of rotary tumblers. Other methods for separating brass from steel pins include using colanders, strainers, media separators, magnets, and ovens.

Using a colander and a magnet

First, you will need to gather your materials. You will need a colander, which is a bowl-shaped kitchen tool with small holes used for draining liquids, and a strong magnet. You will also need a container to catch the pins and a towel to dry the brass.

Once you have your materials, follow these steps:

• Place the colander in a sink or over a large container to catch the pins.
• Pour the mixture of brass and steel pins into the colander.
• Use the magnet to stir the mixture and attract the steel pins. The brass will not be attracted to the magnet and will remain in the colander.
• Move the magnet through the mixture slowly and carefully to ensure that all the steel pins are attracted to the magnet.
• Once you have separated all the steel pins, pour the brass from the colander onto a towel to dry.
• Collect the steel pins from the magnet and place them in a container for future use.

It is important to note that some people find that the magnet can be a bit tedious to use and may take some time to separate all the pins. Additionally, it is crucial to be careful when handling the magnet to avoid dropping any pins. Overall, using a colander and a magnet is a straightforward and efficient way to separate brass from steel pins.

Using a rotary media separator

Firstly, you will need to prepare your rotary media separator by filling the lower container with water. This will help with the separation process. Ensure that you have a sturdy and reliable separator with a good sifting system, such as the Frankford Arsenal or RCBS separators. These separators have built-in strainers and mesh screens that effectively capture the pins while allowing water and other fluids to pass through.

Once your separator is ready, you can begin the separation process. Start by dumping the contents of your tumbler, including the brass, steel pins, and any dirty water, into the separator. It is important to do this gently to avoid losing any pins or brass. If you are using a strainer bag, you can skip this step and proceed to rinse the bag with water until it is no longer soapy.

With the contents in the separator, close the lid and start rotating the separator back and forth. This motion will help dislodge the pins from the brass. You can also try shaking or jerking the separator to further separate the pins. Keep rotating and agitating the separator until you no longer hear pins falling out.

After separation, carefully open the lid and pour out the water, being mindful of any stray pins. You can use a magnet to help catch any pins that may have snuck through. Repeat this process of rotating and pouring out water a few times to ensure all pins are removed.

Finally, remove the basket containing the brass, shake it to remove excess water, and pour the brass onto a towel or drying rack. You can then return the pins to your tumbler for future use.

Using a strainer bag and a magnet

Step 1: Prepare the Strainer Bag and Magnet

• Obtain a fine mesh strainer bag, also known as a "paint strainer bag" or "pain strainer bag". This bag will serve as a container for the brass and steel pins during the separation process.
• Acquire a strong magnet, such as a refrigerator magnet or a rare earth magnet. The magnet will be used to attract and capture any stray steel pins.

Step 2: Combine the Brass, Steel Pins, and Liquid

• Place the strainer bag in a bucket or container that can hold the brass, steel pins, and liquid.
• Carefully combine the brass, steel pins, and liquid (such as water or a cleaning solution) in the strainer bag. Ensure that the bag is securely closed to prevent any spillage.

Step 3: Agitate and Rinse the Contents

• Gently agitate the strainer bag to help dislodge any steel pins that may be stuck to the brass or each other. You can do this by shaking or rotating the bag.
• Rinse the contents of the strainer bag with clean water. This will help remove any residual cleaning solution or debris. You can use a hose or pour water into the bag and agitate it to ensure thorough rinsing.

Step 4: Separate the Brass and Steel Pins

• Carefully open the strainer bag and slowly pour out the contents into a container. The brass and larger items will be separated from the steel pins.
• Use the magnet to capture any stray steel pins that may be mixed with the brass. Move the magnet along the surface of the container or through the brass to attract and collect any remaining pins.

Step 5: Dry and Store the Brass and Steel Pins

• Spread out the separated brass and steel pins on a towel or drying rack to allow them to air dry completely.
• Once dry, store the brass and steel pins in separate containers for future use.

By following these steps, you can effectively separate brass from steel pins using a strainer bag and a magnet. This method allows for the quick and efficient separation of the two materials while minimising the loss of steel pins.

Using a sieve and a bucket

The density of brass is around 8.54 to 8.88 g/cm³, while steel has a density of 7.8 g/cm³. This means that brass is less dense than steel and will therefore float on top of steel when submerged in water. This principle can be used to separate the two materials using a sieve and a bucket. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

You will need a sieve with a mesh size small enough to catch the brass pins but allow the steel pins to pass through. You will also need a bucket that is large enough to hold the sieve and has a volume of at least a few gallons.

Step 2: Prepare the Mixture

If you are starting with a mixture of brass and steel pins, you will need to add water to create a slurry. The water will help to reduce the surface tension between the pins, making it easier for them to separate. Stir the mixture thoroughly to ensure that the brass and steel pins are well-distributed.

Step 3: Start Sieving

Place the sieve over the bucket and slowly pour the slurry through it. The steel pins will pass through the mesh and collect in the bucket, while the brass pins will be caught in the sieve. Be careful not to pour too quickly, as this may cause the brass pins to be pushed through the mesh as well.

Step 4: Rinse and Repeat

Once you have poured through all of the slurry, rinse the brass pins in the sieve with clean water to remove any remaining steel pins. You may need to agitate the brass pins with your hand or a spoon to help dislodge any steel pins that are stuck. Repeat this process until you are confident that you have removed all of the steel pins.

Step 5: Dry the Pins

Spread the brass pins out on a towel or other absorbent surface to dry. You can also use a hairdryer or fan to speed up the drying process. Once the pins are dry, you can store them for future use.

Tips and Tricks:

• It is important to work slowly and carefully to avoid losing any pins. Take your time and be gentle, especially when pouring the slurry through the sieve.
• If you are having trouble getting all of the steel pins to pass through the mesh, try stirring the mixture in the sieve or tapping it gently. This will help dislodge any pins that are stuck.
• To make the separation process easier, you can add a magnet to the bottom of the bucket. The magnet will attract the steel pins and pull them away from the brass pins, making it easier for them to pass through the mesh.
• If you are working with a large quantity of pins, you may need to repeat the sieving process multiple times to fully separate the brass and steel pins.

Using a sifting pan

Sifting pans are a great way to separate brass from steel pins. They are also useful for a variety of other tasks, such as sifting soil or compost, or even gold panning.

To use a sifting pan to separate brass from steel pins, follow these steps:

• Place a sifting pan over a bucket or sink to catch the pins.
• Pour the mixture of brass and steel pins into the sifting pan.
• Gently shake or stir the sifting pan to allow the smaller steel pins to fall through the mesh, while the larger brass pieces remain in the pan.
• If needed, use a magnet to catch any stray pins that may have fallen through with the brass.
• Repeat the process until all the brass and steel pins are separated.

It is important to choose the right size of sifting pan for your task. For separating brass from steel pins, a sifting pan with a fine mesh is ideal, as it will allow the pins to fall through while retaining the brass. You can find sifting pans in a variety of sizes and mesh types online or at your local hardware store.

In addition to separating brass and steel pins, sifting pans can be used for a variety of other tasks, such as:

• Sifting soil or compost to remove rocks, roots, and other debris
• Gold panning or gem mining
• Separating cat litter from a litter box
• Straining food, such as pasta or vegetables

Frequently asked questions