Beryllium Copper tools

[INSP380]

Who has em? I’ve had this one in my collection for many many years. This came from Brush Wellman (more likely Brush Beryllium) as a prototype from about 1975 ish . My friends dad was a VP for them and always had neat stuff. IIRC, these were also a casting reject, we broke several taking apart a old 396 as kids...

Steve

 

[joe_pinehill1]

I would keep them on a shelf as a curio. Beryllium copper is a toxic, why take the chance.

 

[Bessy]

I have two older Berylco tools that were my Grandfather's. One pipe wrench about 8" long I think, and another 12" or so adjustable wrench.

They're made primarily for no+spark environments, so I'm not really sure what his uses for them would have been, nor am I sure of why or where he would have acquired them.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

[bczygan]

I've got 3 or 4.

Bill

 

[81turbota]

We have a few beryllium copper clamps floating around at work, used in vacuum chambers primarily.

Good memories about BC though, a rotor anti sag device called a droop stop on UH60 helicopters is made from BC. We would call special people droop stop lickers...akin to window lickers.

 

[jabberwoki]

There is a existing thread on collecting these somewhere.

 

[CoogarXR]

I have 3 of the Xcelite Beryllium Copper screwdrivers; the BR-146, BR-186, and the BR-1810. I posted these pics when back when I got the first two (the 186 came later)

 

[INSP380]

Great stuff guys! Sorry, I didn’t see a existing thread while doing a bit of research. The beryllium is a carcinogen, but only as a dust and not in a solid form. This is something I paid attention to as my wrench became heavily tarnished sitting in my drawer. I used a mixture of vinegar and salt and let it sit in this bath for about 8 hours. A cold water rinse was all it took. Searching the interweb, I’ve found sockets and ratchets & a lot of adjustable...Glad to see some here, the stories behind them interest me.... How’d they come to rest in your box?

Steve

 

[Doug Arthurs]

I have a piece of 3" round BC on my material shelf waiting to be made into something no idea what. AS mentioned only a problem if you are breathing in the dust or licking your tools clean.

 

[INSP380]

That's really cool....I'd be hard pressed to find something worthy, but I'd like the chunk just as well! Tough stuff....

Steve

 

[mowkep]

Nasty stuff. We actually machined it here a few times with masks and a heavy duty vacuum system. After the second or third time, he told the customer we couldn't do it anymore...thank God. It was only a small turned part

 

[rlitman]

Great stuff guys! Sorry, I didn’t see a existing thread while doing a bit of research...

Here you go:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=375322

 

[driftpin]

I'm going to have to check the Xcelite screwdriver I have for its number, I wasn't aware that it was (possibly) a beryllium tool.

As an alkaline earth metal https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/conten.../marketing-assets/periodic-table-elements.png (the lightest one) it's light and strong. I knew there was a bicycle manufacturer who used beryllium for a very high-end bike frame, here's some info:
http://classiccycleus.com/home/1990-american-m-16/

 

[INSP380]

Here you go:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=375322

Awesome! Thank you for finding that... Like the old Brass stuff too, but kinda misses the voodoo and hazards of Beryllium..

Steve

 

[CoogarXR]

I'm going to have to check the Xcelite screwdriver I have for its number, I wasn't aware that it was (possibly) a beryllium tool.

It probably isn't. I collect Xcelite tools, and the BR-XXXX screwdrivers are extremely rare in my opinion. I bought every one I have seen, and I only have 3, lol.

 

[neophyte]

I have two older Berylco tools that were my Grandfather's. One pipe wrench about 8" long I think, and another 12" or so adjustable wrench.

They're made primarily for no+spark environments, so I'm not really sure what his uses for them would have been, nor am I sure of why or where he would have acquired them.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

Beryllium Bronze is used for reasons other than its non-sparking qualities.

Copper Beryllium tools are sometimes used in marine envirenments because in addition to its non-sparking qualities, it’s also a bronze alloy so it doesn’t rust, which is a main problem in marine conditions, especially around salt water. The advantage that it diesn’t spark is also important because fires on ships etc. can be significantly more dangerous.

Beryllium Copper is also not magnetic, so it’s used for explosives removal, or at least it was. Titanium may have taken over to an extent.

Beryllium Copper tools are also used around magnetic equipment such as MRI machines, although I think titanium may be taking over for this as well.

As far as other uses, Beryllium copper is used for specialty equipment, such as fiber optic relays that need to get submerged in the ocean, due to its high strength and corrision resistance.
And, BeCu apparently makes top of the line springs, and is also used for certain electrical connectors and switches due to its conductivity and strength.

 

[neophyte]

Who has em? I’ve had this one in my collection for many many years. This came from Brush Wellman (more likely Brush Beryllium) as a prototype from about 1975 ish . My friends dad was a VP for them and always had neat stuff. IIRC, these were also a casting reject, we broke several taking apart a old 396 as kids...

Steve

Cool speed wrench.
I’ve never seen a non sparking version.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I have a few of them I used to work on storage tanks, the only thing I don't like about them is they're softer than their steel conterparts... I'd probably not snivel except they make my SO tools seem cheap by comparison.

 

[neophyte]

I would keep them on a shelf as a curio. Beryllium copper is a toxic, why take the chance.

Beryllium is mainly toxic to the lungs if inhaled, and Beryllium Copper is usually only maximum 3% beryllium, so the health issues may be overblown to an extent.
The main issues would be sharpening beryllium copper or polishing it for the average user of beryllium copper tools.
For knives that need to be sharpened routinely, Ampco uses Nickel Copper alloys.

 

[PittsburghTim]

Ping made golf club heads (irons, ironically) for a while back in the mid to late 80s out of beryllium copper. Claimed to have a softer feel that the traditional forged clubs and the newer (at the time) cast clubheads.

 

[rlitman]

...Beryllium Copper is also not magnetic, so it’s used for explosives removal, or at least it was. Titanium may have taken over to an extent.

Beryllium Copper tools are also used around magnetic equipment such as MRI machines, although I think titanium may be taking over for this as well...

For the first, I highly doubt that, because titanium is a sparking alloy that's far worse than steel. Ever touch a piece of titanium to your grinder? It makes for a very bright show.

For the second, I don't know, but the one MRI repair tech I know (now retired) uses (used) exclusively be-cu or non-metallic tools. Nothing titanium, and I'll take a stab at why. While titanium itself is para-magnetic (so it would be fine), pure (CP) titanium is too soft to make useful tools. Tools (and medical implants) use titanium alloys that have elements other than pure titanium have real (though very small) ferromagnetic properties. While titanium implants have been shown to be safe around MRIs, I see studies showing that they can produce small imaging artifacts (though nowhere near as bad as 316 stainless, which itself is also MRI "safe"). The artifacts may be small enough for an MRI to get good images of a patient, but they'd still be enough to cause trouble for a repair technician trying to fine tune an irregularity in the magnetic field for the highest quality images.

 

[rickpaulos]

I work on a DOE funded project that is trying to find former workers from the cold war era. Atomic weapons were built using beryllium as the main metal for the structures of the bombs. This was before OSHA or any safety regs for the top secret workers. Once beryllium is in the human body, it stays there forever doing it's damage to health. The project has taken thousands of blood samples from the workers. The samples get sent to multiple independent labs for evaluation. If the lab results agree, an affected worker could be eligible for a large payment (if congress funds that for the year). Any one who ever worked in any of the many DOE sites across the USA is eligible for regular medical screenings. Sorry to say, of the 40,000 people in my local database, only ~1500 were still alive when I got hired on about 8 years ago. Welding, grinding, drilling, etc of beryllium is dangerous as that can get the beryllium in to the lungs or carried home on your clothes.

The project director/doctor called for all the living workers to turn in hand tools that went home in lunch boxes . A number were returned and sent in for testing. Those that were negative for radiation came back to the director. The beryllium alloy tools were kept in zip lock bags by the project director. The md was quite serious about us not touching them.

If you ever worked at any of the cold war facilities, you may be eligible for free medical screenings. Read more about it here:
https://www.energy.gov/ehss/service...afety/former-worker-medical-screening-program

 

[rtz]

McMaster sells wrenches, sockets, and Allen keys; even a torque wrench made of Beryllium Copper.

 

[rtz]

And a knife to add to the collection: https://emersonknives.com/shop/knives/limited-models/eodknife/

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I picked up a push through ratchet with some sockets and some linesman pliers this summer at a swap meet. All are Berylco. They were unusual enough to make me think I needed them. The old man selling them was in his 90's and looked pretty good for his age... Ed.

 

[INSP380]

Cool speed wrench.
I’ve never seen a non sparking version.

Kinda what I thought considering it’s age too...

Steve

 

[KnurledNut]

For those educating themselves from this thread...
NEVER use it in direct contact with Acetylene.

 

[rlitman]

For those educating themselves from this thread...
NEVER use it in direct contact with Acetylene.

BS. Pure acetylene shouldn't be piped in copper pipes, and BeCu being 98% copper isn't any better, but pure copper O/A torch tips are safely used every day, and I've never heard of a BeCu pipe anyway.

 

[KnurledNut]

BS. Pure acetylene shouldn't be piped in copper pipes, and BeCu being 98% copper isn't any better, but pure copper O/A torch tips are safely used every day, and I've never heard of a BeCu pipe anyway.

I have some Berylco tools. I heed the manufacturers warning.
Copper acetylide is real. Its caused explosions at acetylene plants, etc.
To blow off pertinent information that could affect the safety of readers here is quite juvenile.

See the yellow box here:
https://www.ngkmetals.com/index.cfm/m/95/About_BERYLCO_%3Cbr_/%3ESafety_Tools

 

[ultgar]

A few Facom Copper Beryllium and titanium tools.

 

[rlitman]

I have some Berylco tools. I heed the manufacturers warning.

Copper acetylide is real. Its caused explosions at acetylene plants, etc.

To blow off pertinent information that could affect the safety of readers here is quite juvenile.



See the yellow box here:

https://www.ngkmetals.com/index.cfm/m/95/About_BERYLCO_<br_/>Safety_Tools

I don’t see a yellow box in your link. Copper acetylide forms in PIPES, not on tools! And if you’re machining BeCu for industrial uses, you’d better be getting your safety data from something other than an Internet forum.

The accidents at acetylene plants had nothing to do with BeCu. Your advice, is as relevant as saying you shouldn’t have pennies around acetylene.

 

[AZ Pete]

used them when I was a ballistic missile crewman. Needed for torquing the igniters into the rocket motors and explosive bolts in the interstage splice bands.

 

[thin_concrete]

Ping made golf club heads (irons, ironically) for a while back in the mid to late 80s out of beryllium copper. Claimed to have a softer feel that the traditional forged clubs and the newer (at the time) cast clubheads.

I still kick myself for letting go of my BeCu Pings, for nothing other than for the collectors value.

 

[KnurledNut]

I don’t see a yellow box in your link. Copper acetylide forms in PIPES, not on tools! And if you’re machining BeCu for industrial uses, you’d better be getting your safety data from something other than an Internet forum.

The accidents at acetylene plants had nothing to do with BeCu. Your advice, is as relevant as saying you shouldn’t have pennies around acetylene.

Its not my personal advice.
Its a warning supplied by every manufacturer of these tools as well as those who sell them. Do some research.
Its also an OSHA guideline, and some of us have to work professionally under their requirements to avoid citations.
I was simply stating a fact.
The whole point of non-sparking tools is stated in their name.
Ive worked in industry where a literal micro-explosion has killed many.
One doesnt fully appreciate a warning until they see what can come from one, “Ehhh, it’ll be alright...”

https://www.grainger.com/content/qt-non-sparking-tools-381
https://www.mscdirect.com/basicsof/nonsparking-tools
https://www.mcmaster.com/nonsparking-pliers
https://www.ngkmetals.com/index.cfm/m/95/About_BERYLCO_<br_/>Safety_Tools
http://www.tramontina.com.br/en/p/44233012-506-230-g-beryllium-copper-ball-pein-hammer
https://www.egamaster.com/phocadownload/fichastecnicas/es_70100.pdf
https://www.repairmanagement.nl/distributorships/ega-master/ega-master-safety-tools/
https://www.safetytools.com/faq/
https://www.csunitec.com/sites/default/files/asset/document/msds-cast-copper-beryllium-2008.pdf

 

[neophyte]

BS. Pure acetylene shouldn't be piped in copper pipes, and BeCu being 98% copper isn't any better, but pure copper O/A torch tips are safely used every day, and I've never heard of a BeCu pipe anyway.

Would Copper acetylide forming in a torch tip really be that much of an issue though, since the torch tip is inherently going to be used with flammable gasses that are being ignited anyway, and the interior torch size not being that large, therefore limiting the amount of Copper acetylide that can form inside?
Also, the inside of a torch just has gas passing thru it, so the Copper acetylide would be somewhat safe from the type of disturbance that could cause it to go bang.

With non-sparking tools, the issue with Copper acetylide formation, is that the Copper acetylide would negate the non-sparking nature of the tools, removing the safety factor.

 

[neophyte]

It should be mentioned that there are now non-sparking tools made for use in acetylene plants, using alloys with a copper percentage lower than 65%, which aparently makes them safe for acetylene environments, although I think the tools are a newer thing.

 

[Canoe50]

I still kick myself for letting go of my BeCu Pings, for nothing other than for the collectors value.

They can still be found on ebay & sometimes on Craigslist.
Tommy Armour also made their 845s in BeCu, I think in the 80s or early 90s.

 

[KnurledNut]

This thread is obviously about tools, but just to add to the discussion, another common use of BeCu is retaining rings.

https://www.mcmaster.com/beryllium-copper-retaining-rings

 

[rlitman]

This thread is obviously about tools, but just to add to the discussion, another common use of BeCu is retaining rings.

https://www.mcmaster.com/beryllium-copper-retaining-rings

I can't say I've seen that use, but BeCu is found in all sorts of things. If you've ever used a telephone or network jack, you've used BeCu, because the gold plated wire spring fingers in the female jack are just that. It's also used in most computer cases as part of the shielding.