Just a brass bar?

[BuddyC01]

Something else from the tool chest I cleaned out....
It's a 1" x 10" brass bar. It's beveled on one end and slightly mushroomed out on the other... so it's been beat on. Is this just a brass bar fashioned into a one time use tool or is it something manufactured for specific purposes.

Thanks
BuddyC

IMG_20200404_145030 by Buddy Clark, on Flickr

IMG_20200404_145037 by Buddy Clark, on Flickr

 

[dutchgray]

It is just a brass bar, but also a drift, you use it to hammer on stuff you don't want to damage, because the bar takes the hammer blows.

 

[BuddyC01]

Right on the money. I have eight of these in various sizes - some starter punch, some drift punch, some just big round punches like what you're seeing there.

Thanks to both!

 

[1982fxr]

I was cautioned about those once. Told to be careful because manufactured brass drifts and random pieces of brass are not the same and you could be using something harder than you think it is. Idk

 

[Made in USA]

Brass drifts are useful for 1001 purposes -

https://www.amazon.com/Mayhew-61360-Brass-Drift-Punch/dp/B000XSEC9Y

 

[ttpete]

I've always just made my own using round stock.

 

[spyerx]

I use that mayhew set for bearing replacements on 911 hubs. That 1” may be a bit large lol

 

[brollona]

Sometimes I use zinc bars if I don't have brass at hand. It is just important that bar is from soft metal so it cannot damage steel parts.

 

[danielbuck]

I keep an old brass hammer head (without the handle) around for tapping heavier parts or materials into place. quite handy.

 

[didit]

I've used them for gently persuading universal joints and a hundred different other things.
I use copper as well. Great for absorbing heat while using as a backing for welding too.

 

[cm cm]

I have one of these in In my box made of steel, aluminum, and brass. I use them for dislodging pinion gears in differentials, amongst other things.

The size makes it easier to hold onto while striking it with a 5lbs sledge.

 

[anndel]

Brass drifts are useful for 1001 purposes -

https://www.amazon.com/Mayhew-61360-Brass-Drift-Punch/dp/B000XSEC9Y

NO, not 1001 but a 1,000,000 + 1 uses.

 

[dogdog]

Some brass are radio active... I would be careful

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

Some brass are radio active... I would be careful

The Beryllium alloys. Copper Beryllium (a.k.a. Beryllium Copper) tools are used in the "oil patch" and in non-sparking applications. Just don't grind or machine anything made out of it as the dust is carcinogenic!

 

[M6erfan]

Yup, brass drift. I have lots of them. Make my own from bar stock.

 

[HenryAZ]

I have a 10" length of 3/4" brass rod, left over from some project. I bought the longer piece from McMaster for the project. As mentioned above, I use it (sideways) for gently persuading things to move just a tiny bit.