FSB has been supplying select door and window hardware and the attendant accessories in brass for four decades now. We have laid store by developing a self-standing design range from the outset.
Brass fittings are marketed in a plethora of alloys and at a wide range of prices. But not all that glitters is pure brass. It is in our case though. We make exclusive use of the CuZn 37 copper-zinc alloy specified under DIN 17660, Material Nos. 2.0321 and 2.0335.
Corrosion control
Brass is prone to corrosion in everyday use - a fact that is occasionally glossed over. Cleaning is the only way round this problem. Anyone who has ever spent their holidays in the Nordic countries will know how assiduously the brass hardware on front doors is cleaned every week there. If this is too much of a chore, then lacquered or waxed finishes are the answer.
Waxed brass is self-polishing in day-to-day use. Any areas with which hands do not come into contact will soon acquire a greyish green patina. Many purchasers see this surface refinement as having an aesthetic charm all of its own. Lacquered brass hardware loses its gloss once the lacquer is damaged. Intercrystalline corrosion then sets in. Corroded hardware can be reconditioned - for a fee.
Recommendation
FSB would always recommend using waxed brass finishes. Polished waxed finishes can be looked after with proprietary cleaners. We would additionally advise against using lacquered brass finishes in outdoor areas, where the sun and elements inevitably induce corrosion phenomena, and above all against scheduling brass hardware for heavily frequented doors in public buildings - unless, that is, the constant cleaning required is considered a sacrifice worth making.
FSB 4205 Brass Polished Lacquered
FSB 4305 Brass Polished Waxed