Materials used in our shops and the different names used in different countries.

[TerryWerm]

We all know that our friends across the pond and possibly down under have some slightly different names for some of the materials that we use in our shops. I am NOT saying that our terms are right and theirs are wrong! No, rather this thread is meant to acknowledge those differences and give us a place to note exactly what they are for all posterity. That said, this post is going to try to refer only to the different names used for materials and not for tools or parts of automobiles. Some materials listed may be called the same thing all over the world, some may not.

I have listed the materials and their name variants that I know. If you see an empty blank and know the correct answer, please post in this thread so that I can update the list. If another country or material should be added, please say so.

Truth be told, I started this thread because I came upon a set of plans for a steam engine I wish to build and one of the materials it calls for is gunmetal. I had to go and look it up on Wikipedia and figure that we should share that information right here.

United States	Great Britain	Australia		Other Name
Aluminum	Aluminium, 'Alley'	Aluminium
Red Brass	Gunmetal	Gilding Metal		Actually a form of bronze
Drill Rod	Silver Steel			Tool Steel
Bronze	Bronze	Leaded Gunmetal
Brass	Brass	Brass
Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze

[34_40]

A friend in New Zealand uses the term "Alloy" for Aluminum.  And it drives me nuts since essentially all metals are an alloy.  Except for maybe copper or brass and the like. HMmm.. and gold, lead... bronze....  sigh, it never ends.

[savarin]

Australian  red brass is sometimes used often called gilding metal below 20% zinc,
standard brass just called brass is 70/30% copper/zinc
Bronze sometimes called leaded gunmetal

[TerryWerm]

A friend in New Zealand uses the term "Alloy" for Aluminum.  And it drives me nuts since essentially all metals are an alloy.  Except for maybe copper or brass and the like. HMmm.. and gold, lead... bronze....  sigh, it never ends.

I have heard a similar term used before, but does he by chance call it "Ally" or "Al-ee" and not 'alloy'? I know some British folks will use that as a shortened name for 'Aluminium'.

[TerryWerm]

Australian  red brass is sometimes used often called gilding metal below 20% zinc,
standard brass just called brass is 70/30% copper/zinc
Bronze sometimes called leaded gunmetal

Thanks for that, Charles!  I have updated the table. Let me know if I should make any other changes.

[34_40]

A friend in New Zealand uses the term "Alloy" for Aluminum.  And it drives me nuts since essentially all metals are an alloy.  Except for maybe copper or brass and the like. HMmm.. and gold, lead... bronze....  sigh, it never ends.

I have heard a similar term used before, but does he by chance call it "Ally" or "Al-ee" and not 'alloy'? I know some British folks will use that as a shortened name for 'Aluminium'.

Yes, Ally/allee is commonly used.  I find a lot of words New Zealanders use are really slang terms and then some of them I've no idea what they are saying/meaning.