haven't looked around for a source yet, but brass melts at around 1800 deg F. WARNING: brass is a copper/zinc alloy. nasty fumes! if you are going to risk doing this drink plenty of milk both before and after. also try to keep a lid on the crucible to hold the zinc in or you're going to be poring copper. people have cast brass in plaster so that shouldn't be a problem, just make sure that your mold is bone dry. Lost wax would be best.