On Sat, 19 Mar 2016 00:26:58 +0100, Sjouke Burry wrote:

Going for the nobelprice then.
Apply a very small drop of salt water to the tip of one of those out
grows then one side of your ohmmeter to a ground and the other side
gently touching the drop of water.
If the whisker conducts, that should show up.

Thank you for that, Sjouke. I'll ponder this idea of yours as I can see
some merit in it. the only problem AISI is these fibres are so tiny it's
going to require a steady hand and a good eye - but I have neither!
However, it's very late here now so I'll report back tomorrow with the
results - *if* I can pull it off.