Is there an easy way to detect stainless steel (apart from the obvious
"leave it outside and see if it rusts")? I'm particularly interested
in trying to work out whether some machine screws I have are stainless
steel or not.

--
Chris Green

wrote:
Is there an easy way to detect stainless steel (apart from the obvious
"leave it outside and see if it rusts")? I'm particularly interested
in trying to work out whether some machine screws I have are stainless
steel or not.

not 100% accurate, as it depends on the composition, but ss is generally
non-magnetic!!

Jon

wrote in message ...
Is there an easy way to detect stainless steel (apart from the obvious
"leave it outside and see if it rusts")? I'm particularly interested
in trying to work out whether some machine screws I have are stainless
steel or not.

Stainless steel fixings are commonly made from an austenitic stainless
steel, which is non-magnetic.

Colin Bignell

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 14:47:55 +0100, "Jonathan Pearson"
wrote:

not 100% accurate, as it depends on the composition, but ss is generally
non-magnetic!!

Why do spoons stick to magnets?

Unfortunately some ss sticks to magnets and some doesn't. I haven't
got a clue which type of ss screws are made of.

A plated brass screw won't attract a magnet but could look like a ss
one.

sponix

In article , "
says...
Is there an easy way to detect stainless steel (apart from the obvious
"leave it outside and see if it rusts")? I'm particularly interested
in trying to work out whether some machine screws I have are stainless
steel or not.


Stick it in a glass of salt water and see if it rusts :-)

"nightjar" nightjar@ insert my surname here.uk.com wrote:

wrote in message ...
Is there an easy way to detect stainless steel (apart from the obvious
"leave it outside and see if it rusts")? I'm particularly interested
in trying to work out whether some machine screws I have are stainless
steel or not.

Stainless steel fixings are commonly made from an austenitic stainless
steel, which is non-magnetic.

But, AIUI, the screw forming operation, which involves large amounts of
cold working, can make it magnetic, even if it normally wouldn't be.

"s--p--o--n--i--x" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 14:47:55 +0100, "Jonathan Pearson"
wrote:

not 100% accurate, as it depends on the composition, but ss is generally
non-magnetic!!

Why do spoons stick to magnets?

Unfortunately some ss sticks to magnets and some doesn't. I haven't
got a clue which type of ss screws are made of.

Austinitic stainless steel is non-magnetic. Martensitic and, to a lesser
degree, ferritic stainless steels are magnetic. Fastenings are usually made
from austentic stainless steel. Spons are more often from a martensitic
stainless steel.

A plated brass screw won't attract a magnet but could look like a ss
one.

Breathe on it. If the haze looks bluish, it is chrome plate. Otherwise, it
is not.

Colin Bignell

wrote in message ...
Is there an easy way to detect stainless steel (apart from the obvious
"leave it outside and see if it rusts")? I'm particularly interested
in trying to work out whether some machine screws I have are stainless
steel or not.

Chris Green

Zinc and brass taste bitter but stainless steel tastes sweet. So lick them
and find out.

"Ian Stirling" wrote in message
...
"nightjar" nightjar@ insert my surname here.uk.com wrote:

wrote in message
...
Is there an easy way to detect stainless steel (apart from the obvious
"leave it outside and see if it rusts")? I'm particularly interested
in trying to work out whether some machine screws I have are stainless
steel or not.

Stainless steel fixings are commonly made from an austenitic stainless
steel, which is non-magnetic.

But, AIUI, the screw forming operation, which involves large amounts of
cold working, can make it magnetic, even if it normally wouldn't be.

The most common alloy for fastenings, 302 stainless steel, remains
non-magnetic, even after extensive cold working. Other alloys can have
greater changes in their magnetic permeability after cold working, but the
difference from a carbon steel fastening will still be quite obvious.

Colin Bignell

"BigWallop" wrote in message
. uk...

wrote in message ...
Is there an easy way to detect stainless steel (apart from the obvious
"leave it outside and see if it rusts")? I'm particularly interested
in trying to work out whether some machine screws I have are stainless
steel or not.

Chris Green

Zinc and brass taste bitter but stainless steel tastes sweet. So lick
them
and find out.


try the spak test on a grinding wheel. Different metals give different
sparks (needs research as it is a long time since my apprenticeship)