What is this metal?

**zakmattingly** · 02-02-2012, 05:34 AM

Inside of a few fridge/freezers I've done, behind the back wall of the freezer section, there is an aluminum radiator. On a couple of them i've found a piece as thick as a pen with rubber ends that go from one end of the radiator and up and over to the other (like headphones) and is connected to wire. It doesn't stick to a magnet and it sparks but it's bendable like wire.

**Mulden** · 02-02-2012, 07:36 AM

Is it tinned copper? Give it a good scratch and look for the brown underneath or hack-saw a cross section.
Just a guess.

**freonjoe** · 02-02-2012, 09:24 AM

Sounds like a calrod defrost heater. It's pretty much like a stove burner and goes in your stove burner barrel. They are stainless steel on the outside.

**zakmattingly** · 02-02-2012, 05:22 PM

Ah. It is the same as a burner. I had just hit it with the grinder before. Now I cut it all the way through to see that coil and the powder stuff. I'll have to look up to find out what to do with them. I got a few.

**redcrossnj** · 02-02-2012, 06:12 PM

probably a
heating element . was their a filment inside

**zakmattingly** · 02-02-2012, 11:42 PM

Yep. You mean that piece coiled in there? I had taken the time to smash out the powder and get that out to clean a few that were copper (not worth the time by the way) and those acted like stainless. Sparks and doesn't stick. Had heard though that some could be nickel. Never looked too much into it cuz I didn't have alot to mess with. I got ones from coffee makers, stoves, irons, etc. I have about 20 old overhead heating lamps to get at now though out in a holler so Imma have to check it out.