Stainless vs aluminum

**iicekingg** · 03-07-2013, 03:49 AM

What methods of identification do you consider quickest/most fluid when it comes to identifying nonmagnetic stainless vs aluminum, if you are in a situation no grinder or flame test is available?

**tombuysscrap** · 03-07-2013, 05:17 AM

Try to scratch it with your keys. Easy gouge, aluminum.

**Mick** · 03-07-2013, 05:43 AM

Spark test using a grinder.

Sparks = SS
No sparks = Aluminum

**KzScrapper** · 03-07-2013, 06:17 AM

Stainless will scratch aluminum but aluminum won't scratch stainless.

**Phantoms001** · 03-07-2013, 06:58 AM

My first thought is that stainless weighs a lot more than aluminum. It's easy to tell the difference in the weight. Same goes with aluminum wire. You can tell if you picked up an aluminum degaussing coil because it's so much lighter than a copper one.

**greytruck** · 03-07-2013, 01:07 PM

If no grinder, Drop it on a cement floor. if you do that long enough, you can tell the difference in metals by the sound they make.

**happyscraper** · 03-07-2013, 10:34 PM

Most of the time ss will have a more shinny look to it, aluminum will have a more grayish look.

**1956** · 03-07-2013, 11:10 PM

Very simple way to tell the difference a thin aluminum sheet can be bent with your hands, stainless will not bend,large difference in the weight stainless is much heaver old school scraper