Dregan
10-25-2007, 06:44 AM
referenced here: http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3702
In order to test what metal it is whithout smelting it, I'd get a piece of known copper, and a piece of known brass and test the impedance with a multimeter across the same distance on the two. There should be a difference, as I believe (and I could be wrong) that brass is less conductive than copper. Repeat this test on your mystery metal, and you'd have a good idea of what you're working with.
If you want to sacrifice a piece, find out what the melting temp is. Not everyone has a forge, though. You could also grind part of one away to see if it's a uniform color through the metal, or some kind of oxidizing on the surface. I wouldn't trust the last one personally, but some people I know swear by it.
In order to test what metal it is whithout smelting it, I'd get a piece of known copper, and a piece of known brass and test the impedance with a multimeter across the same distance on the two. There should be a difference, as I believe (and I could be wrong) that brass is less conductive than copper. Repeat this test on your mystery metal, and you'd have a good idea of what you're working with.
If you want to sacrifice a piece, find out what the melting temp is. Not everyone has a forge, though. You could also grind part of one away to see if it's a uniform color through the metal, or some kind of oxidizing on the surface. I wouldn't trust the last one personally, but some people I know swear by it.