Ice Scratcher
Elite Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2012
- Messages
- 18,347
Of the two items I dug in the picture below, one is worth a $1.00, the other just over a pound of solid brass, and worth +/- $2.00. I think a lot of guys might be throwing some good money away..
I just came up with this key, to help folks that might not have any ideas as to the types of non jewelry metal they are digging. This key does not include, gold, platinum, silver, or some stainless steel, these are usually easy enough to ID with hallmarks, and or common jewelry testing kits.. This is about as simple as I could make this, I know there are other metals but they are not really common to dig up IMO...
If you follow these questions, you should end up with the right ID on your metal you have dug up..
Tools needed- A strong magnet, and a flat file is best but a roofing nail will work..
1- Highly magnetic? yes= 2, No= 3
2- Throw it away or give it away, it is ferrous (contains iron), it will take a whole truck load to pay for the gas to get it to the scrap yard.
3- Scratch or file it, is it silver colored? Yes= 4, No= 7
4- Is it really light weight? Yes= 5, No= 6
5- Does it scratch easy with a steel nail? Yes= Aluminum No= Titanium
6- Does it scratch easy with a steel nail? Yes= Lead No= Zinc
7- Is it copper colored? Yes= Copper No= 8
8- Is it gold colored and slightly magnetic? Yes= Bronze No= 9
9- Is it gold colored and not magnetic at all? Yes= Brass
Hope this helps out a few!!
If anyone finds anything wrong with the above, or can add anything, feel free to post!!
<*)))>{
I just came up with this key, to help folks that might not have any ideas as to the types of non jewelry metal they are digging. This key does not include, gold, platinum, silver, or some stainless steel, these are usually easy enough to ID with hallmarks, and or common jewelry testing kits.. This is about as simple as I could make this, I know there are other metals but they are not really common to dig up IMO...
If you follow these questions, you should end up with the right ID on your metal you have dug up..
Tools needed- A strong magnet, and a flat file is best but a roofing nail will work..
1- Highly magnetic? yes= 2, No= 3
2- Throw it away or give it away, it is ferrous (contains iron), it will take a whole truck load to pay for the gas to get it to the scrap yard.
3- Scratch or file it, is it silver colored? Yes= 4, No= 7
4- Is it really light weight? Yes= 5, No= 6
5- Does it scratch easy with a steel nail? Yes= Aluminum No= Titanium
6- Does it scratch easy with a steel nail? Yes= Lead No= Zinc
7- Is it copper colored? Yes= Copper No= 8
8- Is it gold colored and slightly magnetic? Yes= Bronze No= 9
9- Is it gold colored and not magnetic at all? Yes= Brass
Hope this helps out a few!!
If anyone finds anything wrong with the above, or can add anything, feel free to post!!
<*)))>{
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