Forgive my stupidity but my question is..

If you had a piece of mild steel that was well polished shiny etc, how do you know that it is mild steel and not stainless?

What indentifies stainless as being stainless (in terms of visual characteristics)?

Cheers

Mark

Stainless is non magnetic

Paul G

Austenitic are non magnetic... Other SS grades are magnetic so not so simple...

A hot salt environment could be used an would tell you with a day or so!


[Edited on 20/6/09 by SeaBass]

as said, degrease a small patch, put some salty water on for 48hrs and you'll soon know!

quote:

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Originally posted by SeaBass
Austenitic are non magnetic... Other SS grades are magnetic so not so simple...

A hot salt environment could be used an would tell you with a day or so!


[Edited on 20/6/09 by SeaBass]

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sorry to hijack a little but what grade steel do you need for a square/round framed chassis?

Normal mild steel will do for pretty much all chassis applications. Carbon steels are stronger but you get problems welding them. Same with some alloy steels.

Steel is slightly darker as well