Need help on TIG Rod Identification - Mg or Al?

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Hello All: Got some TIG Rod at an auction a while ago and was just going thru the pile. One cardboard tube had label that read Harris R 5056 3/32. Plastic sleeve inside was hand labeled 1/16 Magnesium. Measured diameter and got 0.058". Some of the rods had corrosion on them that looks like what I have seen on Aluminum. Is there any "easy" way of telling if these are Magnesium or Aluminum? Have never seen a Magnesium rod so don't know what it might look like. There are no markings on any of the individual rods. Hope someone can help. Thanks for reading. Take care.BurtHF DUAL MIG 171 w/ Multiple Mods.WSME-200 AC/DC TIG PULSE/MMACUT-50 PLASMA
Reply:Pour a little distilled vinegar on it. If it bubbles, it's Mg.Mike ZanconatoZanconato Custom Cycles @mzank on Instagram
Reply:zank: Thank you for the reply. Will give that a whirl and see what I have got. Only paid $10 for about 50 pounds of mixed rods. Mostly Aluminum with some Brass and Stainless mixed in. Now just have to figure out how to use it. Take care. BurtHF DUAL MIG 171 w/ Multiple Mods.WSME-200 AC/DC TIG PULSE/MMACUT-50 PLASMA
Reply:You can also weigh the rods compared to known weights of magnesium rods. Magnesium is also much lighter than aluminum.
Reply:I don't know about 5056 but 5356 has some magnesium in it. If I recall, welding with magnesium gives a green tint to the arc. Maybe one of the resident TIG experts can confirm or comment on this.
Reply:Would a spark test help? I dont know what mag sparks should look like but I would dig up some scrap to compare it to.  Im thinking white sparks like Ti .
Reply:magnesium burns in powder form, scrape a rod with a razor blade and make a small pile and hit it with a propane torch, if it goes POOF in a flash its magnesium, they make fire starters out of it...Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:I just did a spark test on some magnesium. Magnesium doesnt spark. WTF? I thought it would be white sparks like titanium.  I guess roadkill's burn test is the way to test if there isnt to much alloy.
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Reply:So there are several things suggested to try. No bubbles with the vinegar and looks like the spark test won't help. Will try the scrape/fire and also the arc color. This is more of a curiosity on  my part than serious need since I have plenty of Aluminum rod and no current application for Magnesium rod. Thanks to everyone who replied. Take care. BurtHF DUAL MIG 171 w/ Multiple Mods.WSME-200 AC/DC TIG PULSE/MMACUT-50 PLASMA
Reply:Originally Posted by roadkillbobbmagnesium burns in powder form
Reply:ok this is a question,,if magnesium burns in any form with hot enough heat...how do you weld it without ending up just burning it to a crisp?...does the shielding gas prevent any o2 from letting it burn up?Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:Yes, and the magnesium oxide that forms on the surface is pretty good at keeping oxygen out too it seems. Magnesium can even be O/A welded with the correct flux - although I have no idea if that flux actually has been available any time in the last 50 years, I've only read about it and I expect demand for it to be very small these days.
Reply:Originally Posted by roadkillbobb...does the shielding gas prevent any o2 from letting it burn up?