How can you tell if somthings stainless?

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well i found a bunch of pieces of metal, they look stainless, like they have that brushed look to them..How can i tell if there stainless? i put a drop of water on a piece and let it sit for a while and it looked like it started to turn a little orange, but it wiped off..
Reply:Use a magnet...if it sticks to the material then it IS NOT stainless or aluminum.- ASODBeauty in the Bead!
Reply:But i was reading somthing before that 300 Stainless has Chromium and somthing else that makes the metal magnetic and 400 stainless has Just chromium and that is magnetic
Reply:300 series stainless is non-magnetic. Is it sheet or bar or what? If it is brushed sheet then it is more than likely 304ss or maybe 316ss, check with a magnet.I can usually spot SS just by the color. Got pics?Miller EconotigCutmaster 38Yes ma'am, that IS a screwdriver in my pocket!
Reply:The magnet is the best way I know to tell. If it is stainless and you try using it be real careful when cutting it with a saw or drilling it, or machining it on a lathe or mill. Go slow and watch your heat. That stuff will work harden on you and then the only thing you might get to cut through it is carbide. I have ruined several peices by getting in to big a hurry and trying to go to fast. Once it work hardens you might as well through it out and start over again.
Reply:Magnets are the easy way to tell.  However Im curious as if 300 series stainless isnt slightly magnetic.  We have a large magnet (soda can sized, unknown material) at work and it will create a slight pull on pieces of stainless and will pick up stainless chips.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:It is very slightly magnetic. It takes a pretty powerful magnet to even notice it though.Miller EconotigCutmaster 38Yes ma'am, that IS a screwdriver in my pocket!
Reply:'Stainless' covers a huge range of alloys. All stainless alloys ARE strongly magnetic EXCEPT the austenitic alloys (300 and 200 series) which barely respond to a magnet. However the austenitics can develop a stronger magnetic response given sufficient cold working300 series is by far the most common- chances are if your find is not magetic then you have 304 or 316 stainlessFWIW the alloy can be narrowed down by doing a few more tests after the magnet...http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/id...eel-d_383.html
Reply:Martensitic grades of Stainless are magnetic to the best of my knowledge, but I don't think that type of S.S. has the best weldability and is really used for like cutlery, and surgical tools and things like that. I think Ferritic SS is magnetic too... for obvious reasons.At least thats all I can remember about the magnetic type of stainless steelCertified Welding Inspector at your service...Level II Nuclear Welding InspectorLevel II Nuclear Electrical InspectorLevel II Nuclear Civil InspectorLevel II Ultrasonic Thickness Testing TechnicianCertified Smartass,and Wise Acre
Reply:Test with a cutting torch. Stainless will melt, but not cut with a torch. Heat to melt, and then open the cutting oxygen valve; stainless will cool, rather than  "burn" or oxidize from the cutting jet.
Reply:Now I'm in the habit of checking everything with a magnet. Just from trial and error, I find lots of left over stainless hardware to save for a rainy day, or for the boat, in which case everyday is a wet one! Some stainless has a mild attraction, but compared to mild steel of the same size, it becomes apparent which has the strong attraction and which is very weak. Then there is color, which is easy to tell side by side with non-stainless-steel. Of course some stainless has zero magnetic attraction with a simple refrigerator magnet, that stuff is usually free from any sign of rust. Most of what I check through is ordinary hardware bits and peices, so it's common stuff.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:I have lots of stainless firearm parts in the shop....and all of them are attracted to a magnet. We use mostly 416SS which is magnetic.There are plenty of other SS metals that are magnetic. The only way I can test to be sure is with "cold bluing" chemicals. They will not discolor or "blue" any SS material.If you are real experienced, you can tell from the sparks off a grinding wheel.Roy BDartmouth, Mahttp://www.rvbprecision.comMM 185 MIGDiversion 165Purox W200 O/AGrizzly 9957 MillGrizzly 4030 Metal Band SawGrizzly 1050 Knife Belt SanderJet 1236 Metal LatheCM 14" Metal Band SawTP Blast Cabinet