Telling aluminum from stainless steel
09-12-2006, 05:06 PM
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Telling aluminum from stainless steel
...okay,first off-i feel retarded even asking this,but i am having a hard time figuring this out.
i have a customer with an Ebay all aluminum radiator.the neck looks to be pressed into the upper tank.it's leaking around this connection.i'd like to weld the two pieces together to fix it,but i'm not 100% sure the neck is aluminum.
how can i find out for sure?obviously i don't want to start trying to weld on it without knowing for sure.
if it was aluminum,i can't see why they wouldn't weld it also.every other piece of the rad is welded,so that makes me think it may be a different material.the other thing that makes me think it may be another material is i think aluminum would be too soft for that part,since you've got the cap twisting on and off it.it seems to me you'd want a less malleable material for that.i've never paid that much attention to other aluminum rads,so i don't have much to compare it to.
if it is another material,what would ya'll recommend to bond these two?could plumber's solder work?what about simple JB Weld?
Thanks for any input.
Chris
i have a customer with an Ebay all aluminum radiator.the neck looks to be pressed into the upper tank.it's leaking around this connection.i'd like to weld the two pieces together to fix it,but i'm not 100% sure the neck is aluminum.
how can i find out for sure?obviously i don't want to start trying to weld on it without knowing for sure.
if it was aluminum,i can't see why they wouldn't weld it also.every other piece of the rad is welded,so that makes me think it may be a different material.the other thing that makes me think it may be another material is i think aluminum would be too soft for that part,since you've got the cap twisting on and off it.it seems to me you'd want a less malleable material for that.i've never paid that much attention to other aluminum rads,so i don't have much to compare it to.
if it is another material,what would ya'll recommend to bond these two?could plumber's solder work?what about simple JB Weld?
Thanks for any input.
Chris
09-12-2006, 05:29 PM
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Re: (@irborne)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by @irborne »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">picture!?</TD></TR></TABLE>
i don't have the radiator here.he's pulling it out and bringing it to me in the next few days.
Chris
i don't have the radiator here.he's pulling it out and bringing it to me in the next few days.
Chris
09-12-2006, 05:52 PM
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Re: (TeamNextGenChris)
tap it with a sharp punch or hammer. Stainless will ring, aluminum will thud. In such a small part you'll need to use a sharp tool to get it to ring, but you'll be able to tell the difference. Also if you tap it with a sharp object aluminum will leave a major mark. Stainless will only leave a small dimple.
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09-13-2006, 02:47 PM
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Re: (mopar junkie)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mopar junkie »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've never seen a stainless radiator radiator</TD></TR></TABLE>
read my post
it's an aluminum radiator,but i think the neck may be stainless.
Chris
read my post
it's an aluminum radiator,but i think the neck may be stainless.
Chris
09-13-2006, 03:06 PM
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Re: (2kjettaguy)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2kjettaguy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">tap it with a sharp punch or hammer. Stainless will ring, aluminum will thud. In such a small part you'll need to use a sharp tool to get it to ring, but you'll be able to tell the difference. Also if you tap it with a sharp object aluminum will leave a major mark. Stainless will only leave a small dimple. </TD></TR></TABLE>
thats what was gonna say. i'd think a flat head screwdriver would problably be able to leave a good scratch if its aluminum.
thats what was gonna say. i'd think a flat head screwdriver would problably be able to leave a good scratch if its aluminum.
09-13-2006, 07:05 PM
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Re: (allmotorSOHC16)
Try looking at the lip where the cap screws on.
If it's aluminum, it would be quite a bit thicker in order to stand up to removing and installing the cap.
I'd bet it's steel, but would question if it's stainless.
A magnet would verify if it's standard mild steel. (it's the lack of iron in stainless that makes it stainless. It's the iron that's magnetic. Different grades of stainless do have a certain amount of iron)
Wes
If it's aluminum, it would be quite a bit thicker in order to stand up to removing and installing the cap.
I'd bet it's steel, but would question if it's stainless.
A magnet would verify if it's standard mild steel. (it's the lack of iron in stainless that makes it stainless. It's the iron that's magnetic. Different grades of stainless do have a certain amount of iron)
Wes
09-14-2006, 12:11 PM
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Just scratch it. Something stainless and something AL. Then go scratch any part of the radiator in question. You'll be able to tell the difference very easily.
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