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How do you determine base metal of silver plated items?
Posted:
Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:16 amby Pennysaved
I went to $1 day at goodwill yesterday and picked up a pretty heavy Pottery Barn tray for $1. I looked it up online and it said it was silver plated but did not indicate what the base metal was.
Do you just have to file the silver plate layer down to determine the base metal?
There are no markings such as silver on copper or anything like that.
Re: How do you determine base metal of silver plated items?
Posted:
Fri Feb 04, 2011 11:41 amby cyberdan
Pennysaved wrote:Do you just have to file the silver plate layer down to determine the base metal?
probably yes.
if you do file and see another white metal it could be nickel or anything the maker decided to use. I personally would not buy it unless I could see copper or the word copper stamped on it.
Ask your scrapper if they buy nickel items. might be $$$ there.
Re: How do you determine base metal of silver plated items?
Posted:
Fri Feb 04, 2011 11:51 amby Pennysaved
Yeah I knew I was taking a chance but figured for $1 it was worth a shot.
Wish pottery barn would list what base metals they use in their trays.
Re: How do you determine base metal of silver plated items?
Posted:
Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:12 pmby Coppercrazy
Its probably brass underneath
Re: How do you determine base metal of silver plated items?
Posted:
Sun Feb 06, 2011 11:13 pmby Dumpster Diver
Get an inexpensive bench grinder. Ryobi makes a cheap one for about $30.
Re: How do you determine base metal of silver plated items?
Posted:
Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:11 amby flbandit
One of the most useful scrapping tools I have is a small angle grinder. I just hit anything I question with it and it tells alot.