How do you determine base metal of silver plated items?

[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.

[cyberdan]

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.

[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.

[Coppercrazy]

Its probably brass underneath

[Dumpster Diver]

Get an inexpensive bench grinder. Ryobi makes a cheap one for about $30.

[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.