[Jewelry making - Article 01188] - Re: [Orchid] Identifying metals

[Len and Judy Bjorkman]

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    Marc, I use the following methods. 

    (1) Get a magnet-- if your metal is attracted, there is iron or
    stainless steel there (the nickel in nickel-silver is generally not
    enough to be attracted in a decisive manner, at least in my
    experience) 

    (2) Get a little bottle of Silver Testing Solution.  Mine is "JSP"
    brand 

    --can't remember where I got it.  Clean a test area, put on a tiny
    drop 

    -- if it becomes creamy-colored, the metal is silver; if it turns
    green, it's base metal (brass, copper, nickel-silver).  Rinse it off
    immediately, and DON'T get the testing solution on you.  It's nasty
    stuff.  I assume that if you tested an intact piece of gold-filled
    wire, it would also remain creamy-colored, although its interior
    could be another matter. 

Hope this helps 
Judy Bjorkman

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