[Jewelry making - Article 01727] - [Orchid] Testing white metal

[Len and Judy Bjorkman]

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    Can anyone suggest a simple test for telling if a white-metal bead
    is nickel-silver or pewter? 

    Sometimes I find nice used metal beads, or friends will give me
    some. I have a little bottle of some nasty acid that tells me if a
    bead is sterling silver or nickel-silver. Other beads I will file it
    in an inconspicuous place, or tumble polish in abrasive media, or
    snip one bead in half, to make sure it is not plastic or plated. (I
    will not use plastic, and I don't like to use plated beads.) 

Thanks in advance,
Judy Bjorkman
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