simple way of testing metal composition
#1
Mon, 06/18/2012 - 20:10
simple way of testing metal composition
i have the oppertunity to look at several singing bowls from a collector, she happens to be a friend of the family and she said that if offered a fair price might sale me one or two, other then using a magnet and without using acids ofcourse how can i tell what metal alloys are present in the bell?
What type of metal are they?
Nevermind after reading wiki it would either have to be copper or brass.
If it's been hammered it is copper (more flexible and malleable). It's a softer metal than brass.
If it's been machined it should be brass (easily breaks when hammered).
If your concerned about the actual ingredients in the smelt there is no easy way to tell.
I should also add that copper can be machined as well, it's just a messier process, and a machinist is going to prefer the brass.
Try your local community college machine shop teacher if all else fails.
I don't suggest that one. A lot of the vets will put a grinder to it and watch the spark trail to tell you a lot about it. It's a good way to tell a lot about a certain metal but you have to be willing to damage it some.
My suggestion is some of your higher end metal recycling places have a high dollar tool that will leave a small spark mark on the metal but it will tell you what material it is and it's alloy.
the ones that i looked at were hammered she also said that she got them directly from a small village in india and that they were made "in the olden style", however she was referring to the new old style not the traditional old style as that technique has been lost. reason why i asked how to check for various metals is that its said that a singingbowl thats mixed with various alloys, that each alloy will vibrate at different frequency producing depth within the bowls sound. this is something very highly sought after within the community, however its very unrealistic to find a bowl mixed with the correct alloys as the older bowls were said to be made form meteroites fallen to earth lol.