What is this metal?

[drum]

Please move this if it is in the wrong area of the forum.

I am now conscious of not throwing away any metal that might be useful. The wife has asked (told) me to skip a broken tumble dryer and I've got some other junk needing binned eg patio heater, washing machine in the garage that needs fixed etc.

What is the casing of a washing machine made of? If it's aluminium it might be useful for patching my landrover. The patio heater base that contains the gas bottle has signs of rust so must be steel? It's at least 1.5mm thick so I should keep it. Is there an easy way of testing whether something is steel/aluminium/tin?

Thanks and apologies for my ignorance.

 

[brightspark]

Please move this if it is in the wrong area of the forum.

I am now conscious of not throwing away any metal that might be useful. The wife has asked (told) me to skip a broken tumble dryer and I've got some other junk needing binned eg patio heater, washing machine in the garage that needs fixed etc.

What is the casing of a washing machine made of? If it's aluminium it might be useful for patching my landrover. The patio heater base that contains the gas bottle has signs of rust so must be steel? It's at least 1.5mm thick so I should keep it. Is there an easy way of testing whether something is steel/aluminium/tin?

Thanks and apologies for my ignorance.

try a magnet the washing machine outer case will be steel

 

[Hitch]

Washing machine is probably electro galv steel, or zintec.
Zintec is steel, but with a coating of zinc.

 

[Drains]

Drum, old metal is horrible. Paint is horrible. No matter how expensive steel is, it's still cheaper and better to use new sheet than old manky stuff out if a skip. Never use second hand aluminium unless you're stuck in the middle of the Sahara Desert, then you have an excuse, though a poor one.

Hope that helps....

Where in Scotland are you?

 

[drum]

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, probably being a tide wad with the old steel. Thought it might be ok for practising on though.

Where in Scotland are you?

I'm in Kirriemuir, Angus

 

[mart]

No Never use second hand aluminium unless you're stuck in the middle of the Sahara Desert,

Just curious, what actually happens to older/second aluminium that makes it undesirable to use?

 

[aametalmaster]

Just curious, what actually happens to older/second aluminium that makes it undesirable to use?

It get's recycled into new shiney aluminum...Bob

 

[NTwoO]

Alu oxidises quite a bit if it is exposed to the elements. This means that using old alu will require scrubbing and such that invariably results in a poorer finish. Washing machine drums provide good sheets for practising your stainless welding. If you wish to practice Alu, go to a shop doing aluminium construction and get some newly cut offcuts from their bins. These should be clean and oxide free. Most of these shops cut lubricant free.

 

[Hitch]

Drum, what Drains is trying to say, you will have much more success learning on clean metal. It will take away some of the variable that are common to learners, such as the metal being clean enough, knowing what the material actually is.

The problem crops up time and time again here.

 

[SC_BK]

If you're bored strip the washing machine to weigh it all in, there's usually mild steel, stainless steel, alloy, copper (in the motor), and cable

There's also "odd" bits and brackets that are handy to keep kicking about for future projects