Is it stainless steel?

[jmayerl]

Heres my situation, I bought 4 SS valves off of ebay. They were brand new and advertised as stainless steel. I only needed 2 of them so I resold the other 2 on ebay. The purchaser just sent me an email saying they are not SS. how can I tell?

[red maples]

all the stainless ball valves I have are either stamped or right in the casting 304 or 316 some followed by SS both of those types of SS are used in food safety SS 316 is more commonly used in high pressure situations if I remember right.

Its very possible the valve may be Chrome plated.

Stainless is quite expensive more so than chrome. although I haven't checked the prices in some time.

[seclark]

if its stainless steel a magnet will not hold to it.If its a poor grade of stainless it may hold but not sure.All the stainless I have worked with will not hold a magnet.Hope this helps.

[KenWP]

I make my living with SS tools and fittings and parts and all the tools attract a magnet but some fittings do and some don't. The really good fittings I use say 304 on them except for the 10,000 pound pressure fittings. What color of handles do the valves have that is your first clue as to what kind of metal they are.

[RileySugarbush]

Chrome or nickel plated brass won't attract a magnet either

[Haynes Forest Products]

Sand a small area and put some salt paste on it and see what it does Non SS will rust up.

[Jim Schumacher]

A 400 series stainless will be slightly magnetic but shouldn't be considered to be low grade, just "different". 400 series have their purpose. 440 stainless is hardenable and is common in stainless steel tools.

I would have to guess that your valves are chrome plated brass and perhaps the guy that sold them to you didn't knowingly list them wrong on ebay. Post a picture Jeff.

Shoulda' bought some from me while you were at my shop...:lol:

Jim

[len]

Use a file to see how the metal looks below the surface. If brass, it will be yellow to a redish yellow.

[len]

An alternate might be dissassembly to see if machined areas show brass coloration internally.

[jmayerl]

A 400 series stainless will be slightly magnetic but shouldn't be considered to be low grade, just "different". 400 series have their purpose. 440 stainless is hardenable and is common in stainless steel tools.

I would have to guess that your valves are chrome plated brass and perhaps the guy that sold them to you didn't knowingly list them wrong on ebay. Post a picture Jeff.

Shoulda' bought some from me while you were at my shop...:lol:

Jim

Thanks Jim for kickin a guy while he's down, thats what friends are for;) But I put a magnet on it and it didn't stick so I guess it will work for this year and we will upgrade this summer rather than last minute, God knows I wasted enough money on this"hobby" already!