Biz
02-09-2014, 09:38 AM
I was just cleaning spouts and found something interesting. I have mostly the rolled metal ones with separate hooks, but also four 2-piece cast aluminum (?) ones with a DG logo, and four one-piece cast metal ones. The one piece cast ones all say Soule and two of them say Made in Canada also. Three different styles. When I soaked them in vinegar, the cast metal ones started fizzing. Some sort of electrolysis going on. Tested with a magnet, two of the cast ones are ferrous and the other two are non ferrous. The two ferrous ones started rusting quickly when I soaked in a diluted bleach solution, and the two non ferrous ones turned black. None of the rolled metal ones did anything strange. They are probably steel, but showed no signs of rusting.
So I am thinking the one piece cast ones that rusted may be cast iron, and the cast ones that turned black may be aluminum or possibly lead? They are not soft like lead. If they are aluminum, why didn't the other 2-piece aluminum ones turn color also? Are there other alloys, zinc maybe? I suppose if I paid more attention in my chemistry class I could figure it out....
Dave
So I am thinking the one piece cast ones that rusted may be cast iron, and the cast ones that turned black may be aluminum or possibly lead? They are not soft like lead. If they are aluminum, why didn't the other 2-piece aluminum ones turn color also? Are there other alloys, zinc maybe? I suppose if I paid more attention in my chemistry class I could figure it out....
Dave