If you are an avid fan of do-it-yourself projects, you will need to know tell the difference between cast iron and cast steel. The difference is not so much chemical; often it is easy to discern between the two with a mere glance. At the same time, it is important that you are sure about the difference between the two, which would help reduce the cost of the DIY project and also improve its longevity.
Things You Need for Identifying the Metals
Among the things you will need when you are testing which metal is cast iron and which is cast steel are a grinding wheel, a small metal file, a blow torch, a safety mask for welding and safety gloves.
The Telltale Physical Properties
You can differentiate between the two metals on the basis of their physical appearance. Cast iron is dull, rough and has a matte gray appearance, while the cast steel is smooth and gray with a sheen to it. It is impossible to miss out on the visual test as both metals look very different.
Let the Spark Color Tell It All
You will need two small pieces of each metal. Touch the edge of each metal to your grinding wheel and note the color of the sparks that are produced. The cast steel would produce brilliant white sparks while the cast iron would generate dull red sparks.
The Chipping Test
Take a small piece from each one metal and try to chip each metal carefully with the file. Try drawing out a continuous strip of metal. You will observe that the cast iron breaks often and you are unable to get a long continuous metal strip. With the cast steel, the chipping will draw a long, smooth thin chip of metal almost effortlessly.
Confirm Through Melting
For this test you will need to isolate a small piece of each metal base and prepare to melt it. Put on your safety gear and expose the metal to the blow torch. You will find that the cast iron melts faster and liquefies into a red mass of metal. The cast steel takes much longer to melt, and when it does, it will look white.
Break and Tell
Hold up a thin bar of each of the metals and drop it to the ground with some force. The cast iron will break into many pieces; the cast steel will not break or it will just split into two. This is because the cast iron is more brittle than the cast steel.
Tips
It is easy to differentiate between the metals by looking at it or dropping it. Use the other methods only if you have a safe area in which to work.
Warnings
Do not attempt to melt the metal without the safety gear. It can cause serious accidents.
Tags: cast iron, each metal, cast steel, cast steel, will need
