br5409 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 What are cable company amp cases made of? Cast aluminum? Magnet does not stick. These are old C-core amplifier cases. I think they are cast aluminum? I have not done a spark test yet. Just wondering if any of you guys have messed with them. I would like to melt them down if they are aluminum and do not have any magnesium in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 The best way to find out would be to zap it with an XRF gun. If you are friends with the folks at a junkyard/recycling facility, they might do it for you. Otherwise, you could shave off a little bit and hit it with a torch to see if it flares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Don't forget there are a lot of zinc alloys used for casting too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Good point. Greenish smoke=bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
br5409 Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 Closest BIG scrap yard to me is SA Recycling or PSC metals. I will have to call and see if they have a XRF gun. Thanks guys. If anyone knows anything or a cheap way to find out, please respond below. I pecked it with a grinder and no sparks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 The question in our minds is is it magnesium or aluminum. A few scrapings lit with a match or lighter will tell you the difference. The aluminum will just sit there and the mag will light up and dance. Zinc alloys are heavier than aluminum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
br5409 Posted October 13, 2022 Author Share Posted October 13, 2022 12 hours ago, Charles R. Stevens said: The question in our minds is is it magnesium or aluminum. A few scrapings lit with a match or lighter will tell you the difference. The aluminum will just sit there and the mag will light up and dance. Zinc alloys are heavier than aluminum. I had a guy that owns a scrap yard tell me that he thinks that it is cast aluminum. He did not know if it had any magnesium or zinc in it though. I will try the "scrape" test next. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 13, 2022 Share Posted October 13, 2022 John had beat me to the punch, I just reiterated his thinking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 13, 2022 Share Posted October 13, 2022 That's okay; last time, you beat me to the chisel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
br5409 Posted October 13, 2022 Author Share Posted October 13, 2022 total weight: 6.77lb dimensions: 10"x13"x5" not got around to scrape test yet. Another person said I could use copper sulfate and test it also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
br5409 Posted October 13, 2022 Author Share Posted October 13, 2022 Thanks to hills over at the scrapmetal forum for this. Says to use the burn test like many of you said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew LB Posted October 13, 2022 Share Posted October 13, 2022 That seems pretty heavy to be magnesium or aluminum. I'll wager it's a zinc-aluminum alloy due to the weight as well as the use of the thin 'fins' which are easier to cast when zinc is involved. This would also allow for lower production costs since casting temp is lower and zinc is just cheaper in general. Also a zinc-aluminum alloy would have the best corrosion resistance. Zinc will react to acids while aluminum will react to alkaline chemicals. If you have some CLR, pool acid, or muriatic acid it will react with zinc shavings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
br5409 Posted October 14, 2022 Author Share Posted October 14, 2022 I will try the acid test also. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
br5409 Posted October 16, 2022 Author Share Posted October 16, 2022 Vinegar=no reaction. Fire with scrape test = no reaction. CLR = no reaction with shavings(scrape). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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