Been thinking of using a couple of pipe wrenches as stock for a project. They're plentiful at the flea market. Other than looking at the wrench are there any other ways to determine whether a wrench is aluminum or whether it's steel? They're painted most the time so color won't be such a great indicator.

I was thinking that a magnet might help since aluminum isn't magnetic.

Anyone know what sort of steel the drop forged versions would be?

My guess, and this is only a guess, is that most are some kind of carbon steel. I know that at least some (of the non-forged variety) are malleable iron. As to telling aluminum from steel, the weight is a pretty easy and reliable way to tell (as long as you know about how heavy each metal feels in your hand).

i don't know as to all i would stay away from those china ones the few i have are cast with some harden jaws that round off easy and i have broken the handles in half as thats why i no that one was cast

You should be able to easily distinguish between an aluminum pipe wrench and a steel one by the weight. The U.S. made ones should be tool steel, who knows what comes out of China though.

By 'pipe wrench' do you mean what we Brits call a 'stillson' or one of those hinged things? I've successfully forged tools like bending keys from old spanners which I assume are made from the same types of steel. In my experience The problem with cheap Chinese (and Indian) tools seems to be more in the dimensions and heat treatment rather than the actual material used. If the stuff will hold together while you forge it (i.e. it's not red short) it will be OK for making hand tools etc. If you are worried about the composition a spark test can be helpful.