Posts: 8,860
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Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Arizona/Minnesota
Anyone know if those lead test kits you can buy at the home centers would work to see if a piece of steel is a leaded steel? Over the years, I've bought steel off of ebay that was supposed to be leaded steel but I have my doubts on some of it and would like to know for sure.
Thanks,
Ed
Posts: 2,344
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Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Spencer MA USA
The test kit I use it to try cutting it. If the steel cuts easily, chips break readily, and turning with HSS doesn't wear out tools....must be leaded steel.
I really don't know how those kits would work on steels. I assume they can detect trace amounts of lead, but almost all steels have at least a trace of "Pb". At least the ones that aren't RoHS compliant. ;)
Consider buying from the non-Ebay on-line sources for better assurance of getting quality materials.