How To Choose A Metal Rail

[ForrestW]

the deal is that i have access to a pile of scrap metal of various sizes, weight, and color. the problem is that i dont know how to figure out what is the good stuff. i guess to find out what is steel i should just take a magnet to it right? next, i need to find out what would slide well andwhats the hardest so thats where you guys come in. . .

does anyone have any tricks on how to find out what metal is hardest or best to slide? like maybe scratching it with something, what color is what metal, or how it sounds when you tap it?

greatly appreciated if anyone can unleash some wisdom because i have to jump on this asap

 

[C.Wood]

yeah steel is the best sliding surface i have found

yeah you can use a magnet to find steel but you will find find other metals as well with it

if the metal has been outside for a while steel would be the only one oxidizing so it would show rust

which you can just sand it after and it would go away then use candle or skate wax to seal it

the sound depend on the steel whether its round tube square tube or flat bar, also steel will be heavier when you pick it up

hope that helps

thats all i can think of

 

[Skipig25]

.. unless it's galvanized, which is sick cause it doesn't rust and it slides real well.

pick whatever you want your rail to look like, whether it's HSS or tube (or a couple tubes you can make a shotgun rail). Bar is heavy, so don't take that, it's a pain in the ass.

If it's sitting around, it's probably steel. Most people don't have aluminum around unless it's mullions at a construction site or for trim, in which case it may be odd shaped. If it seems a lot lighter in weight than you think metal should be, it's probably aluminum