Very hard metal

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4184/3...0fc9dd22a5.jpg
4mm wide, 1mm thick, 50mm long
As you can see with full force from both hands, that is all I could bend it.
Dark grey, very hard, not overly heavy, not light though.
No sign of tarnish or rust at all.

These were spring suspensions from a knob.
But I've recovered some smaller ones that were used to move silver contact switches.

Does anyone have any idea at all?
My thoughts are Tungsten, but seems not heavy enough, perhaps too expensive for use in washing machines.

First question is did you pull out your magnet?

You can not bend tungsten, since you were able to bend this strip of metal goes to prove it's malleable. Is it magnetic, is it resistant to the various acids sulfuric, muriatic or nitric. What color does each acid drop produce.

https://youtu.be/gG3MNAZRcC0

Non magnetic, I don't have an acid test kit handy. Will try some other household chemicals to see if there is any reaction.

I placed it in some Cloudy Ammonia and it began to show orange corrosion.

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Originally Posted by TheCreator

Non magnetic, I don't have an acid test kit handy. Will try some other household chemicals to see if there is any reaction.

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Probably stainless steel, now here's a bit of magic. Take a pair of pliers then bend the metal strip back and forth until it breaks - now try your magnet near the broken ends.

Stainless steel work hardens and becomes slightly magnetic.

https://www.finishing.com/112/70.shtml

Q. I have been using some type 316 stainless steel threaded pipe fittings in a system containing sulphuric acid. A city inspector came to my site and put a magnet up to the pipe fittings and it stuck. Although the fittings had type 316 cast into the body, he stated that they could not be stainless steel because they are magnetic. I have been told that the machining of the fittings, such as cutting the threads, can cause them to become magnetic. Is this true, and if so where can I find something in writing to show the inspector ?
Thank you,
David Hathaway
- Pico Rivera, California, USA

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(2001) A. We've seen this question in this forum before [letters 7136, 21171 ... ].
Type 316 stainless can be made magnetic by working the metal.

Great info. Thanks.

Hit it with a grinder. Does it throw sparks and if so, what color? That should help in identifying it.

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Originally Posted by mthomasdev

Hit it with a grinder. Does it throw sparks and if so, what color? That should help in identifying it.

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Yes, Goggle spark test. You will find how to determine metals by size and color of sparks. Its easy and interesting. Mike

I'm guessing inconel by the dull look 0f the metal + the facts it is non magnetic & has high tensile strength ...
Let me know if I win a metallic cookie :)

Also i learned that grinding stainless steel with a regular grinding wheel will also make it magnetic and rust. I didn't know they made a grinding wheel for stainless steel.