Is It Stainless Steel? The Magnet Test and Other Clues

Stainless steel pays far more than ordinary steel, thanks to the nickel and chromium in it, so it's worth spotting before it ends up in the steel pile. Here's how to tell what you've got.

Try a magnet. On the common 304 and 316 grades, a magnet barely sticks, if at all. If it grabs hard, you've got magnetic stainless or plated steel. Magnetic stainless is still bought, but at a lower rate.

Check the weight. Stainless is heavy for its size. Aluminium can look similar and a magnet won't stick to it either, but it's about a third of the weight.

Know where it turns up. Kitchen sinks, laundry tubs, splashbacks, benches and shelving are usually 304. Marine fittings and dairy, chemical and food-processing equipment are often 316, which pays more. Magnetic 400-series stainless turns up in some appliances, cutlery and exhausts.

Strip off what isn't stainless. Tanks and benches with steel frames, legs, motors, plastic or rubber still attached are paid at a lower rate until they're stripped, so unbolting the legs from an old bench is usually worth the effort.

Keep magnetic stainless separate. We check every piece with a magnet at the yard, so you're paid for what you actually have, but sorting it yourself makes your visit quicker.

Pulling out a commercial kitchen or a café fit-out? We'll take the benches, sinks, shelving and equipment, and for a big job we can collect. Smaller loads can come to our Hallam yard, where we'll weigh them and pay you by bank transfer.