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Metal ID Cheat Sheet

Magnet first, then color and weight. Sorting is where the money is made.

Step 1 — the magnet

Sticks firmly = ferrous (contains iron, cheap). Slides off = non-ferrous (no iron, where the money is). Stainless is the exception — it barely sticks and pays far more than mild steel.

Step 2 — name it

Metal	Magnet	Look / feel	Value
Copper	No	Reddish, heavy	$$$
Brass	No	Yellow/gold, heavy	$$
Aluminum	No	Silvery, very light	$
Lead	No	Dull grey, soft, very heavy	$
Stainless	Barely	Shiny, doesn't rust	$$
Steel / iron	Yes	Rusts, magnetic	¢
Cast iron	Yes	Grainy grey, brittle	¢

The golden rule

A mixed load gets paid at the cheapest metal in the pile. Pull the copper, brass, aluminum, and stainless out of the steel and each jumps to its own higher grade.