Post #4144760
2026-07-27 19:11 UTC
@anthropy@mastodon.derg.nz there are inexpensive-to-run non-destructive tests for this -- first and foremost, XRF. If you don't have access to the expensive equipment, though, any yellow-bottle plumber's torch from the hardware store will make a perfectly good test -- the flame temperature is just high enough to ball up the end of silver wire with effort and patience, but rapidly and easily melts plumber's solder (~350°C) and presumably also high-cadmium alloys.
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@anthropy@mastodon.derg.nz 2026-07-27 19:12
@multioculate@mastodon.social I forgot to update this- but yes, a local jeweler will likely have an XRF device to test if it's actually Silver or not. However, an XRF scanner will not be able to tell you if it's Cadmium; just that it's not Silver. The blowtorch approach is definitely interesting, but plasma is 9k+ celsius, you do need some good way to measure the temperature there because otherwise you might still be melting silver.. unsure if infrared thermometers will do the trick, but maybe.