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Differentiating Between Steel & Aluminum

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I.Am.Lorde.
Posts: 1286 - Karma: 403
So I am looking at getting into some urban skiing this year but I always hear people talking about how aluminum is terrible to try and slide and that you need to find a steel rail.

So basically, how can I tell if a rail is steel or aluminum?

Any recommendations for a new urban skier?
Oct 23 2014 4:46PM
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powerbong2000
Posts: 737 - Karma: 1,802
Aluminum is lighter weight, usually more silver looking and is not commonly used for hand rails. Steel is what you are used to seeing.
Oct 23 2014 5:39PM
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eheath
Posts: 61449 - Karma: 121,943
Pretty easy to tell if you touch the metal, aluminum is usually lighter colored but sometimes steal will look "lighter" as well. Just find a rail, touch it, slide your ski on it, good to go.
Oct 23 2014 5:42PM
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
powerbong2000Aluminum is lighter weight, usually more silver looking and is not commonly used for hand rails. Steel is what you are used to seeing.


this is a good answer. it's way less common, and it usually looks very silver and lightweight. the problem is that the metal in your skis' edges is much harder than aluminum and doesnt slide on it well (and that's why skis without edges don't have a problem with it)

you could try running something steel along it to see if it slides, or if you want, just take a good pic and post it here, and i bet we'd be able to tell you if it's aluminum or not

hope this helps
Oct 23 2014 5:42PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Steel is ferrous, meaning a magnet will stick to it.

Aluminum is non ferrous and so a magnet will not stick to it.
Oct 23 2014 5:45PM
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I.Am.Lorde.
Posts: 1286 - Karma: 403
thanks for all the great responses!

What about wrought iron? I realize that the paint on the rail might make it harder to slide, but is it possible to still slide well enough to be able to session it?
Oct 23 2014 5:58PM
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
Anchormanthanks for all the great responses!

What about wrought iron? I realize that the paint on the rail might make it harder to slide, but is it possible to still slide well enough to be able to session it?


Now you're overthinking it.
Oct 23 2014 7:06PM
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,748
magnet /thread.

sticks it is steel, if not it is aluminum. Aluminum is dentable, hit it with a hammer. If it hurts the rail, it's aluminum or something else soft and you're more likely to catch. If it just pings off, and it hurts you, it's probably steel or something else beefy.
Oct 23 2014 9:16PM
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,748
Huck_NorrisSteel is ferrous, meaning a magnet will stick to it.

Aluminum is non ferrous and so a magnet will not stick to it.


should have known someone would've beat me to it.
Oct 23 2014 9:17PM
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tac0.slayer
Posts: 254 - Karma: 947
While your at it, make sure the rail is not titanium either. It'l fuck you up.
Oct 24 2014 12:31AM
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brend
Posts: 779 - Karma: 3,608
Magnet.
Oct 24 2014 12:56AM
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General_Ripper
Posts: 3327 - Karma: 189
You can slide aluminum with super dull edges. There is a good chance you would ruin the hand rail though
Oct 24 2014 12:18PM
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Dirac
Posts: 1304 - Karma: 335
hit steel rails until your edges rip out, then cut all of the edge away underfoot, and go slide the aluminium and wooden ones.
Oct 24 2014 4:19PM
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Casey
Posts: 7828 - Karma: 24,025
There's no reason to paint an aluminum rail. And an unpainted steel rail would either be super rusty or galvanized in which case it would be duller rougher and have sort of shiny flecks in it.
Oct 24 2014 5:09PM
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