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    nsontag's Avatar
    nsontag Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Apr 30, 2009, 03:47 PM
    Lead v.s. Cast Iron Pipe
    I'm sure that I'm starting to become afmiliar to you folks by now, so I'll spare you the context. I'm starting to suspect the old shower drain below my concrete basement pad is cast iron instead of lead (it seems too hard for lead). Does anyone know of a sure fire way of identifying which material it is?
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #2

    Apr 30, 2009, 03:53 PM

    Is there any rust on the drain flange, lead won't rust but does turn a dull grayish color. Scratch it with a pocket knife, if its lead it will cut and expose a very shiny silver color.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #3

    Apr 30, 2009, 03:57 PM
    Cast iron's hard and brittle while lead's soft and pliable. Like Bob sez, "scrape it with a knife." Good luck, Tom
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