How to ID Mystery Metal Before You Drill

When you pick up an unmarked piece of metal from an electronics enclosure or surplus part, how do you know what you're actually dealing with — and whether the dust you're about to create is hazardous? This episode builds a practical identification workflow using simple tools you probably already own: magnets, weight comparison, scratch tests, and multimeters. We cover the hazard ladder from nuisance dusts like aluminum through irritants like zinc and copper, then onto sensitizers like beryllium and systemic toxins like cadmium. Learn how surface finishes like anodizing, plating, and coatings can trick your eyes, and when the safest move is to treat the part as a worst-case unknown.