Are galvanized steel spokes magnetic?
06-30-23, 06:38 PM
#26
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For the OP, I have a cheap modern replacement 26" wheel that has galvanized spokes and I assume normal nipple threads, so they are out there.
06-30-23, 06:56 PM
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Most of this thread's not about the actual question, which is itself quite interesting.
I just went out with a magnet and tested everything in sight. Here are some findings.
Galvanized steel spokes are magnetic, for sure. Some stainless spokes I have are also, but not all are equal.
Sapim Force triple butted were quite magnetic, but not quite as much as galvanized plain steel. Almost, though.
DT Alpine III triple butted were lightly magnetic, though noticeably less than Sapim Force.
Marwi/Union black painted stainless straight-gauge were not magnetic at all.
I think this is due to a combination of alloy composition and drawing/cold-working processes that the spoke has been through. Both the alloy composition AND the cold working can change the crystal structure of the metal to include a higher proportion of the ferromagnetic austenite or ferrite forms of iron, thus increasing magnetic properties.
I wonder what alloys stainless spokes are, and how they differ between brands. They may not fall into a defined class. Maybe they are proprietary. Once I tried looking for this information, but I don't think I ever found anything concrete. One thing is for sure, a triple butted spoke has had way more cold working done to it than a straight gauge one.
I just went out with a magnet and tested everything in sight. Here are some findings.
Galvanized steel spokes are magnetic, for sure. Some stainless spokes I have are also, but not all are equal.
Sapim Force triple butted were quite magnetic, but not quite as much as galvanized plain steel. Almost, though.
DT Alpine III triple butted were lightly magnetic, though noticeably less than Sapim Force.
Marwi/Union black painted stainless straight-gauge were not magnetic at all.
I think this is due to a combination of alloy composition and drawing/cold-working processes that the spoke has been through. Both the alloy composition AND the cold working can change the crystal structure of the metal to include a higher proportion of the ferromagnetic austenite or ferrite forms of iron, thus increasing magnetic properties.
I wonder what alloys stainless spokes are, and how they differ between brands. They may not fall into a defined class. Maybe they are proprietary. Once I tried looking for this information, but I don't think I ever found anything concrete. One thing is for sure, a triple butted spoke has had way more cold working done to it than a straight gauge one.
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Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
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06-30-23, 07:11 PM
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Not all stainless steel is low carbon (non-magnetic) Some (low stain) stainless actually rusts.
It's easy to see the difference between electroplate and hot dip. Hot dip is grey and sometimes grainy, Zinc electroplate is shiny almost like chrome.
Last edited by Schweinhund; 06-30-23 at 07:26 PM.
07-01-23, 03:44 AM
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You can see the effect of cold-workng on a stainless-clad refridgerator; oftentimes a magnet will stick to a corner, but not in the middle.
07-01-23, 02:14 PM
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Well, when I stuck a stack of rare earth magnets into my spoke box, all of them stuck to it. Not sure it's a strong enough attraction to go through a carbon rim (and something like a thin shop rag to prevent scratching the rim), but I'll probably try when it comes. Had the stack of rare earth magnets (1": x 1" by 2" or so) from when I used them to provide resistance back when I rode rollers. The ones I put in there from my builds (usually order ~2 extra of each size) were Sapim stainless steel, but others were from wheels, I'd disassembled to get the hubs for new builds, so who knows what they are.
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07-01-23, 10:24 PM
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Oh yeah, exhausts too. You can sometimes stick a magnet where the muffler end plates are swaged on, but not on the middle of the body of the muffler.
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07-02-23, 09:37 AM
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