Scraper, an alternative to filing an item before testing it

Details

In skilled hands, this can be used to 'scrape' away surface plating or coatings and leave virtually no mark.

If an item is plated with gold and you test the surface, a tester (any tester) will quite correctly tell you that you have just tested gold. You need to know what is underneath - what the item is actually made of.

The easiest way to remove the surface is to use a fine steel (or diamond-impregnated) file, choosing an inconspicuous place and filing firmly. A scraper, carefully used, causes virtually no damage. However, unlike a file, a scraper does require skill to use.