Mike you have never seen a VW block burn? Seen it many times in the desert. Light one at the top of the dunes and it looks like daylight. Darrell.
I stand by what I said. You got your pleasure destroying a component and I get mine restoring them. I said nothing personal about you or DGS to warrant the personal attack that I received. The thread started out as an FYI and from the second post onward spiraled into doom. I'll certainly think twice before posting any tips that I've learned on this board.
Many of the same properties that make a material a good electrical conductor also make it a good thermal conductor. So it takes a much hotter point to build a large thermal gradient across a thermally conductive metal. Of course, if you heat the entire sample -- such as in a campfire, ... Many modern alloys have better properties, such as an ignition point above the melting point (as in the "Non-combustible magnesium alloy" link I posted). But aluminum alloys are stronger today, too -- which is why you tend to see aluminum wheels instead of magnesium on modern cars. On the other hand, today's wheels also have moved the hub to the outer edge, migrating the cross section from an "I" to a "C". While this leaves more room for larger brake rotors and calipers, it also puts more stress on the wheel rim, and there have been an number of circumferencial fractures of aluminum wheels, with the inner rim separating from the rest of the wheel. So the designers may be over-estimating the strength of current alloys. Working with magnesium is a bit like "dinosaur killers": The odds are literally astronomical against the earth being hit by a killer asteroid today. But we play against the same odds tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and the next .... and we'll only ever lose that bet once. The chances of lighting off a chunk of magnesium from welding or grinding may be fairly low for any given job. But consider the consequences if it *does* ignite. And if you work magnesium day after day after day, ... Some people do hit the lottery with the first ticket they buy. While a TIG welder may exclude oxygen from the arc area, if you use one to drip conventional magnesium onto a working area, when the molten magnesium leaves the inert gas area, it will react with atmospheric oxygen. If the ignition point is below the melting point, it may ignite. Even if the alloy has the temperatures reversed, letting the molten magnesium leave the arc area may contaminate the weld. But its the guys (such as a tire shop I saw) who take a hand grinder to magnesium wheels that bother me more than welding magnesium. As long as you're buffing off the magnesium oxide, you might be okay, but if you start flaking off bits of magnesium, you have to think what's on the floor that could be lit off by specks of burning magnesium -- such as oil patches. Did you catch the episode of Mythbusters where they explored the theory that it was the aluminum based paint that caused the Hindenberg to burn so fast?
Ha ha! I just talked with my buddy, who is a Nuclear Weld certified dude. The cast wheels are not pure Mg, the filler rod is. Therefore, cracking and stress risers will occur around your beautiful TIG job. The wheel will probably self destruct at 55 MPH. Wear your helmet.... Ciao, Edwardo
I saw it. Also saw on National Geographic Channel yesterday about missles. Turns out you add juuuust the right amount of aluminum to solid rocket fuel and you double its power output! No other single element will do that. Everything in this world is dangerous. Oh well.
Yes, I saw that. My dad worked on the Delta and Shuttle. Solid fuel simple, but just like our Mg wheel,, , once it ignites,,,, you will burn your lips trying to blow it out. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ooops, sorry gents. I saw the picture and thought this thread was about "Led Zeppelin" Image Unavailable, Please Login
I really could give a rat's a$$ about you or your buddy, it's not as though you've tried to contribute information in a useful manner, just sarcasm. Interesting to note though, that this has had such an impact on you that you talk about it in your time away from the the message board. I certainly don't owe you or anyone else an explanation, but the 1961 McCulloch R1 go kart I'm restoring in my spare time is intended for static display. I doubt I can convince my wife to let me hang it over the fireplace, but you get the idea. When it hits 55 MPH it will be travelling in the back of my X5 enroute to a venue where similar karts are displayed and appreciated for what they are. Since you're probably clueless as to what I'm working on, I'll include a couple of pictures in an attempt to educate you. I'll even include one of my Mother riding a similar kart I had about forty (40) years ago. I am curious to know if you're so rude as to start making crap shots about her too. I mean, it's your character that's on display here, best for people to know you as you really are. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Your right! I wont say anything bad about your nice mom. But, welding Mg,,, what a great hobby. maybe you should write a chapter for a welding manual. -OR- Image Unavailable, Please Login
While were having Show & Tell, here's my static display and a "before" shot from 1976 at the Rocket Car Nationals. I also included a little something for that anger management problem you seem to have. This forum is supposed to be fun, lighten up a bit. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I guess you need it (Prozac) to cope around here. Here's a couple of my old cars; the Healey I've owned since 1978 and the 1974-1/2 MGBGT was a former daily driver of mine that I used to service for its original owner. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Tim, Nice rocket car. What fuels did you use? Randy, That is not me,,, this is. (Truce?) Momma, , why is that man so frustrated? Image Unavailable, Please Login
thanks for sharing...you can light up some Mag with me anytime! Where can I get one of those VW motors to burn? Any special year burn best?
(gladly) Now, who's passing out the Prozac? However, and much like this thread, I don't like side effects...
Wow, that is a crazy cart, what Qty, Lbs, thrust did you generate? Did you use,,, H2O2 decomposed on a silver mesh catalyst and polyethylene. Or, hydrazine hydrate and methyl alcohol. (German, C-Stoff,,, self-igniting (aka hypergolic)) or, calciumpermanganate? Did you have brakes? (Oh, hope there is a diaper under that MGB-GT. I had a 1966 MGB, it had the ability to pave the road,,,,,,,, as you drove it.)
(that puppy is long gone__from my life anyway__replaced by this pair of kittens and one crotchety old beast Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
This is a bit Off-Topic but I hope it doesn't hurt. Space Oddity Rocket Kart (completed 1976) Liquid-Monopropellant (no UHMW poly) Approximately 750 lbs of thrust from 6.5 gallons of 90% H2O2 under 700 psig. Catalyst is a combination of pure silver screens and silver plated nickel screens treated with Samarium Nitrate. Propulsion system fabricated from 316L stainless (redundant shutoff on steering wheel). 4-wheel Hurst Airheart disc brakes (state of the art for 1976). Twin parachutes, locally made copied from Deist design. Front Wheels "Nylite" nylon on conventional kart spindles with Carlisle tires. Rear wheels spun aluminum on custom made 6061 T6 hubs (discs float on hubs) Chassis scratch built from 4130 Steering using a tiny rack & pinion unit I found at a local kart shop (never seen another) gives a full turn lock to lock (conventional karts have 1/3 turn lock to lock). Dry weight 265 lbs. Top speed 175 mph (no seat belt) driving suit had a parachute like drag boat drivers wear. Not a bad little engineering project for a 23 year old kid with a high school education. Except for painting, plating and upholstery I did it all (except the driving part, that was a friend, Dean Hanson). I haven't seen him in years, heard he lived in Las Vegas. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
randy nice thread, and thanks for the info. but unfortunately everybody has three cents hear to give.
