Magnesium :-)

[Toddy]

I've been watching this ebay deal for weeks now.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110941311942?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Thing is though, I know I'll never get around to melting it down (650 C) and even if I did I'd never use a kilo of the stuff.

But, but, it's a bargain and it makes really, really good striker sparks for firelighting.

Does anyone else think this is a 'Good Thing' ? and is anyone else interested in maybe organising it and we'll chip in and share it out, maybe at the Moot ?

Kind of rambling thought, sorry

M

 

[slowworm]

Interesting, I wonder what other uses I could find for 1kg of magnesium. The seller has several other intriguing items; an ingot of sodium, saltpetre and sulphur to name a few.

 

[tom.moran]

wheres my credit card and copy of jolly rogers cookbook.......

 

[Toddy]

See, that's what I thought

Magalium powder, by the kilo .... and all I wanted was to make some coloured pine cones for the fire

He's got it all

M....closet pyro sommat or other

 

[tom.moran]

love pyro stuff, so much fun

 

[ged]

DON'T DO IT MARY!

The thought of a kilo of molten magnesium catching fire in your kitchen gives me the ScreaminHeebyJeebies.

The stuff you really want for striking sparks is cerium.

 

[Perrari]

Cant sell knives on ebay but can sell dangerous / explosive chemicals ?????

 

[Toddy]

I have cerium oxide in the box of tumbling kit; I never even gave it a thought that it was the same stuff as the firesteels

I wouldn't melt mag in my kitchen, but I know where there's a blacksmiths furnace that I can get access to. I thought it could be melted and poured into a sand casting mould to make wee bars.
It seems a lot of bother though. Would those panels the fellow is selling saw up easily into useable bits ?

cheers,
M

 

[tom.moran]

yes basically

 

[tom.moran]

yeah, as long as the say isnt too aggressive lol

 

[Toddy]

Cant sell knives on ebay but can sell dangerous / explosive chemicals ?????

Yup

Fun isn't it ?

M

 

[presterjohn]

Funnily enough during a perusal of Aliexpress I noticed you could get really long rolls of magnesium ribbon for peanuts so I bought a rather large roll. I thought that would be ideal as an aide to putting some life into a fire. You never hear much talk of magnesium these days on sites like this though. I wonder why?

 

[tom.moran]

holy fire starter batman, look at teh price of that
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Hot-...95-25g-70ft-New-Free-Shipping/1420032491.html

 

[Perrari]

I agree with you ! Fun in sensible hands ! But there is something else (not Magnesium) listed by the seller that I have first hand experience of, (he isn't the only seller either), that is quite scary, and I never thought I could buy it on ebay !

Yup

Fun isn't it ?

M

 

[Toddy]

HWMBLT just gave me the look....the one that says he thinks I've lost the plot, and is wondering just what I have intentions of using a kg of magnesium for

I do have magnesium ribbon, but iirc, it was British Red who pointed out last that magnesium is cast into all sorts of things, like pencil sharpeners, and they'll scrape off with care to make stuff that will really ignite with a spark.

We could get in such bother if we did a from basic principles guide to making gunpowder though.
Saltpetre's awfully good for making matchcord

M

 

[tom.moran]

barium by any chance? doesnt that power warp engines?

 

[tom.moran]

ive been after some saltpetre for years, once i have a job im so getting arrested

 

[Toddy]

Saltpetre is available in 100g bags from sausagemaking. something or other. It's an ingredient used as a preservative for stuff like homecured bacon and sausages.

Food grade, very clean and not expensive

M

 

[tom.moran]

id also like to play with thermite one day

 

[Toddy]

Ah, but you can get in bother for that
I'm pretty sure that fellow is selling the ingredients though

M