Re: Al shavings and turnings

Brian, I would suggest that you chop up those turnings and shavings
into, say, 10 mesh size particles, and then try a test on a 3/4"
fountain. Not much to loose if you stay at a safe distance.

Then too, I would suggest that you learn to press or ram nozzles for
you fountains.

On your final question, it is pretty difficult to distingush Mg and Al
by examining the shavings, although there are some simple chemical
tests that make the difference obvious. Then too, you could always take
some samples and burn them in the flame of a propane torch. They burn
entirely diffently.

Harry C.




brian hayes wrote:
While at my local recycling place today, I noticed a large box half full of
aluminum shavings and lathe turnings. Can such matter be used in chokeless
fountains for white sparks? The AL varies in size from aproximately 1/16" to
1/4" with a few fines. I assume that finer mesh AL can be made from ball
milling? I also assume that 60 mesh material means it is small enough to
pass through a screen with 60 wires per inch, so this stuff would be between
4 and 16 mesh then?

Is there a way to visually differentiate a difference between Mag and AL in
shavings form?

thanks

.