quattro digest, Vol 1 #2897 - Thermite

Sat Feb 9 08:22:52 EST 2002

Oh great, way to go Larry, now you'll have half the list playing around with
this stuff  :o)
Huw will probably burn down the entire neighbourhood....

Fred

----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry C Leung" <l.leung at juno.com>
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Cc: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 6:45 PM
Subject: Re: quattro digest, Vol 1 #2897 - Thermite

> Note to Huw and others considering "playing" with Thermite.
>
> Thermite is extremely difficult to ignite, due to a very high reaction
> temp, though once lit, it is extremely exothermic (i.e. the Oxygen from
> the less reactive Iron has a field day oxidizing the Al, so the Iron is
> actually reduced, and Al just LOVES O2). I witnessed a maybe 10 gm
> powedered sample get lit (it took a magnesium fire to start it, and even
> then it was balky), it was white, blue-white hot (which according to
> Emission spectra indicates around 8 to 10,000 degrees C) and the sample,
> which lasted all of about 10 - 15 seconds fused the crucible it was set
> in into the sand (couldn't tell where one ended, and the other started)
> in a neat little pocket about 40 mm to 50 mm thick (and also red (3000
> degrees C) hot!). This is really powerful stuff, so use with extreme
> care. It's also NOT an easy reaction to stop (like water and CO2 won't
> help, the oxygen is in the rust so the reaction needs no extra!), the
> only thing that can be done to stop it is separation of the materials,
> not too easy when the temp is approaching 10,000 degrees C. Also, the
> color and intensity of the light is rather dangerous for direct viewing
> for more than a second or so. It could actually cause at least night
> blindness, if not complete blindness. Of course type 44 turbo DOT lights
> (guilty as charged!) can also cause night blindness (MAC).
>
> LL - NY
>
>
> >From: "Fred Munro" <munrof at sympatico.ca>
> >To: <SOS-cars at yahoogroups.com>, <s-car-list at yahoogroups.com>,
> > <quattro at audifans.com>
> >Subject: Safety Warning - Sanding Aluminum & Rusty Steel
> >Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2002 21:09:25 -0500
> >
> >    Just read an accident report which I thought I'd bring to the
> >list's
> >attention, since a lot of us do our own work. Even though I know what
> >thermite is, this probably wouldn't have occurred to me, and I know I
> >have
> >left aluminium filings laying around on my belt sander.
> >    First of all, thermite is a mixture of aluminium powder and iron
> >oxide
> >(rust). When ignited, it burns fiercely, producing aluminium oxide
> >and
> >molten iron. It was used to weld railroad track rails in situ, amongst
> >other
> >less savoury uses involving much human suffering.
> >    Anyhow, on to the accident. Dad had a vertical belt sander he used
> >for
> >metal working. Son uses said sander to sand a piece of aluminium,
> >loading
> >the belt with aluminium and leaving a pile of aluminium filings on the
> >belt
> >table. Along comes dad, using the sander to clean up a rusty piece of
> >angle
> >iron. An intense 2 foot diameter white hot fireball blossoms and
> >quickly
> >disappears, leaving behind a cloud of dense white smoke. It also
> >leaves dad
> >bereft of his hair and moustache and with third degree burns to his
> >hands
> >and arms. Because he was wearing safety goggles (Igor take note!) he
> >kept
> >his eyesight.
> >Be careful, it's a dangerous world out there!
> >
> >Fred Munro
> >'94 S4
> >
> >
> >--__--__--
> >
> >Message: 12
> >Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2002 21:55:19 -0500
> >From: Huw Powell <audi at mediaone.net>
> >Reply-To: one at humanspeakers.com
> >Organization: HUMAN Speakers
> >To: Fred Munro <munrof at sympatico.ca>
> >Cc: SOS-cars at yahoogroups.com, s-car-list at yahoogroups.com,
> > quattro at audifans.com
> >Subject: Re: Safety Warning - Sanding Aluminum & Rusty Steel
> >
> >
> >>     First of all, thermite is a mixture of aluminium powder and iron
> >oxide
> >> (rust). When ignited, it burns fiercely
> >
> >I haven't even managed to ignite the can of gasoline under my vise
> >using
> >a cut off wheel... I'm gonna have to try this one!
> >
> >--
> >Huw Powell
> >
> >http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/
> >
> >http://www.humanthoughts.org/
> >
> >--__--__--
> >
> >Message: 13
> >From: "Fred Munro" <munrof at sympatico.ca>
> >To: <one at humanspeakers.com>
> >Cc: <SOS-cars at yahoogroups.com>, <s-car-list at yahoogroups.com>,
> > <quattro at audifans.com>
> >Subject: Re: Safety Warning - Sanding Aluminum & Rusty Steel
> >Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2002 22:50:37 -0500
> >
> >If you are going to try this, Huw, I can tell you from personal
> >experience
> >that rolling around on the ground does not extinguish burning clothes,
> >so
> >forget that little gem of wisdom imparted by your grade school teacher
> >:o)
> >
> >Fred Munro
> >'94 S4
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Huw Powell" <audi at mediaone.net>
> >To: "Fred Munro" <munrof at sympatico.ca>
> >Cc: <SOS-cars at yahoogroups.com>; <s-car-list at yahoogroups.com>;
> ><quattro at audifans.com>
> >Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2002 9:55 PM
> >Subject: Re: Safety Warning - Sanding Aluminum & Rusty Steel
> >
> >
> >>
> >> >     First of all, thermite is a mixture of aluminium powder and
> >iron
> >oxide
> >> > (rust). When ignited, it burns fiercely
> >>
> >> I haven't even managed to ignite the can of gasoline under my vise
> >using
> >> a cut off wheel... I'm gonna have to try this one!
> >>
> >> --
> >> Huw Powell
> >>
> >> http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/
> >>
> >> http://www.humanthoughts.org/
> >
> >
> >--__--__--
> >
> >Message: 14
> >From: Audimobiles at aol.com
> >Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2002 23:20:06 EST
> >Subject: dealer repair or independant? rear strut problem....
> >To: quattro at audifans.com
> >
> >Being new to the Chicago-land area, I have no idea who's who in
> >foreign auto
> >repair. My QSW has a major problem with the rear pass. side strut
> >assembly.
> >Real bad clunking noise, blew the speaker cover right off the tower.
> >I
> >suspect a strut bushing, but I'm not sure. I'd love to take it apart
> >and fix
> >it myself (heck, that's what I'm going to school for) but I just don't
> >have
> >the time between work and school. Right now I just feel like caving
> >and
> >bringing it down to the local vw dealer - unless someone can recommend
> >a shop
> >in the general Glendale Heights surrounding area. Thanks for any
> >info.
> >
> >    Dave Farrer
> >    '87 QSW
> >
> >--__--__--
> >
> >Message: 15
> >Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2002 22:20:35 -0600
> >Subject: Bought the V8
> >From: Steve Kramer <skramer at mac.com>
> >To: <quattro at audifans.com>, <v8 at audifans.com>
> >
> >Well, looking at all of your comments, I bought the V8.
> >Another type 44 1990 V8 with 122k on it.
> >
> >Drove very well, a lot of pick up. very clean. pearl white exterior /
> >black
> >interior
> >
> >Brake pressure was great - was able to pump the brake repeatedly -
> >unlike
> >the dead bomb in my poor old 89 200
> >
> >Also the ignition is nice and quick - unlike the 200
> >
> >No apparent leaks, tracks nicely, solid feeling tranny
> >
> >
> >According to all of you the very first item should be replacing the
> >timing
> >belt. Talked with Laurel Audi about timing belt price - $1,200 (a bit
> >better
> >than Midtex' price)
> >
> >
> >
> >Now I have some items that I see are'nt working. I'd lik to hear what
> >you
> >think about the cost and if i can do the repairs myself
> >
> >1.  Rear driver window not working - you know my 200 had the same
> >problem
> >2.  front passenger window of track - i hear the sound of the motor
> >but no
> >movement
> >3.  bad contact between defroster button and contactor
> >4.  regular beams don't work - only brights - my 200 had this problem
> >said
> >to replace switch
> >5.  Previous owner has a Sony cd deck installed - would like to go
> >back to
> >the delta system or equal
> >       - would like to see if i can still use the cd changer
> >6.  Would like to install a rear spoiler and install new wheels
> >
> >Any case thanks
> >
> >
> >Steve Kramer
> >ex 89 200t
> >90 V8 quattro
> >00 avant quattro
> >
> >
> >
> >--__--__--
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >quattro mailing list
> >quattro at audifans.com
> >http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro
> >
> >
> >End of quattro Digest
>