quattro digest, Vol 1 #2897 - Thermite

Larry C Leung l.leung at juno.com
Sun Feb 10 10:19:09 EST 2002 

C'mon, better living through chemicals! Besides, from what I know, he'll
simply burn down a forest!  And, at least for a short while, Bambi and
Thumper will have lots of light to see by.....

LL - NY

On Sat, 9 Feb 2002 08:22:52 -0500 "Fred Munro" <munrof at sympatico.ca>
writes:
>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
>>
>

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