A welding torch would let you know really quickly.
how to tell magnesium?
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From: W.V.C. Utah
how to tell magnesium?
How can I tell if the center piece of my BBS wheels are Magnesium. I know a few of the same style of wheels have magnesium centers. the centers look a little dark to be aluminum
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Mexico Beach FL
Originally Posted by 88421VETTE
Come on people no know how to tell the diff between aluminum and Magnesium 
But, it would be a shame to burn your wheels to find out.
Tom Piper
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From: CT
Originally Posted by 88421VETTE
Come on people no know how to tell the diff between aluminum and Magnesium
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...buoy.html#arch
Last edited by 1986Z51; May 26, 2005 at 12:33 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Mexico Beach FL
Seriously, another way to tell, although not a convenient way, is to take the wheel and a piece of steel sheet metal and immerse them in salt water.
A simple one cell sea water battery can be made from two plates, one plate is magnesium and the other is steel -- the sea water is the electrolyte. This one cell battery will generate one volt.
If I remember correctly, the magnesium will be the anode (+) and the steel will be the cathode (-).
This single cell battery will slowly eat the magnesium away while working. So, don't use it to power a buoy for a month.
Years ago, I actually made a water proof fluorescent light (made from a circular fluorescent tube) that was powered from one of these single cell batteries. It used an inverter to step up the one volt to a level to power the light and germanium transistors (germanium saturation voltage is lower than silicon) for the inverter. Just throw it in the salt water and it would light -- under water.
Tom Piper
A simple one cell sea water battery can be made from two plates, one plate is magnesium and the other is steel -- the sea water is the electrolyte. This one cell battery will generate one volt.
If I remember correctly, the magnesium will be the anode (+) and the steel will be the cathode (-).
This single cell battery will slowly eat the magnesium away while working. So, don't use it to power a buoy for a month.
Years ago, I actually made a water proof fluorescent light (made from a circular fluorescent tube) that was powered from one of these single cell batteries. It used an inverter to step up the one volt to a level to power the light and germanium transistors (germanium saturation voltage is lower than silicon) for the inverter. Just throw it in the salt water and it would light -- under water.
Tom Piper
Last edited by Tom Piper; May 26, 2005 at 08:04 AM.
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Many magnesium parts will be identified as such, say on the back.
Actually, there is a simple test. Apply a weak solution of Nitric acid to the material in question.
Any magnesium alloy will be blackened or turned gray by the solution, while an aluminum alloy will not be affected.
Larry
code5coupe
Actually, there is a simple test. Apply a weak solution of Nitric acid to the material in question.
Any magnesium alloy will be blackened or turned gray by the solution, while an aluminum alloy will not be affected.
Larry
code5coupe
Last edited by rocco16; May 26, 2005 at 01:14 PM.
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Originally Posted by Tom Piper
Seriously, another way to tell, although not a convenient way, is to take the wheel and a piece of steel sheet metal and immerse them in salt water.
Another idea might be to take a knife and see if you can slice a small sliver of metal off of the back of one wheel and then try the blowtorch test. Hopefully with a very small amount it will ignite fairly easily and not cause any problem.
Last edited by Mr. Peabody; May 26, 2005 at 08:14 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Mexico Beach FL
Originally Posted by Mr. Peabody
Hmmmm the guy lives in Utah. Unless he's right near the great salt lake he's going to have a bit of a time finding "sea water" no?
Tom Piper
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From: W.V.C. Utah
Originally Posted by Mr. Peabody
Hmmmm the guy lives in Utah. Unless he's right near the great salt lake he's going to have a bit of a time finding "sea water" no?
Another idea might be to take a knife and see if you can slice a small sliver of metal off of the back of one wheel and then try the blowtorch test. Hopefully with a very small amount it will ignite fairly easily and not cause any problem.
Another idea might be to take a knife and see if you can slice a small sliver of metal off of the back of one wheel and then try the blowtorch test. Hopefully with a very small amount it will ignite fairly easily and not cause any problem.