[alfa] Re: Magnesium Wheels

[Jon Pike <jhpike@xxxxxxx>]

> If you can make your magnesium wheels burn . . . without a continuous
> external heat source, or 100% oxygen atmosphere . . . I'll buy you a new
> set.  I've repaired several Halibrand magnesium sprint car wheels with TIG
> welder, on the bench, not in chamber.  Just to see how much of a fire hazard
> they were, I laid a piece of 3/16 magnesium welding rod on the bench with a
> couple inches sticking over the edge and tried to light it with a cigarette
> lighter . . . no luck.  So, I switched to an oxy-acetylene torch.  The first
> attempt just melted the rod and it dripped on the floor, but I finally got
> it started!  It burned like a cheap candle . . . with a small yellow, smoky
> flame.  More magnesium dripped on the floor than burned.

Gee Jim.. I was tempted to toast my wheels too..  but I'd take original Cromadora Daytona's instead..  ;-)

Really, I'd hate to waste a pair of Turbinas, in any shape.

Your welding rod sounds like it's some kind of low Mg content alloy..  that's not how near pure Mg goes.  Due to my misspent youth, I have a fair amount of experience there.  
It burns with a brilliant white flame, and smoke that is paint pigment quality white magnesium oxide.  My Turbina shaving was very close to this.

I have seen people throw an old wheel into large beach firepits, takes a while but MAN when it gets going, you can't look at it, or even be standing within a 20' radius.  Very difficult to start, but then the only way to put it out is to smother with sand or something.  Water will scatter it far and wide.. and I believe a burning piece will burn under the water, using it for an O2 source. (!)

Anyway,  more Mg info than everybody wanted I guess..

Back to the painting topic..  Steve Barber (who's GTV I remembered from the convention) mailed me back with some info, of which I'll quote here:


That was my GTV you referred to in your AD post -- at the '02 
convention. The outer surfaces of my wheels are highly polished (inner 
ones painted the blue of the car).
It's a true "labor of love" to keep 'em looking nice 'cause the 
magnesium impurities stain/discolor the polished surfaces very quickly 
-- a couple of weeks. I use car wax on the polished surfaces, which 
helps delay the loss of shine -- but it's still a very labor-intensive 
job to keep 'em looking good. Hey, I need to stay off the streets and 
out to the bars anyway, right?


I guess they weren't clear coated after all..  still don't know if that's doable then..

Jon and Marcia
77 Spider
Irvine CA
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