Anybody ever play with thermite?
12-11-2006, 05:25 PM
#1
Anybody ever play with thermite?
Now, according to my knowledge of chemistry, aluminum powder mixed with iron rust and lit with a magnesium fuse will create molten iron.
Needless to say, this is something that needs to be done.
Aluminum powder is easy to get, but what about iron oxide? Does anybody know where I could get me some iron oxide? (Like, some pure Grade-A professional iron oxide, not the stuff scraped off my exhaust manifold...)
Would that be something a welding supply shop could sell me, or is it restricted access for some reason?
Needless to say, this is something that needs to be done.
Aluminum powder is easy to get, but what about iron oxide? Does anybody know where I could get me some iron oxide? (Like, some pure Grade-A professional iron oxide, not the stuff scraped off my exhaust manifold...)
Would that be something a welding supply shop could sell me, or is it restricted access for some reason?
12-11-2006, 05:44 PM
#3
Administrator
Welding up some railroad iron are ya? I don't know where to get it, and honestly, I don't know if I'd want YOU to have it if I did!
I can't wait to hear why you wanna try this!
chaikwa.
12-11-2006, 06:43 PM
#5
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According to my sources, the best source for iron oxide is to rust away a nail.
You can probably mix some iron filing (available at welding shops or your local school supply shop) with salt water and put and electric current thru it. After you bake off the water, you will have some salt mixed it with your iron oxide solution, but it should be negligable.
Pick up a copy of the anarchist handbook, it has these steps and more fun chemistry.
You can probably mix some iron filing (available at welding shops or your local school supply shop) with salt water and put and electric current thru it. After you bake off the water, you will have some salt mixed it with your iron oxide solution, but it should be negligable.
Pick up a copy of the anarchist handbook, it has these steps and more fun chemistry.
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12-11-2006, 07:15 PM
#8
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He's alive! He's alive! 
12-11-2006, 09:00 PM
#11
I gotta get out of this place,
If it's the last thing
I ever do...
A little aluminum and rust,
To melt these bars
On through...
The thought was to build a ceramic mold and take an arc welder. Fill the mold up with thermite, place the ground cable in one end of the mold and the electrode in the other end (with a dixie cup taped around it so it won't spark through the powder). When you light off the thermite, it will burn through the dixie cup. You now have a mold of liquid iron with 50 amperes going through it.
My conjecture is that it will be able to pull a nail out of a fence from 20 feet. I don't quite now though; that's what I need to figure out.
If it's the last thing
I ever do...
A little aluminum and rust,
To melt these bars
On through...
The thought was to build a ceramic mold and take an arc welder. Fill the mold up with thermite, place the ground cable in one end of the mold and the electrode in the other end (with a dixie cup taped around it so it won't spark through the powder). When you light off the thermite, it will burn through the dixie cup. You now have a mold of liquid iron with 50 amperes going through it.
My conjecture is that it will be able to pull a nail out of a fence from 20 feet. I don't quite now though; that's what I need to figure out.
12-11-2006, 09:11 PM
#12
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Ohhhh....I get it. This is a fuel economy experiment. Attach about a hundred of these things to the front of your truck and draft anything that goes by. One thing for certain, you wouldn't have to worry about nails in your tires.
12-12-2006, 06:24 AM
#13
Administrator
Begle1
What are we really working on now?
Chemical lasers or some homebrewed power supply for a rail gun?
Hmm.. Makes me wonder if you were at your little 1 room cabin deep in the woods somewhere.
BTW welcome back we were all wondering what happened to you and had all kinds of scenarios buzzing in our heads.
I will keep an eye to the South/East for the smoke cloud.
Jim
What are we really working on now?
Chemical lasers or some homebrewed power supply for a rail gun?
Hmm.. Makes me wonder if you were at your little 1 room cabin deep in the woods somewhere.
BTW welcome back we were all wondering what happened to you and had all kinds of scenarios buzzing in our heads.
I will keep an eye to the South/East for the smoke cloud.
Jim
12-12-2006, 07:09 AM
#15
Administrator
