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Shop safety tip
When you grind a bunch of aluminum (chainsaw case) on you disk sander, clear out the aluminum powder periodically. Once you have a big pile, then you grind some steel, you get a big fire! The sparks light off the aluminum powder. This happened to me a couple of days ago. Made burn marks on my bench and floor. It was a very significant white hot fire. Trying to scoot the burning pile off the bench with a handy stick made a big woosh. There was not serious threat of buring the house down but, it gave me quite a fright.
Intelectually I know all about aluminum powder and fireworks. I just did not engage my brain on this issue. Keep it clean, |
RE: Shop safety tip
ORIGINAL: Scota4570 When you grind a bunch of aluminum (chainsaw case) on you disk sander, clear out the aluminum powder periodically. Once you have a big pile, then you grind some steel, you get a big fire! The sparks light off the aluminum powder. This happened to me a couple of days ago. Made burn marks on my bench and floor. It was a very significant white hot fire. Trying to scoot the burning pile off the bench with a handy stick made a big woosh. There was not serious threat of buring the house down but, it gave me quite a fright. Intelectually I know all about aluminum powder and fireworks. I just did not engage my brain on this issue. Keep it clean, Be REALLY careful if your grinding magnesium and steel. Although I doubt you are going to find magnesium on a chain saw. Good advice though, I never would have thought anything of it. Bill |
RE: Shop safety tip
Ohhhhh Thermite! Nasty![sm=biggrin.gif]
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RE: Shop safety tip
The older orange case Sachs saw engines ARE magnesium. It makes such a pretty blue fire too[X(]
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RE: Shop safety tip
The Stihl 4-strokes are magnesium as well. Thanks for the tip and let's be careful out there!
J |
RE: Shop safety tip
ORIGINAL: jtisch The Stihl 4-strokes are magnesium as well. Thanks for the tip and let's be careful out there! J My father, a WWII Vet, told me how amazed he was when an aircraft crashed, cought fire on landing and burned. He said the sparks flying off the magnesium wheels was like the Fourth of July. Bill |
RE: Shop safety tip
Yeah, be careful. Magnesium burns so hot it can't be put out with water, and watching the flame can damage your eyes. Don't let much of the grinding powder accumulate before cleaning it up.
AV8TOR |
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