On Thu, 23 Jan 2003 10:06:33 +0100, M-Gineering import & framebouw <
[email protected]> wrote:
>Ben Pfaff wrote:
>
>>
>> It is actually quite difficult to get properly engineered magnesium parts to catch on fire.
>> There's a very amusing description of the procedure that was necessary to torch a magnesium
>> computer:
http://www.simson.net/photos/hacks/cubefire.html
>> --
>
>A machinist who had worked at BRM told me only the swarf would catch fire (remove that wooden
>lattice in front of the lathe before you start) and the lathe might go up in flames with it. When
>the fire was extinquished (rush to the neighbour/builder for sacks of cement) the actual workpiece
>would still be there.
Many years ago I used to instruct at SCCA driver's schools. At one particular school (at Thompson,
Connecticut) we concurrently held a corner worker's course. One of the "lessons" was in how to deal
with a magnesium fire. A hunk of magnesium was set ablaze with the help of a road flare. Students
were instructed to put it out using their fire extinguishers. Of course that didn't work at all, so
the instructors dug a hole and buried it.
After a number of other lessons/demonstrations, like dealing with a five gallon gasoline fire
(REALLY impressive); they dug up the magnesium. It was still burning. They reburied it and we
returned to the business of the day. I have no idea how long they needed to wait before being
assured it was out.
As I've been typing this I seem to recall that Piers Courage died in a magnesium fire when the
magnesium bodied De Tomaso Formula 1 car he was driving crashed and caught fire at the Dutch GP some
years ago. The corner workers were unable to extinguish it and just had to let it burn itself out.
jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net
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