Metal Casting Zone

nothing practical is made from it as far as im aware but its added to various alloys. these alloys are fine but when you remelt them the magnesium can seperate out and cause pockets of magnesium and in a furnace enviroment it can become very dangerous.in the small amounts that we use it justs fizzes and gives off some small eruptions in the pot. so if a metal is known to have a high magnesium content treat with extreme caution. better still dont use it! aluminium car wheels for example. no good!

Mg is light weight, castable, machinable and I think a little stronger than Al. They used to make mower decks out of it, I remember we had a heck of a fire when I was a kid. An old 2 cycle mower next to some junk my dad was burning caught fire. Nothing left but the push handle and a big black spot.
I've got some 1/4" printing plates made out of Mg, I've been using them to made sinker molds.

thats very interesting jammer. about the mower bit. it was never used over here.

Jammer wrote:
... I've been using them to made sinker molds.
Sinker molds? As in fishing sinkers?

Yes, I made a couple different types and gave up and bought some Do-it molds. Big egg sinkers and river sinkers for catfish. Not that I have any time to go fishing. I haven't even bought my lisence yet.

2003 maytag washing machine, 3 lbs al (that seems some what brittle?) from the die cast agitator gear housing dismantle time 1.25 hours

Torch tested crucible approved

aonemarine wrote:
2003 maytag washing machine, 3 lbs al (that seems some what brittle?) from the die cast agitator gear housing dismantle time 1.25 hours

Torch tested crucible approved


Now THAT's what I'm talking about! This is the kind of post I was wanting this thread to attract. Thanx aonemarine!
(what does that name mean anyways?)

ive melted kilos of flyscreen,aluminium tubing, a old wheel chair,sewing machine,ladder, soda cans, food foil, drink cart, ladder, pots ,pans, just to name a few. ive become very good at scalping lollol (scalping is removing the crap off the top of the molten metal before you pour it!)sometimes its a inch or more thick!

Sears tread climber, it has a gear reduction worm gear that tilts the treads up in the front. produced 3 lbs zinc !!!!! dismantle time 30 mins. Well worth the effort.

Torch tested, crucible approved

Zinc? Forgive me for my non-metallurgical mindedness but, I thought zinc in and of itself was kinda worthless and dangerous (fumes) for casting.