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/diy/ - Do It Yourself

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303292 No.303292 [Reply] [Original]

I have a 1kg chunk of magnesium that's an offcut from a larger ingot. I want to cut it up into small blocks for emergency firestarters. What's the quickest way to do this with hand tools? Also, what's the best way to collect all the swarf, since that's just as useful when mixed with sawdust and wax.

>> No.303300

coarse tooth hacksaw blade and a shopvac

a bandsaw would be a lot faster

>> No.303303

>>303292
probably a pipe saw, but I dunno if that'd light it up or not. pipe saw + mineral oil drip?

>> No.303304

>>303303
I don't trust a band or pipe saw because a kilo will happily melt through the whole thing and into my floor.

The hacksaw seemed like the best solution but I was worried that there was something obvious that I was missing.

>> No.303314

>>303304
Those wouldn't ever cause it to ignite. They don't even get hot enough to set wood on fire unless you are really trying to set wood on fire on purpose. The sparks you make with flint are extremely hot and burn on the multiple thousands of degrees F. Also, a large block won't ignite from a spark because it transfers the heat to quickly away. This is why you need to ignite shavings for it to work.

>> No.303351

>>303314
ah.
I've been watching Survivorman lately, and it seems the magnesium firestarter blocks only need a good steel edge to slide across to produce a fuckhuge amount of spark. I just assumed using a saw on it would be a similar situation. I did mean a hacksaw, btw. Sorry OP.

>> No.303533

God I miss MacGyver....

There was an episode where he addressed this. He had a magnesium bike and explained that it was the shavings that burned not the solid magnesium.
He then proceeded to file off some shavings and made something explosive with it.

>> No.303535

>>303351
The magnesium firestarters are a block of magnesium that you shave pieces off. You then flip it over and use the ferrocerium rod (lighter flint) on the back to strike sparks

>> No.303552

here's a fun way-
you need aluminum dust and powdered rust
mix, 2/3 rust 1/3 aluminum
make a line of powder where you want cut
spark the magnesium near the line

it may be best to do this outside.

>> No.303578

>>303552
do NOT try to cut magnesium with thermite!

>> No.303579

>>303552
Do not I repeat NOT try to cut magnesium with thermite.

>> No.303990

>>303552
trolling... you're doing it right.

> lol

>> No.303991

>>303552
Best idea yet.
But yeah, outside is a good idea. Make sure a burn ban isn't on.

>> No.303994

>>303552
Would definitely have to be Youtubed. If you can get another kilo block of magnesium, do this. Just do it. Preferably from a distance in case you burn through a gas pipe

>> No.304006

>>303552
holy shit...this would be awesome.

>> No.304008

>>303552
>>303991
>>303994
>>304006

/diy/ is in agreement.
Do it on video.

>> No.304015

>>303552
>troll

GB2/b/

>> No.304023

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztGXE58YjOI

>> No.304028

>>303994
Interesting. You'd basically be igniting the entire brick of magnesium, and you'd be unable to put it out until it had completely burned itself into a pile of magnesium oxide. Yeah, I'd do that outside, away from anything else flammable, preferably in a pit dug into the ground.

>> No.304046

>>304023
If it was me....

I would have done that on a little makeshift "boat" just big enough to hold the payload be burned though and drop into shallow water.

Not that the vid isn't cool on its own of course.

>> No.304415

I dont know how to cut it. When you figure it out do it outside because with out a K fire extinguisher you wont be able to put it out / burn down your house.

>> No.304421

>>304028

I might also add that some protective eyewear would be a good idea. Burning magnesium has a way of damaging retinas.

>> No.304425

>>304421
Welding goggles.

>> No.304431

>>303533

No you stupid fuck.

He used it to cut the lock off the back of an armored car.

>> No.305454

OP use an axe.