Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 01:40:20 -0500
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re:
Re: Re: Fire Extinguisher
s
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
The Magnesium isn't really a hazard.
The folks that burn the transmissions and old engine cases at beach
parties and such have to burn a mattress saturated with diesel fuel to
get it ignited.
Reference Type 2 Archives.
You're right!
If it get hot enough to get the Magnesium ignited you need to be kissing
your transportation good bye.
There are rare occasions that an unknowing person puts water on a
magnesium fire and gives it a five fold synergistic effect
................ an explosion.
Just as general information, many aircraft wheels are made of magnesium
and sand is about the only way to remove the supply of oxygen if they
catch fire.
Also aircraft tires that fly at high altitudes are filled with nitrogen.
Won't freeze, Won't hold moisture, Won't expand at altitude but with a
nice magnesium fire it provides additional fuel.
Any way you might get rid of that three day long RE: Header?
Stan Wilder
On Fri, 30 Aug 2002 02:20:12 EDT Kim Brennan <KimBrennan@AOL.COM> writes:
> In a message dated 8/30/02 12:51:32 AM, steven@EPOCHDESIGN.COM
> writes:
>
>
> > On top of all the spare parts and tools I've been told I have to
> haul around
> > with me,
> > now I have to carry a couple bags of sand too?
> >
> > Anyone know where I can buy a Halon extinguisher? A little Halon
> is better
> > than the environmental impact my van will have if it burns to the
> ground.
> >
> >
>
> Regarding the "hazard" of magnesium in your Vanagons. For the most
> part, it
> is a needless worry. Yes, it is possible it could get started
> burning. If you
> get to that point, your van was a goner before the magnesium started
> burning
> (something about steel oxidizing pretty quickly when heat is added
> to it, not
> to mention your undercoast is toast, your tires are shot. All
> wiring
> harnesses anywhere near the engine are wasted. If you have the
> wasserboxer
> with plastic coolant lines, they'll be gone....
>
> Magnesium in little tiny strips is easy to ignite. Magnesium in a
> big solid
> block isn't. I remember camping at one of the Potomac Applachian
> Trail Club
> houses in Harpers Ferry, WV. They had magnesium frying pans.
> Wonderful stuff.
> REALLY, light weight. No worries about using it on the stove.
>
> Magnesium (or aluminum) once it gets burning, is nearly impossible
> to
> extingush. The British discovered this the hard way, when a couple
> of their
> aluminum frigates (or was it a destroyer) got hit by Exocet missles
> during
> the Falklands war. The Aluminum ignited and they had to scuttle the
> ship.
>
> I've got a magnesium step/extension ladder. Incredibly light. It
> works as an
> 8 foot step ladder, or a 16 foot extension ladder, and I can pick it
> up,
> easily, with one hand. Try doing that with an aluminum ladder,
> unless you are
> Arnold S.
>
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