Cutting Aluminum/Magnesium

[jbradley]

I am making light weight bracket and light wheelie bars for my M. I found the aluminum not too bad to cut with a reciprocating saw but really ran into a tough job with the magnesium. I bought a bunch from our local salvage yard and did not know the exact composition of the material. Just that it was light and seemed to be strong. What do you use to cut these materials? Any help or suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Bernie Steffen]

Skil saw works great for aluminum. Don't know about maganese. Bernie Steffen

 

[mEl]

Probably a plasma cutter would make real quick work on it, could you take a piece to a shop that has one and try it, I know that makes quick work of aluminum, don't knowabout Magnesium. mEl

 

[Anonymous-0]

Magnesium is HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE under certain conditions, and it burns EXTREMELY hot. Here are some tips to keep in mind when machining or cutting magnesium:
Magnesium tips

 

[CJ_1080]

I used to work at an old printing press. Some of the old transfer plates in the back room were magneesium. There was a fire in there, some of the old ink and solvents ignited and I was in there with an Extinguisher and remember the bright flash when the plates caught fire. I couldn't see anything for a minuet. I would seriously consider reserching it in depth. It is more ignitable if it has cutting chips. Maybe a wet saw or something. Good luck!

 

[Harvestmoonpuller]

Actually magnesium is highly flammable and cant be put out like a regular fire as it doesnt take hardly any oxygen to burn. I know this bekuz i weld magnesium. It sparks like gun powder and you dont think its on fire until it goes up but doesnt burn like a normal fire. We have to purge and back purge magnesium before we weld it. If you put any flame to it be very careful.

 

[Harvestmoonpuller]

From a safety sheet givin at work. Magnesium will burn!!! Great care must be taken in handling magnesium metal, especially in the finely divided state. NEVER USE WATER ON MAGNESIUM!!! Magnesium combines with the oxygen in the water as well as C02. it also reacts with the nitrogen in the atmosphere.

 

[Cody Adgent]

I have seen videos from WWII aircraft carriers where the wheels on the fighter jets would catch fire and they had to push them overboard because they couldn't put the fire out. I would stay away from welding it, unless you have a shop that needs to be burnt down. It would probablly be alright if you bolt it together. I have never seen welded magnesium, just casted parts.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I believe that's exactly what I said:
Merriam Webster Online Dictionary: inflammable

 

[Harvestmoonpuller]

its never inflammable like you said. It will catch on fire. Thats why its illegal to use magnesium in any kinda of sanctioned racing even though it is 1/3 lighter than alum. It will burn and is highly flammable.

 

[Pmer]

I used to run a machining center that milled and drilled extruded magnesium transfer cases and we would have a "flare up" if the machine would get low on coolant. They showed us a video of burning magnesium, It was crazy how the pile would flare up when they sprayed it with water.