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Best source for magnesium?

A

A Man

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ok. So now I want to start looking for sources of magnesium to make a
homemade wet cell. Preferably the magnesium would be in strips. Are there any
items in a hardware store which would be made out of magnesium?
How about in a camping store?
Or grocery store?
 
T

Tom Biasi

Jan 1, 1970
0
A Man said:
Ok. So now I want to start looking for sources of magnesium to make a
homemade wet cell. Preferably the magnesium would be in strips. Are there
any
items in a hardware store which would be made out of magnesium?
How about in a camping store?
Or grocery store?

Yes, there are places where you can get it. Explain more about the wet cell
you wish to make and maybe I can lead you to a source.
Tom
 
A

A Man

Jan 1, 1970
0
Yes, there are places where you can get it. Explain more about the wet cell
you wish to make and maybe I can lead you to a source.
Tom

I would like to make a simple tabletop experiment using vinegar, and copper
and magnesium for the electrodes. It could light an LED or a small computer
fan or something similar.

I would like a source of magnesium local to me so I don't have to pay
shipping. So I'm looking for things made of magnesium which I might find in a
hardware store, grocery store, etc. I live in a big city but I'm not sure
where to get small amounts (relative to industrial size amounts) of magnesium
strips or sheets.
 
G

Guest

Jan 1, 1970
0
Go to www.campmor.com
Search for item number 23131.
Take a look at the resulting small block of magnesium.

Have Fun,

Joe

: On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 16:04:20 -0500 in article <[email protected]>,
: [email protected] spoke thusly...
:>
:> :> > Ok. So now I want to start looking for sources of magnesium to make a
:> > homemade wet cell. Preferably the magnesium would be in strips. Are there
:> > any
:> > items in a hardware store which would be made out of magnesium?
:> > How about in a camping store?
:> > Or grocery store?
:>
:> Yes, there are places where you can get it. Explain more about the wet cell
:> you wish to make and maybe I can lead you to a source.
:> Tom

: I would like to make a simple tabletop experiment using vinegar, and copper
: and magnesium for the electrodes. It could light an LED or a small computer
: fan or something similar.

: I would like a source of magnesium local to me so I don't have to pay
: shipping. So I'm looking for things made of magnesium which I might find in a
: hardware store, grocery store, etc. I live in a big city but I'm not sure
: where to get small amounts (relative to industrial size amounts) of magnesium
: strips or sheets.


: --
: Sig: Say no to fixed width HTML tables. They look terrible in most browsers.
 
J

John Fields

Jan 1, 1970
0
I would like a source of magnesium local to me so I don't have to pay
shipping. So I'm looking for things made of magnesium which I might find in a
hardware store, grocery store, etc. I live in a big city but I'm not sure
where to get small amounts (relative to industrial size amounts) of magnesium
strips or sheets.

---
Since you say you live in a big city, you must have access to the
'Yellow Pages' which will, with no doubt, lead you to suppliers of
metals.

Magnesium bearing products (from which you can easily extract the
magnesium) aren't something you're likely to run across in your
local grocery or hardware stores, so your best bet would be to
contact vendors who can supply elemental magnesium in the form of
wire, rod, sheet, or ingot.
 
D

Don Klipstein

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ok. So now I want to start looking for sources of magnesium to make a
homemade wet cell. Preferably the magnesium would be in strips. Are there
any items in a hardware store which would be made out of magnesium?
How about in a camping store? Or grocery store?

Availability of magnesium metal from retailers is low. Probably from
liability issues due to usefulness for incendiary devices, homebrew
pyrotechnics, homebrew rocket propellants and homebrew explosives.

The most electropositive metal commonly available to homebrewers is
aluminum, and that has issues of forming insulating oxides. After that is
zinc - hackable from non-alkaline ordinary batteries such as "heavy duty"
ones like many dollar store ones. Just consider that such batteries also
have manganese dioxide, which severely stains carpets and clothing (but is
dissolved by many acids), and is also a mild oxidizing agent that has a
major tendency to oxidize many metals especially if moisture is
present (which is why it is used in many disposable batteries). Just keep
this in mind!

- Don Klipstein ([email protected])
 
D

Don Klipstein

Jan 1, 1970
0
I would like to make a simple tabletop experiment using vinegar, and copper
and magnesium for the electrodes. It could light an LED or a small computer
fan or something similar.

I would like a source of magnesium local to me so I don't have to pay
shipping. So I'm looking for things made of magnesium which I might find in
a hardware store, grocery store, etc. I live in a big city but I'm not
sure where to get small amounts (relative to industrial size amounts) of
magnesium strips or sheets.

Make a few cells with electrodes of copper and a
more-electropositive-than-hydrogen but easily available metal such as
aluminum, zinc or iron.
So your cells may only produce 3/4 of a volt, maybe .4-.5 volt with
iron.

I would not get my hopes up of having science-fair-style homebrew cells
getting a motor to turn. But a few in series should have no problem
lighting an LED. Could take 8 or so cells with more compromised choice of
metals and a white, blue, or non-yellowish-green LED.

If you need a light source with independence from power failures and from
commercial availability of batteries, get a "shake" flashlight. And avoid
the fake $2 versions that I have seen at some dollar stores.

- Don Klipstein ([email protected])
 
T

Tim Williams

Jan 1, 1970
0
Don Klipstein said:
Just consider that such batteries also have manganese dioxide, which
severely stains carpets and clothing (but is dissolved by many acids),
and is also a mild oxidizing agent

Strong oxidizing agent! Be sure to NOT use hydrochloric acid on that stuff,
'else you'll get chlorine gas in proportion to the MnO2.

It will remove it nicely, though. Along with any color the carpet was
supposed to have...

Magnesium: you can find rods and blocks for - what else, anodes -- at a
variety of places (though I haven't checked). Water heaters, steel boats,
etc., if it has water in it, it probably wants an anode. Sheet or any other
specific form (bar of a particular dimension, etc.) you'll have to find a
metal supplier who carries it.

Tim
 
R

Rich Grise

Jan 1, 1970
0
I would like to make a simple tabletop experiment using vinegar, and copper
and magnesium for the electrodes. It could light an LED or a small computer
fan or something similar.

I would like a source of magnesium local to me so I don't have to pay
shipping. So I'm looking for things made of magnesium which I might find in a
hardware store, grocery store, etc. I live in a big city but I'm not sure
where to get small amounts (relative to industrial size amounts) of magnesium
strips or sheets.

Look in the yellow pages for scientific supplies or specialty metals
suppliers. A quick google was instructive:

http://www.google.com/search?q=magnesium+ribbon

Good Luck!
Rich
 
A

A Man

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Don! Love your lighting FAQ.

I believe you when you say the Dollar store shake lights are cheap. But I was
wondering, how are they cheap? Do they use cheapo NiCd batteries?
 
A

A Man

Jan 1, 1970
0
Look in the yellow pages for scientific supplies or specialty metals
suppliers. A quick google was instructive:

http://www.google.com/search?q=magnesium+ribbon

Typically an industrial supplier will not sell small lots like I am looking
for, but only in larger lots, say 100 lbs or larger.

Even recyclers here in my town will only take metals if you have 100 lbs or
more. And I'm talking about giving them FREE metal.
 
D

Don Klipstein

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Don! Love your lighting FAQ.

I believe you when you say the Dollar store shake lights are cheap. But I
was wondering, how are they cheap? Do they use cheapo NiCd batteries?

At least some $2 versions that I saw at some dollar stores have fake
magnets, coild with leads shorted together, and the only energy storing
device being a pair of CR2032 cells.

- Don Klipstein ([email protected])
 
R

Ralph Mowery

Jan 1, 1970
0
Don Klipstein said:
At least some $2 versions that I saw at some dollar stores have fake
magnets, coild with leads shorted together, and the only energy storing
device being a pair of CR2032 cells.

- Don Klipstein ([email protected])

Two that I have seen do not even have real magnets in them, just a chunk of
iron. The batteries run down and that is it for the light.
 
J

Jasen Betts

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Don! Love your lighting FAQ.

I believe you when you say the Dollar store shake lights are cheap. But I was
wondering, how are they cheap? Do they use cheapo NiCd batteries?

no, not even that. they're shakeable, but the shake has no effect.
 
D

David Harmon

Jan 1, 1970
0
Pieces of magnesium alloy deck casting from an old Lawn Boy mower.
 
Y

Yukio YANO

Jan 1, 1970
0
A said:
Ok. So now I want to start looking for sources of magnesium to make a
homemade wet cell. Preferably the magnesium would be in strips. Are there any
items in a hardware store which would be made out of magnesium?
How about in a camping store?
Or grocery store?
Plumbing Suppliers carry consume-able magnesium rods that are dropped
into Hot Water tanks to reduce corrosion. Sailboats and pleasure craft
use a Magnesium Anode to reduce Electrolytic damage. Welding Suppliers
might have some sort of magnesium welding rods. Diving suppliers may
have access to Magnesium Flares for Underwater work.

yukio YANO
 
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