Magnesium Filler

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How many different types of magnesium filler are there? I got some magnesium filler with a bunch of welding stuff I bought used, it was just in a plastic sleeve bag, and has a dark grey color to the outside and it seems to be brittle. Does magnesium filler go bad from sitting? I only ask because when I cut this stuff with a side cutter it seems brittle on the outside and not so brittle inside. i know this stuff can be very expensive if I had to buy some new so I am hoping with a little sand paper this will still be usable. -DanOwnerDW Metalworks LLCMiller Trailblazer 302Miller 8RC FeederMiller Passport PlusMiller Dynasty 200 DX W/Coolmate 1Hobart Handler 135Hypertherm PowerMAX 30Smith O/A Torch SetPlus much much more
Reply:Dan, I know of 6 common ones, and a few less common. Magnesium thats unprotected from oxidation will do just that, and unfortunately is about useless if you want a quality job. Especially not knowing the alloy, I would use it for campfire amusement.
Reply:I used to use old magnesium filler metal to bring students back to reality, when they decided that they knew all there was to know. I give it to them and ask them to "lay down a bead on a piece of aluminum. When they had finished, I would drop the coupon in the cooling tank. The look on their faces when the bead  was gone when they retrieve the coupon was priceless. We would then have a brief discussion about there is more to welding than just making a bead. I lke the idea of using it for campfire amusement, but be careful.
Reply:The fumes are deadlyI had a lathe job with it and had a garbage bag full. The kids were amazed around the campfire when Mike the wizzard did his thing. Had to keep them 25-30' away and up wind. A little mag here a little mag their, flash- flash, a little water and Woooosh. WOOOOOOOOOO AAAAHHHHHH  Then there is another story with the Acetylene Oxy Balloons