MIG for Magnesium??

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Anyone know if MIG can be used on magnesium?
Reply:Cost and availability of wire would be the major stumbling block. Same set up (and very similar) as welding aluminium but mag wire is stupidly expensive. List price in the UK around £160 per kg! With the typical mag job being repair of cracked castings TIG is typically the tool of choice. There's a mag foundry a few miles from me- full time welder on staff to 'touch up' repair castings that failed QC and use TIG exclusively
Reply:I can imagine that it would be possible, but the setup for keeping mag pure and buried in inert gas would make a mig application less feasible. With mig on aluminum, there is more start&stop work to clean up, or overcome. I can imagine with mag this would mean more trips out of the inert box, and that would mean slower and more expensive; ie not worth the cost. Not much magnesium needs to be welded in large sections, it's either cast and machined, or small sections welded, or repaired. I have never seen large sheets that needed welding, like a gas tank or similar.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Magnesium gas tank... LOL.. there's a thought!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:If you pounded the MIG wire into thin ribbon, would it be hot enough to 'light' the PETN in your briefs? It is used to ignite thermite.
Reply:(willy pete rockets & flares for countermeasures on fighter jets.  Willy Pete's have white phosphorus, but use magnesium for the ignition source)MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2If you pounded the MIG wire into thin ribbon, would it be hot enough to 'light' the PETN in your briefs? It is used to ignite thermite.
Reply:Yeah I would think if you had the slightest loss of shielding you would have a metal fire on your hands. Keep your Class D fire extinguisher handy!http://www.labsafety.com/CLASS-D-Com...sher_24535119/Or more commonly a bucket of sand!