haydz
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size of aluminum
what should the minimum size for Aluminum in the Al/Fe203 thermite be?
I have cut up the bottom of a Al can into pieces of about 1-2 mm each 
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12AX7
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I've done it with turnings and chunky broken up rust, all depends on how slow you can tolerate. Obviously, too slow and you'll need a
really big charge (several pounds) to sustain it.
You'll definitely need something hot and strong to light it, a good stick of magnesium or some finer thermite should do.
Tim
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haydz
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I was thinking of putting little bits of cut up magnesium with it, and using a few strips rather than one... if i make the rust as fine as possible
will that help? also how much minimum approx do you reckon i would need to sustain the reaction with al pieces that big.
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Joeychemist
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LMAO!!! 
You can't use Aluminum like that, you must use atomized, flaked or a very finely powdered Al for use in pyro. Think Aluminum dust. Anyways check
out this forum for some useful ways to make Al for pyro.
http://www.apcforum.net/
Thanks for the laugh though.
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haydz
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hahah damn 
ahh well worth a try! :p and thanks for the link.
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12AX7
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Joeychemist
You can't use Aluminum like that, you must use atomized, flaked or a very finely powdered Al for use in pyro. |
Well, no. Like I said, I've done it before. Once you get the iron and aluminum oxides melting, it can be any size you want. Getting that
started, however, requires a lot more heat.
In general, window screen is about the largest worth bothering with, unless you are interested in the molten metal.
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$0meb0dy
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| Quote: |
Once you get the iron and aluminum oxides melting
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You mean aluminium and iron oxides.
Al shouln'd have to be very fine, for thermite coarse Al should work, but I don't know about your Al...
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