[TheForge] Sodium filled valves

[Ron Childers]

A friend who recently joined our group was given a bucket of engine valves
and wants to "make things out of them". He has no idea what kind of vehicles
the valves came from.

The old air cooled VW and Chevrolet valves are ok, but not knowing, I told
him not to do anything with them 'til I consulted my panel of experts. I
have heard forging or cutting the sodium-filled valves could be hazardous.

1. Is there a way to tell for certain which ones contain sodium?

2. What happens if they are heated in a forge?

3. Cut with a chop saw? 

4. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of misadventures involving
sodium-filled valves?

I heard in aircraft mechanics school that many engines do have sodium-filled
valves and that it's a bad idea to try to make punches or drifts out of
them.

Ron C




 
 
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