[TheForge] Aluminum

[Vincent Nakovics]

Hi Guys,
   Terry asked about Magnesium which I know nothing, but reminded me of something I did, well truthfully could not do with four large Aluminum signs several years ago. There were these aluminum signs brought to my shop to be cut into four pieces. The signs were cast, I guess, with raised letters and picture framing all around. They were about 7 ft long and 4 or 5 ft wide and about 3 inches thick on the edges for about 4 inches and the backing of the letters was about an inch or so thick. I I didn't think anything of it and tried to cut them with my torch. The  cutting torch was  good for 1" of steel. I couldn't barely get those signs hot enough to discolor them. I checked the tank about ten times, increased my Acetylene to 14lbs and Oxygen to 35 ( I think that's what I had on it). Nothing, Nada, Zip, Zilch! 
   I was just wondering if any of you had ever experienced that?  The signs were loaded on a dump truck which we were trying to avoid bringing down to the recycling yard, that's why they brought them to me in the first place.  

Vince Nakovics

Blacksmithing: The mind's eye brought to life in a hard reality.