Aluminum powder?

Hi folks,

I'm just getting started with fusing and was able to get a bunch of
equipment and supplies from someone going out of business dirt cheap. They
threw in about 400 lbs. of aluminum powder. Since my only previous
experience with the stuff has been using it to start damp campfires, I'm a
little apprehensive about sprinkling it on the glass and firing it up to
1500F. Not sure how else to use it, though, other than mix it with bead
release and make homemade sparklers. Have any of you had any
experience/luck/catastrophic fires with Al powder? Thanks!

VJ

Good reason to be concerned as it is potentially dangerous. You need to
know the size of the Al particles, IIRC the finer the more the problem.
A fireworks manufacturer would probably be able to advise. In the US I
have read you have regulations regarding the transport of more dangerous
grades if shipped in sufficient quantity which may only be lbs. I would
suspect though that if the guy had 400lbs of a hazardous grade he would
have been subject to appropriate government regs especially after 9/11,
worth checking though as they could just have passed on the
responsibility to you although legally I don't think they can do that.

Vince wrote:

Hi folks,

I'm just getting started with fusing and was able to get a bunch of
equipment and supplies from someone going out of business dirt cheap. They
threw in about 400 lbs. of aluminum powder. Since my only previous
experience with the stuff has been using it to start damp campfires, I'm a
little apprehensive about sprinkling it on the glass and firing it up to
1500F. Not sure how else to use it, though, other than mix it with bead
release and make homemade sparklers. Have any of you had any
experience/luck/catastrophic fires with Al powder? Thanks!

VJ

you sure it isn't alumina powder? that stuff is used more as a release agent
instead of kiln wash???? fusing aluminum powder does not produce any
desirable effects in my experience. I was given a bunch of various metallic
powders from cosmetic testing and tested them all.....m


"David Billington" wrote in message
.. .
Good reason to be concerned as it is potentially dangerous. You need to
know the size of the Al particles, IIRC the finer the more the problem. A
fireworks manufacturer would probably be able to advise. In the US I have
read you have regulations regarding the transport of more dangerous grades
if shipped in sufficient quantity which may only be lbs. I would suspect
though that if the guy had 400lbs of a hazardous grade he would have been
subject to appropriate government regs especially after 9/11, worth
checking though as they could just have passed on the responsibility to
you although legally I don't think they can do that.

Vince wrote:

Hi folks,

I'm just getting started with fusing and was able to get a bunch of
equipment and supplies from someone going out of business dirt cheap. They
threw in about 400 lbs. of aluminum powder. Since my only previous
experience with the stuff has been using it to start damp campfires, I'm a
little apprehensive about sprinkling it on the glass and firing it up to
1500F. Not sure how else to use it, though, other than mix it with bead
release and make homemade sparklers. Have any of you had any
experience/luck/catastrophic fires with Al powder? Thanks!

VJ

"michele" wrote in message
...
you sure it isn't alumina powder? that stuff is used more as a release
agent
instead of kiln wash???? fusing aluminum powder does not produce any
desirable effects in my experience. I was given a bunch of various
metallic
powders from cosmetic testing and tested them all.....m


"David Billington" wrote in message
.. .
Good reason to be concerned as it is potentially dangerous. You need to
know the size of the Al particles, IIRC the finer the more the problem.
A
fireworks manufacturer would probably be able to advise. In the US I
have
read you have regulations regarding the transport of more dangerous
grades
if shipped in sufficient quantity which may only be lbs. I would suspect
though that if the guy had 400lbs of a hazardous grade he would have
been
subject to appropriate government regs especially after 9/11, worth
checking though as they could just have passed on the responsibility to
you although legally I don't think they can do that.

Vince wrote:

Hi folks,

I'm just getting started with fusing and was able to get a bunch of
equipment and supplies from someone going out of business dirt cheap.
They
threw in about 400 lbs. of aluminum powder. Since my only previous
experience with the stuff has been using it to start damp campfires, I'm
a
little apprehensive about sprinkling it on the glass and firing it up to
1500F. Not sure how else to use it, though, other than mix it with bead
release and make homemade sparklers. Have any of you had any
experience/luck/catastrophic fires with Al powder? Thanks!

VJ

Aluminum Oxide? Usually sold in large bags, 50 lbs -100 lbs. different
grit, most common in my area is 60-80?
Used in air abrasive techniques, I hesitate to say "sand blasting" when
using this instead of sand. Used generally in a reclaiming situation,booth
or tabletop cabinet, so it can be reused.

Is there a package of some sort with any kind of label?

It's definitely aluminum powder. One drum is a mix of aluminum and copper
powder, the rest is all "brilliant aluminum" powder (with some mineral
spirits and fatty acids content as well). Sounds like it was probably used
in some other part of his operations, not the glassworking. I'll talk with
the fire marshal about how to get rid of the stuff. Thanks again for the
advice!

Vince

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"michele" wrote in message
...
you sure it isn't alumina powder? that stuff is used more as a release
agent
instead of kiln wash???? fusing aluminum powder does not produce any
desirable effects in my experience. I was given a bunch of various
metallic
powders from cosmetic testing and tested them all.....m


"David Billington" wrote in message
.. .
Good reason to be concerned as it is potentially dangerous. You need to
know the size of the Al particles, IIRC the finer the more the problem.
A
fireworks manufacturer would probably be able to advise. In the US I
have
read you have regulations regarding the transport of more dangerous
grades
if shipped in sufficient quantity which may only be lbs. I would
suspect
though that if the guy had 400lbs of a hazardous grade he would have
been
subject to appropriate government regs especially after 9/11, worth
checking though as they could just have passed on the responsibility to
you although legally I don't think they can do that.

Vince wrote:

Hi folks,

I'm just getting started with fusing and was able to get a bunch of
equipment and supplies from someone going out of business dirt cheap.
They
threw in about 400 lbs. of aluminum powder. Since my only previous
experience with the stuff has been using it to start damp campfires,
I'm
a
little apprehensive about sprinkling it on the glass and firing it up
to
1500F. Not sure how else to use it, though, other than mix it with bead
release and make homemade sparklers. Have any of you had any
experience/luck/catastrophic fires with Al powder? Thanks!

VJ

Aluminum Oxide? Usually sold in large bags, 50 lbs -100 lbs. different
grit, most common in my area is 60-80?
Used in air abrasive techniques, I hesitate to say "sand blasting" when
using this instead of sand. Used generally in a reclaiming
situation,booth
or tabletop cabinet, so it can be reused.

Is there a package of some sort with any kind of label?

Vince you might want to post these latest details on
rec.crafts.metalworking as at least one of the regulars has pyrotechnic
experience and he and others there may be able to shed light on the uses
for these materials.

Vince wrote:

It's definitely aluminum powder. One drum is a mix of aluminum and copper
powder, the rest is all "brilliant aluminum" powder (with some mineral
spirits and fatty acids content as well). Sounds like it was probably used
in some other part of his operations, not the glassworking. I'll talk with
the fire marshal about how to get rid of the stuff. Thanks again for the
advice!

Vince

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"michele" wrote in message
...

you sure it isn't alumina powder? that stuff is used more as a release

agent

instead of kiln wash???? fusing aluminum powder does not produce any
desirable effects in my experience. I was given a bunch of various

metallic

powders from cosmetic testing and tested them all.....m


"David Billington" wrote in message
k...

Good reason to be concerned as it is potentially dangerous. You need to
know the size of the Al particles, IIRC the finer the more the problem.

A

fireworks manufacturer would probably be able to advise. In the US I

have

read you have regulations regarding the transport of more dangerous

grades

if shipped in sufficient quantity which may only be lbs. I would
suspect
though that if the guy had 400lbs of a hazardous grade he would have

been

subject to appropriate government regs especially after 9/11, worth
checking though as they could just have passed on the responsibility to
you although legally I don't think they can do that.

Vince wrote:

Hi folks,

I'm just getting started with fusing and was able to get a bunch of
equipment and supplies from someone going out of business dirt cheap.

They

threw in about 400 lbs. of aluminum powder. Since my only previous
experience with the stuff has been using it to start damp campfires,
I'm

a

little apprehensive about sprinkling it on the glass and firing it up
to
1500F. Not sure how else to use it, though, other than mix it with bead
release and make homemade sparklers. Have any of you had any
experience/luck/catastrophic fires with Al powder? Thanks!

VJ

Aluminum Oxide? Usually sold in large bags, 50 lbs -100 lbs. different
grit, most common in my area is 60-80?
Used in air abrasive techniques, I hesitate to say "sand blasting" when
using this instead of sand. Used generally in a reclaiming
situation,booth
or tabletop cabinet, so it can be reused.

Is there a package of some sort with any kind of label?

Can you post more details from the label?

Company of manufacture
Grade
Date
Lot#


Vince wrote:
It's definitely aluminum powder. One drum is a mix of aluminum and copper
powder, the rest is all "brilliant aluminum" powder (with some mineral
spirits and fatty acids content as well). Sounds like it was probably used
in some other part of his operations, not the glassworking. I'll talk with
the fire marshal about how to get rid of the stuff. Thanks again for the
advice!

Vince

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"michele" wrote in message
...
you sure it isn't alumina powder? that stuff is used more as a release
agent
instead of kiln wash???? fusing aluminum powder does not produce any
desirable effects in my experience. I was given a bunch of various
metallic
powders from cosmetic testing and tested them all.....m


"David Billington" wrote in message
.. .
Good reason to be concerned as it is potentially dangerous. You need to
know the size of the Al particles, IIRC the finer the more the problem.
A
fireworks manufacturer would probably be able to advise. In the US I
have
read you have regulations regarding the transport of more dangerous
grades
if shipped in sufficient quantity which may only be lbs. I would
suspect
though that if the guy had 400lbs of a hazardous grade he would have
been
subject to appropriate government regs especially after 9/11, worth
checking though as they could just have passed on the responsibility to
you although legally I don't think they can do that.

Vince wrote:

Hi folks,

I'm just getting started with fusing and was able to get a bunch of
equipment and supplies from someone going out of business dirt cheap.
They
threw in about 400 lbs. of aluminum powder. Since my only previous
experience with the stuff has been using it to start damp campfires,
I'm
a
little apprehensive about sprinkling it on the glass and firing it up
to
1500F. Not sure how else to use it, though, other than mix it with bead
release and make homemade sparklers. Have any of you had any
experience/luck/catastrophic fires with Al powder? Thanks!

VJ

Aluminum Oxide? Usually sold in large bags, 50 lbs -100 lbs. different
grit, most common in my area is 60-80?
Used in air abrasive techniques, I hesitate to say "sand blasting" when
using this instead of sand. Used generally in a reclaiming
situation,booth
or tabletop cabinet, so it can be reused.

Is there a package of some sort with any kind of label?

well if it is aluminum powder im sure if you wanted to sell it say for
$3.00lb your email would have over 1000 replys by the end of the day.