Mike,
A good way to test a wheel to see if it is magnesium is to set it afire. If
it burns with a bright white flame, similar to a 4th of july sparkler, and
is really, really hot, the wheel was magnesium. Also, if you weigh an
aluminum rim, then immerse it in water, it will displace less water (denser)
than an identical "weight" of magnesium, but you have to buy fifteen or more
pounds of magnesium ingots for that test. You can also test for electrical
conductivity by measuring resistance to current flow through the wheel.
Aluminum should be the better conductor, especially at the higher voltages
you will need. If you actually drive on the streets with magnesium rims, you
will find that they are also very brittle and prone to cracking when you hit
holes and curbs, sort of like extremely light cast iron (except for the fire
thing).
Leisure Suit Terry
|