Magnesium also oxidizes rapidly and consequently don't last for long,
although with today's new sealing methods they should last a little bit
longer.
another 2 cents
PS - if you get a flat you can use the wheel as a flare to warn other
drivers!!
-----Original Message-----
From: Terry and Donna Cost [mailto:tcost@vvm.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 1999 9:01 AM
To: Datsun Roadsters
Subject: Magnesium wheels
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
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