Daniel
Member
I put this in this forum to give it best chance at being seen. The warning is for those that are drilling the 50 cal tracer rounds. After drilling hundreds of thes and doing nothing different, I have confirmed that you can ignite the magnesium in the bullet while drilling.
My son started to drill the back of a bullet this afternoon and created a spark. He had a container to catch the magnesium powder so that it does not get all over the shop. he noticed a spark and having let him play with the magnesium in the past he did not hesitate for a split second. he headed for the door. He told me later that as he reached the door he glanced back to see a fire ball that reached from the lathe to the ceiling of the shop as approximately a half pound of Magnesium burned. it actually set a box on fire that was about 5 feet above the lathe on a shelf. melted the front of my air conditioner. when I got to the shop the fun part was over but the drill bit was glowing red hot.
First I thank God that my son was as familiar as he is with Magnesium and got away from it unharmed. the damage is limited to a destroyed drill bit, a melted bullet and a fairly well damaged collet chuck and collet. a burn mark on a couple of shelves and ceiling and one box of junk that really got toastedthe lathe has a couple of parts melted on it that can be replaced. otherwise I see no permanent damage to it. I will have to tear it apart and lubricate it as I am sure that grease and oils did not survive. I am actually suprised the entire back half of the shop did not catch on fire. that stuff burns extremely hot. Had my son just stepped back with no idea what was about to happen I seriously doubt he would have survived. permanently disfigured at the very least.
After inspecting the situation afterward it was not the actual drilling that caused the spark the drill bit was not actually in the bullet. I think that there must have been a static spark as the bit got near the bullet and it was enough to ignite the magnesium. My son told me he saw three sparks and was already on his way out.
By the way Brian, do not worry I still intend to get your bullets done. one out of hundreds is what it is. i do suggest that when drilling these you do not keep excess magnesium near and be careful of static. a single bullet burning out would have caused a lot of smoke, wrecked a bullet and caused a lot of excitment but would not set a shop on fire or damaged tools. the real mistake in this was having that box full of powder setting just below the spark.
My son started to drill the back of a bullet this afternoon and created a spark. He had a container to catch the magnesium powder so that it does not get all over the shop. he noticed a spark and having let him play with the magnesium in the past he did not hesitate for a split second. he headed for the door. He told me later that as he reached the door he glanced back to see a fire ball that reached from the lathe to the ceiling of the shop as approximately a half pound of Magnesium burned. it actually set a box on fire that was about 5 feet above the lathe on a shelf. melted the front of my air conditioner. when I got to the shop the fun part was over but the drill bit was glowing red hot.
First I thank God that my son was as familiar as he is with Magnesium and got away from it unharmed. the damage is limited to a destroyed drill bit, a melted bullet and a fairly well damaged collet chuck and collet. a burn mark on a couple of shelves and ceiling and one box of junk that really got toastedthe lathe has a couple of parts melted on it that can be replaced. otherwise I see no permanent damage to it. I will have to tear it apart and lubricate it as I am sure that grease and oils did not survive. I am actually suprised the entire back half of the shop did not catch on fire. that stuff burns extremely hot. Had my son just stepped back with no idea what was about to happen I seriously doubt he would have survived. permanently disfigured at the very least.
After inspecting the situation afterward it was not the actual drilling that caused the spark the drill bit was not actually in the bullet. I think that there must have been a static spark as the bit got near the bullet and it was enough to ignite the magnesium. My son told me he saw three sparks and was already on his way out.
By the way Brian, do not worry I still intend to get your bullets done. one out of hundreds is what it is. i do suggest that when drilling these you do not keep excess magnesium near and be careful of static. a single bullet burning out would have caused a lot of smoke, wrecked a bullet and caused a lot of excitment but would not set a shop on fire or damaged tools. the real mistake in this was having that box full of powder setting just below the spark.
