Thernite demo

[captkipp]

Mythbusters is demo-ing a crap load of thermite tonight. Trying to cut an SUV in half. It's a good show!

[bretsk2500]

I've seen that episode.... they seem to display a lack of understanding of what "thermite" is.... I see people thermite welding all the time... the electricians tend to bond to my iron with cadweld, which is copper thermite.

[captkipp]

Thermite

Never had the opportunity to try it. Absolutely impressive when I saw it used once to create a "weld" on railroad iron. WOW! Be better I suppose if I could (after all this education) actually spell thermite.

[bretsk2500]

Never had the opportunity to try it. Absolutely impressive when I saw it used once to create a "weld" on railroad iron. WOW! Be better I suppose if I could (after all this education) actually spell thermite.

well..... it's really really messy and there's a LOT of smoke....

[captkipp]

Smoke

That's probably why it made for good television. I know years ago they tried to get people to watch a sport I am involved in----skeet. But because you couldn't really see the targets break, viewers lost interest real quick. Then somebody came up with the idea that made the targets more "smokey" when they got hit and for awhile that worked to attract folks to watch. But ultimately just like welding, it's really all about the participation!

[dj722000]

Thermite is pretty neat. I watched a show a couple of years ago, I dont think it was mythbusters, but they put some on the hood of a car, ate through that, the engine block and to the ground in a few short seconds. Lots of smoke from it all though and pretty colors. Pretty impresive.

[LarryO]

Thermite welding pics......

Tram rail at work

[captkipp]

Wow.

So very cool. I wish I could see the finished "weld" I bit better. I suspect the broken clay like substance is a dam to contain the molten metal as it settles into the gap or groove?

[LarryO]

Yup, thats the sand/clay mold they pour into.

Here is one with some of it off before grinding.