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| Groovy Bismuth Crystals |
I have not tried this, but I'm tempted to do it. I used to smelt lead when I was kid and cast it into various forms. But lead is toxic, and I wouldn't recommend doing that. In contrast, bismuth is one of the least toxic heavy metals. You've ingested some if you've ever taken Pepto-Bismol©:
9 comments:
I wonder if the pretty iridescent effect is achieved if you quench the still-hot crystals.
I had no idea bismuth had such a low melting point, that you could melt it with an ordinary propane torch.
I wonder why they don't use it in lead-free solder. The stuff we use is 95% tin, 5% antimony.
That looks like it came off a transformer... the ones in the movie.
Of course it has to be the ones in the movie. What other transformer could that piece belong to?
Don't answer that... I'm not thread jacking... I swear.
I wonder why they don't use it in lead-free solder. The stuff we use is 95% tin, 5% antimony
Maybe because of poor thermal and electrical conductivity?
BTW, the answer I was looking for yesterday regarding its use in printing type was right there in front of me at the wiki. I got distracted by this photo. Bismuth is one of the few metals (substances actually which expands when it freezes -- like ice does). The solid version of most anything else will sink rather than float. The other metals used in printing type -- lead, tin, antimony expand when they melt. Bismuth was added to make an alloy which counter act the other metals and to make a low melting metal which wouldn't change in density between liquid and solid.
I hope you didn't write "ice freezes" - dude, I am going to chalk that up to a late in the week typo.
But only because you know stuff and stuff.
Yeah, it's a typo. Ritmo used to call me out on those things all the time. I think he was trying to unnerve me.
My mother used to say "unthaw" (unthaw some steaks), so I plead genetic defect.
Yeah, I am just bustin' your *redacted* here - and thanks for putting me in the same class as ritmo - that really hurt.
No more monkey bismuth, okay?
Around our house the word was "unloosen". We were told not to say that.
The ones in the picture are a lot better than the ones in the YouTube. Still cool...well not when you are making it then it is hot!
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