Anyone have experience turning/milling this stuff? Doesn’t seem very hard, my R40 hardness file scratches it. I’ve got a sample piece that is like 5/8”x4” long. Took a face cut today and it cut nicely. I did take that little bit of swarf and ignite it with a map torch! Pretty impressive light show! I do have a 30# class D extinguisher coming tomorrow. Need to turn a couple inches down to 3/16. I don’t have coolant on this lathe. Any real world experience would be appreciated !
Zercaloy 4
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RoninB4
Well-known member
-Have machined a lot of different materials but had to look this one up. I expect that you've done some research on this but will include what I found in a brief search. I would hope this isn't recycled material, due to where it's often used. Classed as a combustible solid but not prone to ignition in a solid mass. Trouble looms when it's in small chips or dust. Chips can spontaneously ignite at room temps (so reported) or from any heat source. Fire from damp heap (chip tray under lathe) may be followed by explosion, water makes the fire more vigorous. Emits toxic fumes under fire conditions, Class D extinguisher is advised. Don't know why you're posting here, a machining board like Practical Machinist would offer a better chance at real world experience.
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mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Its not a new type of question for him.
Waiting for "hey guys, does tub o towels work on nuclear waste? I have some viscous liquid on the floor that's making my Geiger counter super happy and need to wipe it up"
Chris_Hamilton
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My post isn't going to be any real help, but I thought it strange also that the OP is asking about materials used in a nuclear reactor on Garage Journal. Practical Machinist would be a better place to start. IIRC Z4 is used for nuclear fuel rods in various forms. Sheathing or cladding (not sure which is correct) of the fuel rod , end caps etc.
I have no experience with it but my buddy who does work for Babcock & Wilcox, and Framatone, says it machines similar to titanium. And IIRC having a Class D extinguisher on hand should be considered mandatory.
I have no experience with it but my buddy who does work for Babcock & Wilcox, and Framatone, says it machines similar to titanium. And IIRC having a Class D extinguisher on hand should be considered mandatory.
rlitman
Well-known member
Ouch, and ouch. If it work hardens like titanium, that's not fun. Neither is needing a Class D extinguisher. Keep in mind that there's not much special to a Class D extinguisher over a bucket of sand. So, work clean, collect chips from accumulating and don't store them inside.
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
Toss them in the neighbors garbage.
WhoWhatNow
Well-known member
I actually like when he post these type of questions here. True, he is probably not going to get much of a response, but I always learn something new from the responses. A little self serving, but it breaks up the monotony of Snap On vs. Harbor Freight and Old Man Yelling at Clouds posts.Its not a new type of question for him.
Waiting for "hey guys, does tub o towels work on nuclear waste? I have some viscous liquid on the floor that's making my Geiger counter super happy and need to wipe it up"
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Same here. They're mostly absurd (for the audience) but interesting.
Chris_Hamilton
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Perhaps he's building his own nuclear reactor....
WhoWhatNow
Well-known member
Actually, thinking about this a little more, this may be one of those cases where the crappy Harbor Freight carbide insert spontaneously explodes and kills him. He should definitely spring for the Snap On version.
Chris_Hamilton
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What are you doing/making/fabricating with Z4? Are you doing work on reactors?
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
Well at least he comes off as a native English speaker.
If not, I'd wonder what nefarious 3rd world country he was from.
Or maybe he's just *really* good.
If not, I'd wonder what nefarious 3rd world country he was from.
Or maybe he's just *really* good.
niget2002
Well-known member
Google translate is pretty amazing these days.Well at least he comes off as a native English speaker.
If not, I'd wonder what nefarious 3rd world country he was from.
Or maybe he's just *really* good.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Best use a telephoto lens--from across the street.I don’t know f all about that material.
But can I come over and video you making chips?!, it sounds like there’s some potential for a few million video hits
Making encapsulations for radioisotopes. Been using Titanium but the Zircalloy should be superior in a couple ways. New extinguisher! They are pretty proud of these! Harbor Freight didn’t have any in stock
We actually do plan on building one, albeit a tiny one just for fun. But haven’t had the spare time.Perhaps he's building his own nuclear reactor....
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I'd hold your beer
RoninB4
Well-known member
-I'll try to remember this for future reference. Nothing wrong with posting interesting projects, I like reading about them too, but nuclear work is a stretch for Harry Homeowner and the trials of life in suburbia that populate this site. Were it a genuine project I would think there are plenty of other sites better suited. This has the aroma of a 15 year old with an overactive imagination or undiluted BS. Some empirical evidence could make me eat my words....
I’ll get you your own! Could and will have additional eyes on fire watch!
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I all was look for input when starting on a project that I don’t have experience with. There are lots of people here with experience I don’t have. I also ask on Home shop machinist and PM and colleagues in the industry. Many times I/we are the first to be trying a new approach to solving a problem. I appreciate input from others especially when it’s fun and free!
While it maybe a long shot asking these questions here, I have gotten some comments that were helpful or at times led to something helpful. And some readers seem to enjoy being exposed to something a little different. I will continue to post questions that I’m looking for answers to, isn’t that the point of great forums like this one?
Please feel free to explore our company website @
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Serva Energy is a clean energy company developing smart, next-generation nuclear materials for a safe, new age of nuclear technology.
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scooby074
Well-known member
This is way above my pay grade, but cool !
Me too, I’m just a machinist with a bit of a mechanical engineering touch, no degree, but I did get pretty close. Could not get into the super high level senior year classes. I had taken too long and quit smoking pot by that time!
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yellow means it's filled with diesel, right?Making encapsulations for radioisotopes. Been using Titanium but the Zircalloy should be superior in a couple ways. New extinguisher! They are pretty proud of these! Harbor Freight didn’t have any in stock
I really don’t think it’s going to be all that bad. Seems like just don’t let the chips pile up and keep the part cool. I’ll be running at least an air blast. Probably get a cool mist system as I’ve been waiting one anyway. Should work. I’m not converting my machines to flood coolant.I don’t know f all about that material.
But can I come over and video you making chips?!, it sounds like there’s some potential for a few million video hits
Mapp gas I thought?
Guys, I’m just having fun here. Yes it’s a real project. No I don’t expect to find all the answers here. Yes I’m getting my post count up! This will not be the last thing that I start on being cautious and a little afraid of. I’m confident I’ll have a procedure for doing this by the end of next week. That may include having someone else do it. As always, love you guys, and be safe!
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Dude, mapp hasn't been made in years, get with it. The yellow bottles are mappro, and are barely hotter than propane.
Pump up those numbers. Your pay rate per post doubles at 10k
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I guess this would be a good place to ask: What's the best shielding gas for welding plutonium?
Asking for a friend....
Asking for a friend....
Yes, but still plenty hot to get this swarf to go off could probably use a bic lighter, I might try that tomorrow!Dude, mapp hasn't been made in years, get with it. The yellow bottles are mappro, and are barely hotter than propane.
Pump up those numbers. Your pay rate per post doubles at 10k
2x0 is still 0
Haven’t been asked to try that yet? Usually trying to keep it separated! But I would not be surprised if I am asked to do it. And this is one of the first places that I will ask on. But, you might want to start a new thread? I’ll be watching!
Did your boiler repair not work out as expected? Need a little bit more heat?
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Actually, the boiler is working quite well. We brewed yesterday for the first time in over a month.
But it could always work better, and there's this great deal on Temu.....
I’ll have to make it up there for a pint or 5. Where actually are you located? Trying to plan out vacation ideas with the wife!
A little irradiation on your last loop before bottling could significantly improve your shelf life! Lol
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Beerhippie
Well-known member
Far NE Oregon--Enterprise. Easy to find--just turn North off I84 at La Grande, OR onto state hwy. 82 and proceed for about an hour-and-a-half. We have primitive camping facilities (no hook-ups) if interested.
Bring isotopes and we'll see if we can improve our boil times!
Grant Gunderson
Well-known member
No, yellow is for the uranium only extinguishers. Never figured out why it makes green smoke without adding blue.
In all seriousness, this is the kind of question I used to love to ask my dad. I'd usually get a 2~3 hour long conversation discussing the pluses and minus of every way to do it. Unfortunately his mind isn't what it used to be, and he now mixes up his brother with his father who passed on 30+ years ago.
It crazy that a guy that used to design nuclear reactors for Navy subs, and then the cleanup process and machines for Hanford, can't remember the conversation that happened 5 minutes ago.
My Dad never talked about his work (he couldn't) and I only learned the extent of it from him a few years ago. He never took work home either (part of what made him a great dad was he was always present when he was home). Cleaning out some of his stuff on my last trip home, I found the attached doc, he wrote about how to clean up and dispose of some of the larger processing equipment they used to use in the B plant at Hanford.
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