Sodium metal - fun stuff. The special disposal method is to cut the stem open and put it in water. The chemical reaction releases heat and hydrogen - can you say "boom".
When I was in HS, our chemistry teach talked about sodium metal and lamented that he couldn't get sodium metal to demonstrate it's reactive powers. Having a father who was a chemist (and a senior scientist) came in handy. Went home and said "Dad, could you perhaps get me some sodium metal for school?" The next day, my Dad handed me a little vial filled with oil and several lumps of silvery metal and a warning to "Be careful with that - don't let it dry out or come in contact with water". Let's just say that the next chemistry class held quite a bit of amusement... Matthew >________________________________ >From: Steven Arguello <[email protected]> >To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list <[email protected]> >Cc: a2-16v <[email protected]> >Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 9:05 AM >Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] valve refacing > >They're sodium filled and can explode or something. My guy (eastern European) >said it wasn't a problem. But I told him take off as little as possible, I >think it's only the exhaust. You're not supposed to throw them in the >recycling or trash, you cut the stem off and throw them in water first they >boil or something. > > > >On Jun 24, 2011, at 8:53 AM, Chad Rebuck <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I think I may be picking up my engine from the machine shop today. I >> was reading in the Bentley: >> >> "The valves must not be refaced. They must be hand lapped only." >> >> Why is this and what is the problem with having them machined as I >> expect mine were? >> _______________________________________________ >> a2-16v-list mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list >> For list archives, see listinfo link above. > >_______________________________________________ >a2-16v-list mailing list >[email protected] >http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list >For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > >
