Lube Free Tuning - BAM Alloy

[MartyMcFly]

Marty,  I know I am late to the party , but

1. Ask the manufacturer or supplier of BAM how to apply it, then decide if burnishing might work.  A little research suggests plasma vapor deposition is typically used to fuse BAM to steel.  See video below.

2.  As for burning, I think the boron has already oxidized the magnesium and aluminum.  It is like alumina abrasive - aluminum already in the oxidized state.

3. Inside a "springer", the high pressure and temperature is only present in the last 1 mm of piston travel.  How much BAM powder might be swept there by the piston seal and burnt (assuming I am wrong about #2, above)?  It would not seem enough to explode.   If the powder is that loose, then the lube won't last long.   From the sounds of it, even if all the BAM you applied were pure magnesium powder, it is probably not enough to do more than melt your piston seal.

Always appreciate your input!

I haven't spoken to a supplier yet but most of the stuff I've read have pointed to laser vapor deposition as being the standard method of application for such alloys. That said I'd be willing to try the DIY burnishing method just for the heck of it. Maybe even go lower tech and just use a scotch-brite pad to make the micro abrasions before going down the alumina abrasive path. If the acquisition cost is not prohibitive I plan to apply it just in the areas where it might do the most good. So as you suggested I would avoid the last 1mm of tube, since the benefit there is going to be inconsequential to the backward force of the compressed air acting on the piston - or so I guess.

-Marty