Non-toxic alternative to Wood's metal (Lipowtiz alloy) for filling engraving

[willeica]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

A few cars ago, the car I had at the time (bought second hand so it was not my specification) had a black carbon fibre steering wheel - idiotic. I used to have to keep gloves in the car, to drive it in the south of France after it had been parked or it would have burnt your hands. At the height of summer, I have to draw my curtains in the afternoon, to protect my collection of Leicas from getting too hot. 

 

Wilson

 

Some of the car models sold in the Gulf have a feature whereby you can pre-cool the car via the A/C by putting it on for a period before you get into it. Most car models sold in the Gulf have extra strong batteries and extra bhp above standard (mine had 30 bhp more than normal) to handle the stronger A/C. The main issue over there was, however, surviving the driving of the locals and some of the expats. Going around a 3 lane roundabout in the middle lane was terrifying with the parties on both sides encroaching, so the best option was to hold back. Arriving back in your apartment alive was followed by a strong urge to offer a prayer for survival. At nights it was a bit cooler, but the driving standards fell even more. I am sure that you have driven in even more daunting environments such as South East Asia where they drive neither on the left nor the right, but in the middle of the road. As if the heat was not too much to deal with already.

 

William

[pgk]

Staying with a pathologist friend of the family when I was about 14 - mid-1960s - and looking for something in the garage/workshop, I noticed under the workbench among the jars and tins containing various screws and nails and solvents and so on, a jam jar full of fine white crystals with the letters "KCN" in magic marker.  

 

Fortunately I knew a little chemistry. 

 

In Victorian times it was used as a fixer! Darkroom deaths did occur as a result of this and I have read that blackened fingernails were a problem when using it ..