Originally about tariffs and watches ... now just political rambling

Locked
Posts
3,573
Likes
24,128
18 gm per cm^3. Presumably that’s the appeal. Twice as dense as most metals, so it would make a good conversation piece/paper weight.

Dang, now I irrationally want a 40lb paperweight the size of a Rubiks cube.
 
Posts
8,010
Likes
28,127
At room temperature:

Tungsten density = 19.25 g/cm3

Gold density = 19.32 g/cm3

Very close indeed! Which is why Tungsten coated with a thin layer of gold has the potential to pass as gold. But given that there is a big difference between the two metals in terms of celerity (the speed of sound), ultrasonic testing can easily be used to discern real gold.

Tungsten celerity = 5220 m/s

Gold celerity = 3240 m/s
 
Posts
487
Likes
812
19 gm per cm^3. Presumably that’s the appeal. Twice as dense as most common non-precious metals, so it would make a good conversation piece/paper weight. Virtually anything else in that range of density is radioactive, extremely expensive, or both.
That's exactly why many scammers use Tungsten, trying to sell it as gold.
 
Posts
6,512
Likes
50,352
Is this thread a political echo chamber?

Choose only one.

1. No way! Off-topic discussion rules!

2. Echo or reverb? That is the question.

3. Dog pile!
 
Posts
1,783
Likes
4,277
Is this thread a political echo chamber?

Choose only one.

1. No way! Off-topic discussion rules!

2. Echo or reverb? That is the question.

3. Dog pile!
Is this thread a political echo chamber?

Choose only one.

1. No way! Off-topic discussion rules!

2. Echo or reverb? That is the question.

3. Dog pile!
 
Posts
778
Likes
2,392
That's exactly why many scammers use Tungsten, trying to sell it as gold.
Or, say you buy gold abroad, and want to pay less duty when you bring it back, you coat it with tungsten.
 
Posts
3,573
Likes
24,128
Or, say you buy gold abroad, and want to pay less duty when you bring it back, you coat it with tungsten.

I love a fake fake.

Reminds me of an artist friend of mine. He was hired to design a bronze sculpture for an elementary school and had a team of kids help with the design. They ended up with a turtle based on the school's mascot.

The kids then demanded that it be made of gold. My friend says, "but won't people steal it?" The kids go, "no, no, we'll paint it green so no one will know." So, in the end, the kids were pretty excited that their school had a solid gold sculpture hiding under the green bronze patina.
 
Posts
2,591
Likes
2,876
I love a fake fake.

Reminds me of an artist friend of mine. He was hired to design a bronze sculpture for an elementary school and had a team of kids help with the design. They ended up with a turtle based on the school's mascot.

The kids then demanded that it be made of gold. My friend says, "but won't people steal it?" The kids go, "no, no, we'll paint it green so no one will know." So, in the end, the kids were pretty excited that their school had a solid gold sculpture hiding under the green bronze patina.
Omega stole the idea and called it bronze gold!
 
Posts
1,786
Likes
7,059
Dang, now I irrationally want a 40lb paperweight the size of a Rubiks cube.
And paint it like one would be cool. Just to watch people try to pick it up.
 
Posts
2,353
Likes
3,063
19 gm per cm^3. Presumably that’s the appeal. Twice as dense as most common non-precious metals, so it would make a good conversation piece/paper weight. Virtually anything else in that range of density is radioactive, extremely expensive, or both.
It's pretty insane. For some reason I assumed the density would be similar to Lead, but Tungsten's way higher.

My wife wasn't as enthusiastic about Tungsten cubes and their amazing physical properties.
 
Posts
3,573
Likes
24,128
It's pretty insane. For some reason I assumed the density would be similar to Lead, but Tungsten's way higher.

My wife wasn't as enthusiastic about Tungsten cubes and their amazing physical properties.

Have you imparted to her it's pyrophoric properties? Truly, an interesting metal.
 
Posts
3,669
Likes
7,795
Have you imparted to her it's pyrophoric properties? Truly, an interesting metal.

Potassium can be a LOT of fun.
 
Posts
3,573
Likes
24,128
Potassium can be a LOT of fun.

Indeed. I had a really cool AP Biology teacher and he promised us fireworks if more than 50% of the class passed, which we did. So, after we got the good news, he went into the storage room and proceeded to wheel out a cart with jars of lithium, potassium and sodium, and tried to get us hyped to sign up for AP Chemistry.
 
Posts
1,786
Likes
7,059
Indeed. I had a really cool AP Biology teacher and he promised us fireworks if more than 50% of the class passed, which we did. So, after we got the good news, he went into the storage room and proceeded to wheel out a cart with jars of lithium, potassium and sodium, and tried to get us hyped to sign up for AP Chemistry.
That sounds like what I did in AP Chemistry.
 
Posts
16,856
Likes
47,862
It's pretty insane. For some reason I assumed the density would be similar to Lead, but Tungsten's way higher.

My wife wasn't as enthusiastic about Tungsten cubes and their amazing physical properties.
Bit like myself to the significant others rocks 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 I mean crystals 😂😂😂
 
Posts
3,669
Likes
7,795
Indeed. I had a really cool AP Biology teacher and he promised us fireworks if more than 50% of the class passed, which we did. So, after we got the good news, he went into the storage room and proceeded to wheel out a cart with jars of lithium, potassium and sodium, and tried to get us hyped to sign up for AP Chemistry.

That's pretty funny. I had an AP Chemistry teacher put a decent size piece into a beaker with water.... that was fun 🤣
 
Posts
16,856
Likes
47,862
What a strange thread derailment. Now I want a Tungsten cube.
Can send you a Damascus cube which will be even cooler…