Re: Small Accident yesterday..

Drilling devices after they've been charged has its definite dangers.

You are fortunate that the tube didn't blow up, but only blew out its
ends. A friend of mine, who did something very similar to what you did,
was not so lucky. The case actually exploded. He lost almost all the
flesh on his little finger, leaving the bone exposed in places. Doctors
could not save what was left and had to amputate the finger. I was on
the scene less than an hour after it happened, and visited him later in
the hospital. The fire department had come to his place after the
ambulance did, and sprayed water (needlessly) all over the drill press,
milling machine, and lathe in his home machine shop. His wife was very
distraught. I remember getting towels from her and wiping up the
puddles that had formed on his equipment and would certainly have
rusted it badly had it been left in that condition.

I'll note that this person was NOT an inexperienced or immature
experimenter. He was a successful and accident-free amateur firework
maker and professional display operator for many years. Luckily, this
happened long ago, and there were no legal consequences for him, as
there almost surely would be today in such a case.

In the industry, filled devices are sometimes drilled, but the
operation is done remotely. The articles are not held by the hands
during the process. If you must do such an operation, make a jig to
hold the workpiece and position it in the drill press behind a blast
shield. Operate the press in such a way that no part of your body is
exposed to a potential explosion. Make sure that the work is done in a
location where no other pyrotechnic compositions, components, or
finished articles are present that could take fire from an accidental
ignition.




ArcadeNO@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Hi All.

I was kind of hesitant to post this message about what happened to me
yesterday...but I think it would be good to tell everyone about a
small accident that happened while making a hummer....

I wanted to try out a new hummer base tool that I made...sanded down a
dowel to fit a 9/16 id x 1.5 inch.

I pressed some clay mix..then some mealm them capped it with clay.

I wanted to try another way to add the fuse for the hummer...instead
of pre-drilling the hole...

One the hummer was done, I dug out a drill, put in a small bit and
drilled using slow to medium speed. The reason I was doing it this
method is because others (who I will not mention) told me they do it
this method.

Welp.....BOOM.

Went off in my hand. I was more scared what the neighbors were gonna
think than what happened to my hand. No neighbors came out to see what
the loud bang was....sort of like a big heavy tool dropping to the
ground.....a loud firecracker.

The damage was along the lines of picking up a hot pot with a metal
handle. a could of very small blisters and one 1.5 x 1.5 inch welt.

I quickly put the hand underneath some water for a few mins them
covers the area's with polysporin.

There was pain for about an hour...I sweated it out no probs, since I
have had burns on my hands before (I am an ex-chef).

Today...the wounds are healing nicely. I wanted to pop the big
blister, but was advised against doing it..let it heal itself.

This is the first stupid thing I have done in the many years of
hobby-pyro. I guess it is a right-of passage in a way. You learn from
your mistakes.

BTW, I told those who also have used a drill..they tell me that they
will change their ways....I hope so. It could have been worse...I
could have used the recipe for hummers that included AL. if that were
the case, the burns would have been more severe.

I also found the tube...it did not shatter...only the clay ends popped
out...one end going towards the carpet in my garage (nice big black
burn mark) the other on my hand.

I'll be fine.......

Dave

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Small Accident yesterday..
    ... I wanted to try out a new hummer base tool that I made...sanded down a ... I pressed some clay mix..then some mealm them capped it with clay. ... a could of very small blisters and one 1.5 x 1.5 inch welt. ... have had burns on my hands before. ...
    (rec.pyrotechnics)
  • Small Accident yesterday..
    ... I wanted to try out a new hummer base tool that I made...sanded down a ... I pressed some clay mix..then some mealm them capped it with clay. ... a could of very small blisters and one 1.5 x 1.5 inch welt. ... have had burns on my hands before. ...
    (rec.pyrotechnics)
  • Re: Small Accident yesterday..
    ... I wanted to try out a new hummer base tool that I made...sanded down a ... I pressed some clay mix..then some mealm them capped it with clay. ... a could of very small blisters and one 1.5 x 1.5 inch welt. ... have had burns on my hands before. ...
    (rec.pyrotechnics)
  • Re: Small Accident yesterday..
    ... I wanted to try out a new hummer base tool that I made...sanded down a ... I pressed some clay mix..then some mealm them capped it with clay. ... a could of very small blisters and one 1.5 x 1.5 inch welt. ... have had burns on my hands before. ...
    (rec.pyrotechnics)