myfriendtheenemy Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 A few months ago I made some cylinders of black powder for no reason. They were maybe a forth of an inch wide and an inch long, maybe 3 or 4 grams each. Well, today I found them on my pyro cart and decided to get rid of them. I took them in my hand, there were maybe 7 or 8 of them. I took one and put it in a secure place so it didn't fly off. I lit it and low and behold a spark jumped to my other hand and lit the rest of the BP cylinders. I have 3rd degree burns on most of my palm and part of my fingers. The whole hospital ordeal took 4 hours and it took 2 hours to get my prescriptions. Tomorrow I have to go get the dead skin cut off, lots of fun. It's also my dominant hand. I feel really stupid and ashamed for being so dumb.
justvisiting Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 I feel bad for you. That's a hard-learned lesson. Sometimes we get careless with the little stuff. Ned from Fireworking had a similar accident with a few stars. You'll heal up into a more careful fireworker, I bet
davidh Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 You aren't the first to have that happen. The fundamental lesson is to not hold anything flammable when around flame.
myfriendtheenemy Posted July 8, 2021 Author Posted July 8, 2021 I went to a more experienced doctor today and they said it was 2nd degree. That figures because the burn hurt a LOT. I should be fine in a couple weeks. Good thing I make fast BP or it could've been a lot worse. I learned my lesson. Yesterday my new tennis racquet came in the mail, too bad I can't test it out.
SharkWhisperer Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 I went to a more experienced doctor today and they said it was 2nd degree. That figures because the burn hurt a LOT. I should be fine in a couple weeks. Good thing I make fast BP or it could've been a lot worse. I learned my lesson. Yesterday my new tennis racquet came in the mail, too bad I can't test it out.Hot BP transferred a shitload of heat instantly. Slow BP would probably have caused less damage; maybe you could have even dropped it before it was halfway burnt. BP "cylinders"? That's a new one. Heal up and hopefully extract several useful tidbits of knowledge from your entirely avoidable adventure.
myfriendtheenemy Posted July 8, 2021 Author Posted July 8, 2021 Hot BP transferred a shitload of heat instantly. Slow BP would probably have caused less damage; maybe you could have even dropped it before it was halfway burnt. BP "cylinders"? That's a new one. Heal up and hopefully extract several useful tidbits of knowledge from your entirely avoidable adventure.Well, I was trying to see if I could make homemade "White Hots". Those are cylinders of powder that are used to load a muzzleloader faster, instead of pouring powder. I might make some more if I get myself a muzzleloader.
SharkWhisperer Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 Well, I was trying to see if I could make homemade "White Hots". Those are cylinders of powder that are used to load a muzzleloader faster, instead of pouring powder. I might make some more if I get myself a muzzleloader.You're probably going to need to corn your BP to get the increased density particles (around 1.7g/cc) needed to fit, and work, in a muzzleloader...the low-density granulated alone (perhaps 1.1-1.3 g/cc) is generally insufficient for firearm use. Hyper fast poorly regulated burn rate and frequent difficulty in getting a sufficient load of powder (even if it burned right) into your gun... Forming low-density cylinders with low-density uncompressed BP is not likely to work the way you're wanting...
Mumbles Posted July 9, 2021 Posted July 9, 2021 A few of us have been there too. I cannot emphasize this next piece of advice enough. Don't mess around with rehab. Even with the sort of questionable 2nd degree vs 3rd degree diagnosis. Push it to the limit. Make it hurt.....a lot. Hand scars can be devastating. Push yourself with things that seem ordinary. Eat, write, type, etc. as much as you can. You'll know long term whether they were 2nd or 3rd degree soon. Most, not all, 3rd degree burns require skin grafts. In my particular experience, they tend to back the 3rd degree diagnosis back as healing occurs and seeing what they need to do. If you have the option, I'd also suggest full coverage grafts if that's on the table. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I've been through this on a very thorough level.
myfriendtheenemy Posted July 9, 2021 Author Posted July 9, 2021 I don't think I need grafts. The nurse popped the blisters and there was another layer of skin underneath. She said that in a week or so the dead skin should fall off and new skin should be under it. I'm just making sure I stretch it as much as I can. I could tell the nurse had a lot of experience with burns and knew how they should be treated and how they heal.
Uarbor Posted July 17, 2021 Posted July 17, 2021 (edited) By the way black powder cylinders aka pellets for muzzle loading are definitely not hot black powder they are not black powder at all. They're most likely Pyrodex a much less sensitive mixture. You're not even supposed to use 4 fg commercial black powder in a rifle because the pressure becomes dangerous. I have never used power pellets because you're supposed to crush them with the ramrod anyway and I have never been comfortable with that. If you don't crush them you are creating a short started ball which is the other thing that blows up muzzleloaders. I just figured I would chime in since I am an expert in muzzleloading although I am extremely green in pyrotechnics. Sounds like this burn might have actually saved your life. They say things happen for a reason. You want medium to slow Hardwood powder in a rifle. Hot powder is okay in a pistol but the pellets would also be useless there. So when you get healed up don't blow yourself up. I came here only three months ago to learn how to make my own black powder for muzzleloading. And I got the bug big time for pyrotechnics. Anyway I hope you are well soon and please do a bit more research on muzzleloaders. Edited July 18, 2021 by Uarbor
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