cogbarry Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Yes, it happened due to charcoal lighting up in a coffee grinder, but was GREATLY exacerbated due to some nearby BP. My legal issues are just about solved, so once that happens the whole story will come out. This is interesting Mumbles, I had heard/read about your accident but was afraid to ask and won't either. It's nice to know you will release this potentially life saving info when you can though. I say this because in reading this thread, I know that I should research the use of a coffee blender in grinding fuels and oxidizers even if it's done separately. I have worked with coal a lot and I am familiar with what we locomotive fireman know as a "dust explosion". Unlike a mine explosion, these were relatively harmless as the resulting fireball went out quite fast. Usually it would burn the hair off of any skin it made contact with and scare the crap out of you but that was all. In any case, I was under the impression that using a coffee grinder was relatively safe if fuels oxidizers were milled/ground in separate grinders (preferably you have a set and they are dedicated to either) but it seems there is enough oxygen present for an explosion/ignition to occur. I have been using a coffee grinder to grind potassium nitrate. I have never used one for fuels although I may have eventually if I hadn't read this thread. I also do this in an area away from any batches of BP, star comp, prime, etc. However, it is a very cheap grinder and I'm beginning to wonder how safe this practice is. Seems there wouldn't be much of a fuel source when grinding PN. The plastic of the grinder being the only fuel around I guess. I supose if the cheap grinder had bad seals and the now atomized oxidizer was present inside the motor or drive train of the grinder there could be other sources of fuel present such as oil. Of course, I would like to think I don't need to ball mill all of my PN for non BP comps that are mixed by simple screening.
cogbarry Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Oh, and gsmkkji, I won't bother telling you not to use flash powder. You will do what you wish, I'm sure. However, flash is probably the most dangerous comp to work with in pyrotechnics. It's also one of the most simple comps to make. The questions you ask lead me to believe you haven't done any research on this at all. Please read all the safety threads on this. ...and the legal stuff too. It is so unforgiving if you make a mistake!
Richtee Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 (edited) Yes, it happened due to charcoal lighting up in a coffee grinder, but was GREATLY exacerbated due to some nearby BP. My legal issues are just about solved, so once that happens the whole story will come out.As curious as I am... what really matters is that you are allright. If the information will prove useful, it would be good to know. As you already know, of course. I can't figger out why this other guy has not been banned yet. Mumb's getting soft in his "old age". (And thankfully getting older!) Edited May 17, 2011 by Richtee
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