REALLY bad case of the tinsel fairy

[MEHavey]

And you might think you've ever had a bad day . . . .

This Forklift Driver is Lucky to be Alive

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[Walkalong]

I assume that is from water being trapped in crevices in that block and getting under the molten mix, just like can happen with a lead pot.

Water on top? No big deal.

Water under the molten mix? Really bad news. Reacts just like that molten aluminum mix did.

Heat and dry anything you push under the molten lead.

He's one lucky dude.

 

[kerreckt]

I was melting lead outside in a cast iron pot over a gas burner. I leaned over to look into the pot and immediately realized that a drop of sweat ran off my nose. I jumped away from the pot just as a shower of lead was launched into the air. I was very lucky as I only got some burns on my forearm. It could have been very bad. Be very careful when you have a pot filled with molten lead. Constant vigilance is a requirement. Best wishes!

 

[41 Mag]

I saw that the other morning and thought " oh man, that would REALLY suck."

Years ago I had probably 30-40 lbs going on a fish cooker in the back yard. I was set up in the shade of the house just past the edge of the roof. All of a sudden, we had a downpour come over from the off side of the house. Just one of those splash and dash types that roll across during early summer on the gulf coast. All I could do was shut the burner off and take cover.

If it hadn't been so scary, it would have actually been pretty. The water coming off the roof was rolling right into the hot lead pot, causing it to explode like Kīlauea throwing silver spray everywhere in a 10' area around the pot. It seemed like it went on forever before the pot cooled down to just a steaming cauldron. In actuality it probably only lasted a minute or two, but the panicked thoughts of "OH CRAP what do I do" were in overdrive.

I had set up on a piece of plywood which received the majority of the fall-out but it took an hour or more of picking up strings and pieces from around it that had been blown skyward. That on the wood peeled off like a weird spider web.

 

[jmorris]

Around 2003 I had some lynotype that still had ink on it, made it to the ceiling 19ft above the pot. I now start with a cold pot and empty it completely pouring ingots. It takes longer than dumping solids into liquid but there is zero drama.

I was as lucky as that guy because I was wearing my welding gear and a full face shield, saved me that day for sure.

 

[lightman]

Thats one lucky guy! Like jmorris, I start everything in an empty pot, not necessarily cold but empty. No drama is good!!!

 

[mdi]

Walkalong's post is 100% correct. Water/liquid must get under the surface of a molten metal for an explosion. Water expands 7,000-1 immediately, steam causes explosion. Many times I have poured water on molten lead to cool it faster so I could leave the shop (I never leave any machine/tool running or a pot of hot lead in my shop unattended). A drop of liquid on the top of molten lead will just dance around, bubbling until it evaporates, Tinsel Fairy stays home...

 

[Walkalong]

7,000-1 immediately,

I forget the actual speed at which it turns to steam, but “immediately” sums it up very well.

7000 to 1……think about that for a minute….and almost instantaneously.

 

[Jim Watson]

I once saw a report of an eruption that took place when a June Bug flew into the caster's shop and landed in the lead pot.