What are some of your dangerous experiment mishaps?

[Elite Engineer]

Whether you're a first year college student or a PhD, everyone at some point has done some experiment in which something went terribly wrong, and may have turned out worse.

 

My two mishaps:

 

1.) When I was in college, I was melting aluminum to make into ingots for later use. One day I decided to make a cast out of a plaster of paris and sand mixture. I used a 30 mL vial to form a 3 inch deep hole to pour the molten aluminum into. Unfortunately, I had no idea that you had to dry the mold so there was no water in it. So, when I poured the aluminum into the whole, there was an instant loud pop and molten aluminum went flying. The aluminum instantly converted all the water in the mold to steam, forcing the aluminum out of the hole. Luckily, my crucible was at the perfect angle and caught about 90% the flying molten metal...it was so so covered it looked as if you wrapped it in aluminum foil. I still wonder what would have happened if that crucible weren't there to save my face .

 

2.) Bach in high school, I tried to make sulfuric acid by burning sulfur and passing it through a vacuum through a tub of water. So I had the vacuum all set and I started to burn the sulfur (about 100 grams) with a blow torch in my garage..with the door shut.. . Apparently I forgot to turn the vacuum on, so once I burned the sulfur..all the wonderful sulfur dioxide went right into my nose and eyes, and it BURNED...REAL BAD! I made B-Line for my house and started splashing water in my face and up my nose. Thankfully, there wasn't any severe injuries, just a lesson to never try and make my own sulfuric acid at home.

 

What are some of your mishap?

 

~ee

Edited June 12, 2015 by Elite Engineer

[ajb]

I still wonder what would have happened if that crucible weren't there to save my face .

 

 

 

 

EDIT: Some times it is better to laugh about things than cry about them...

Edited June 12, 2015 by ajb

[Mike Smith Cosmos]

. The two mishaps that stick out in my memory of being quite dangerous , and had and could have had consequences are :-

 

 

Setting : I was on a lengthy assignment , in conjunction with a Magnetics Equipment Manufacturer. I acted as a technical sales liaison engineer, visiting several of the Big manufacturers in the U.k. Some make cars, others whole body scanners , mainframe computers etc

It was my role to discuss and demonstrate how the company I represented could supply equipment to make magnets by magnetising materials with one GINORMOUS magnetising pulse. This energy was generated and stored in really Big Capacitors. If I remember correctly they used two parallel ONE FARAD CAPACITORS. ( paper dielectric ) While not in use they used to short the terminals ,less stray electric field accidentally built up a huge charge and a stray hand with a ring on his/her finger should touch the terminals , they would loose a finger.

 

 

1. There was one such magnetiser sitting in a test position in a motor car manufacturers plant ready for testing . The apparatus was the size of a large washing machine . The magnetising coil and core protruded ( just) out of the top. Also on the top was a big red start button .The whole line was in set up, pre-production mode.

 

I was some distance across the production floor , when I noticed a pre magnetised ,magnet sitting on the magnetising head.

 

Realising what could happen if an existing magnet is given a massive magnetising pulse .

 

I screamed across the large workplace floor " DON'T ANYBODY TOUCH ...................RED BUTTOn ........

 

Too late ! ...the Gigantic discharge from the 2 Farad. Capacitors did the business . The magnet shot across the production floor at an enormous speed . Fortunately not hitting anyone. Hitting the distant wall , like a bullet . ....I was bright scarlet with embarrassment .

 

--------------------------------------------

 

2. Same setting , this time in a famous whole body scanner manufacturer. This time I was demonstrating a smaller magnetiser , the size and weight of an old fashion large microwave oven . This device with its heavy separate solid epoxy covered coil and core.

 

This time I was in the design engineers open plan office. I plonked the magnetiser on HIS desk with its coil and microprocessor controlled magnetising electrical driver. I placed an un magnetised metal object on the solenoid . This was more of a precision , microprocessor controlled , magnetising process. If I remember is gave a succession of magnetising and demagnetising pulsed to aim for a precise level of magnetism . Nonetheless these were fairly large pulses.

 

El problemo! As I demonstrated this large pulsing magnetic field , as it hunted for the correct level.

 

The engineers desk draw throbbed and clattered in sympathy with the audible pulses.

I said , " I hope you have nothing too important in those draws. " He tore open the draw , and there were all his discs and storage USB Memory Sticks of his recent designs.

 

I left with my tail between my legs . I do not think we got that order !,,

 

MIKE

Edited June 12, 2015 by Mike Smith Cosmos