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Old 09-23-2010, 04:02 PM
STL STL is offline
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Default Close call with acetylene

Was at work this morning. We had a stubborn fan on a engine. We tried to get it off and we even heated it to try and break it loose. As we were heating it to then try to get it off I noticed the acetylene bottle was empty.

There was a "green horn" helping me I grabbed him to show him how to properly change the bottle out. Wheeled the old bottle out and got a new one.

We get back with the new bottle get it sat up on the carrier. I explain the importance of not using a screw driver or other tool to remove the cap.

Usually the caps are one tight. You just have to use 2 hand to get it started to get them off.

I put both hands on it turned it then used my right hand to turn it more. Once I turned it 2 times gas started spraying out the bottle really fast. I was in shock and couldn't figure out what happened.

I yelled at everyone to get out of the building. I tried to get the cap off to turn the valve with no luck.

Usually there are people 20ft away using torches or welders for what ever reason today there was not.

We evacuated the building and the fire dept. came removed the bottle which was completely empty in 20 minutes.

They said we were lucky no one was using any flames in the area.


Later found out that the bottle was filled up to much and it had a faulty valve. They tried to explain to me how the cap turned the valve and it leaked out. I didn't really listen I was just glad to be alive.



Had to go to hospital with other guy. We had it all over are shirts and inhaled some. It is freaking nasty tasting.
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Old 09-23-2010, 04:06 PM
Tom Tom is offline
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Default Re: Close call with acetylene

Wow that's crazy stuff... i'm glad you're okay though.
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Old 09-23-2010, 04:09 PM
DieHard4rd DieHard4rd is offline
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Default Re: Close call with acetylene

Glad to hear you made it thru ok.. Could have been really ugly.
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Old 09-23-2010, 04:10 PM
azgilamonster azgilamonster is offline
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Default Re: Close call with acetylene

damn close call for sure.
Yeah when I used to work in a shop the newbies always wanted to take the cap off before carting it over to the bench. I said what if you dropped it and the top broke off , they had no clue as to the missle they would have just made, plus in your case a hell of an explosion could happen.
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Old 09-23-2010, 04:22 PM
01_ranger_4x4 01_ranger_4x4 is offline
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Default Re: Close call with acetylene

wow, that could have ended badly for sure. glad no one was hurt. oxy/ acetylene torches are def dangerous. A few years ago at my old shop when i was working in the toolroom one of my co-workers went over to use the torches to silver solder something and when he turned the valve on the oxygen tank it exploded burning him over 70% of his body, 25% of that was 3rd degree, also scorching a man shaped silhouette on the wall behind him. after a lengthy investigation by OSHA they determined that the last time the tank was changed out a wing from some sort of insect got in between the seal on the tank and valve and it stuck out into the path of the oxygen flow. when my co-worker opened the valve on the tank the friction from the oxygen rushing past the insect wing caused it to ignite. he was out of work for over a year and a half and all of us that worked in the tool room had to have formal training from OSHA on how to use the torches. learned alot about them including the fact the the oxygen is more dangerous and volatile than the acetylene, never would have thought that. be careful, anyone using torches, i still flinch when i open the valves on the tanks when i have to use them.
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Old 09-23-2010, 04:23 PM
STL STL is offline
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Default Re: Close call with acetylene

Ya defiantly not the phone call I wanted to make to my wife this morning.

I doubt the new guy will have me show him how to change one out again. Which is fine I hate changing them out ever since I saw that mythbusters episode.

We go through yearly training from the company who supplies the tanks. We learned if you get oxygen on your clothes to immediately change them regardless.
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Last edited by STL; 09-23-2010 at 04:25 PM.
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