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Mycosciopath
Stranger

Registered: 10/10/16
Posts: 13
Last seen: 7 years, 6 days
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Alcohol lamp exploded
#23871161 - 11/27/16 06:00 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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So I searched the forums , as well as google and was unable to find any answers to this . Has anyone ever had an alcohol lamp explode ? I have been using one made from a half pint jar and an oil lamp wick. Never any trouble for a while now until a couple of days ago. I refilled it and lit it and it blew the lid off and spewed flaming alcohol everywhere.
I was hoping someone may have some insight as to why this may have happened , to hopefully prevent future problems for myself and others . I was using methanol if it matters .
Thanks in advance for any help.
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filthyknees
no coincidence


Registered: 03/08/13
Posts: 6,283
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Oh no... Torch lighters are great. About 30$ at bed bath and beyond. They have a setting that keeps the flame on and it works well it its lowest setting.
-------------------- But if you're in a hurry, and really got to go If you're in a hurry, might have to find out slow That it's one thing to try and another to fly You get there quicker just a step at a time It's one thing to bark, another to bite The show ain't over till you pack up at night
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Tira



Registered: 11/20/10
Posts: 1,202
Loc: Turkey
Last seen: 6 years, 3 months
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Guess you didn't have a hole on the lid (except from the one which the wick goes in), that might cause a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the lamp and when the lid just can't take the pressure anymore, it explodes.
Investing in a torch is a good idea. I just got one and I'm loving it.
-------------------- Useful Links for Beginners The Basics AMU Teks Frank''s Teks Agar Noob Forum Reccomended Teks Agar for guaranteed spawn, Proper pasteurization for guaranteed substrate.
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Yrat
Hello

Registered: 11/08/07
Posts: 2,312
Last seen: 2 years, 10 months
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there was enough of a gap somewhere between your wick and the makeshift lid to allow the flame down inside the vessel which was filled with an alcohol vapor and oxygen mixture (from recently opening it to the atmosphere before closing it again). perfect mini-bomb waiting to blow up. you're lucky if you didn't get seriously burned and/or burn your place down.
go ahead and do yourself a favor, spring for a real one designed to work. if you try to make another homemade one, you're just asking for this to eventually happen again.
-------------------- "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." -Henry David Thoreau Strike The Root
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Mycosciopath
Stranger

Registered: 10/10/16
Posts: 13
Last seen: 7 years, 6 days
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Re: Alcohol lamp exploded [Re: Tira]
#23871206 - 11/27/16 06:41 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Yes you are correct about not having another hole . And i agree about the torch i have a cheap mini torch that works ok , but its a pain to use for long periods of time . I think i will invest in a decent one .
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Mycosciopath
Stranger

Registered: 10/10/16
Posts: 13
Last seen: 7 years, 6 days
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Re: Alcohol lamp exploded [Re: Yrat]
#23871210 - 11/27/16 06:46 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thankyou for the advice , I'm pretty gun shy about trying again after that miraculous display , lol . I think I'm done with the diy lamps. Butane makes quick work out of sterilizing scalpels any how I think I'll just go that route .
And by the way ; yes I was quite lucky , I came out of it unscathed but had some pretty severe burns on my carpet lol
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Hekate
Probiotic

Registered: 12/23/12
Posts: 68
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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I am of the opinion that a torch or flame is absolutely unnecessary with correct methodology. I believe once people start using this they stick to what they know. I have lamps, and have never bothered to use them. I wipe my tips with ethanol and call it a day.
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freespeech
disciple



Registered: 12/12/08
Posts: 1,745
Loc: PNW
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Re: Alcohol lamp exploded [Re: Hekate]
#23873580 - 11/27/16 09:46 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Yeah I'm with you guys. I tried an alcohol lamp when I first got into this hobby, and quickly realized that alcohol lamps suck. Something like this is waaay better. Gets metal red hot so much faster. A small tank of gas lasts for a long time.
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Moabfighter
Tam Fighter


Registered: 12/13/15
Posts: 2,710
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Re: Alcohol lamp exploded [Re: freespeech]
#23873651 - 11/27/16 10:13 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Yeah listen to the guy above me. A big ole blow torch is what I use. It works well. Burns that shit of the scalpel real fast. Three seconds and it's red hot.
Also to those of you on a budget, the trigger is like ten bucks, and a can of gas is lole 4. I light my grill charcoals with it 4x a week, dabs, and scalpels often. It lasts months easily.
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Mad Season
hookers and blackjack



Registered: 09/16/12
Posts: 12,666
Loc: Canada
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I got my nozzle for $4 and the tank for $3. The nozzle is like cheap af tho. No clicker or anything. Just a knob, and I use a lighter to light it.
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Mycosciopath
Stranger

Registered: 10/10/16
Posts: 13
Last seen: 7 years, 6 days
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Re: Alcohol lamp exploded [Re: Mad Season]
#23877272 - 11/29/16 05:18 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Wow thats not bad at all , I've got more than that in my little mini torch that burns my fingers off when doing transfers lol . I could find lots of uses for one any ways .
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Mycosciopath
Stranger

Registered: 10/10/16
Posts: 13
Last seen: 7 years, 6 days
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Re: Alcohol lamp exploded [Re: Hekate]
#23877282 - 11/29/16 05:27 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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It's not like i don't believe you or anything , but it's kinda like you said : it's what im used to . My permanent fear of secondary organisms would probably cause me discomfort with anything less than red hot at this point . Thats interesting though and it must be a lot less work I'm sure. Are you using agar like this ?
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no0bsawse
Yearnin' for Learnin'


Registered: 08/26/16
Posts: 104
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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I use a 9 dollar refillable torch lighter that works great, but this would be way better if I didn't need to get in and out of a glovebox
-------------------- LF: Gourmet Strains
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Spore Ninja
PsychoMycoPhile



Registered: 10/25/16
Posts: 161
Last seen: 5 years, 6 months
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Quote:
Moabfighter said: Yeah listen to the guy above me. A big ole blow torch is what I use. It works well. Burns that shit of the scalpel real fast. Three seconds and it's red hot.
Also to those of you on a budget, the trigger is like ten bucks, and a can of gas is lole 4. I light my grill charcoals with it 4x a week, dabs, and scalpels often. It lasts months easily.
That may just convince me to buy a torch. That's also about about the same price I paid for my alcohol lamp.
I like my alcohol lamp, but my transfers yesterday took forever- mostly due to the time spent flaming my blade.
I have a smaller butane torch, but that bigger torch looks like it might be more stable.
-------------------- I'm interested in Dr. Pollock's work and his (especially older) strains. Anyone have pix of his Shroommobile RV?? PSA: Protonmail offers free, encrypted email hosted in privacy loving Switzerland. Red Phone / Signal offer free encrypted phone calls and texting between users. All of these programs are available free for PC and Android or apple and are available in the respective stores or online by googling the names. Stay safe out there! The Electronic Freedom Foundation's review of text and messaging program's security is here>>> https://www.eff.org/node/82654
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JacobStorm
psychedelic cartel



Registered: 07/21/15
Posts: 1,499
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Re: Alcohol lamp exploded [Re: Yrat]
#23878313 - 11/29/16 01:33 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Yrat said: there was enough of a gap somewhere between your wick and the makeshift lid to allow the flame down inside the vessel which was filled with an alcohol vapor and oxygen mixture (from recently opening it to the atmosphere before closing it again). perfect mini-bomb waiting to blow up. you're lucky if you didn't get seriously burned and/or burn your place down.
go ahead and do yourself a favor, spring for a real one designed to work. if you try to make another homemade one, you're just asking for this to eventually happen again.
Edit: your EXTREMELY lucky to not have been hurt. Stop Drop and Roll kids.
-------------------- Rogger Rabbits Mushroom growing videos Ethnobotanical garden forum Inocuole tea TEK azur said: If you like 6th grade results, then 6th grade projects are great.
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