A graphic safety reminder

[tapwater]

  First, let me say that I've been shooting BP cannons for over 25 years with a perfect record
for safety, except for one carriage failure.
  For about the same time, I've been involved in large, display sized pyrotechnics. I've been
well schooled and trained by a master pyro. Well, I made a mistake...let my mind wander for
a minute. I was 6-8 feet away when the device exploded. These pics are of my right hand
and my calf. I ask that all of you look down at your hands and ponder how much you value
them. Also, my right eardrum had a 7mm hole in it....virtually gone.
  I post these pics as a reminder of what can go wrong if you don't pay attention to every detail,
every time. Be safe out there.
......To the mods: If you find this inappropriate or misplaced, my apologies......

[gulfcoastblackpowder]

That sucks, but how did it happen?  What were you shooting, what was the load, did you have early ignition, etc.?  Details are what makes a note of caution useful.

[Blaster]

tapwater, how long ago did this happen
And, thanks for the "gentle" reminder for ALL of us to pay attention to what we are doing.

[Cannoneer]

tapwater,
 I can only speak for myself, and I'd like to say that I really appreciate you posting these photos. There is nothing that can teach a lesson as good as witnessing the evidence of a real life experience. These photos will serve to make me try and follow (and be all the more alert and aware of) every possible safety rule, procedure, lesson and good habit I have been taught over the years, when handling any firearms, scale model artillery, or pyrotechnics.
 
Did this accident occur recently? If it did, I wish you as speedy and complete a recovery as is possible.

[tapwater]

   This happened on 12/21/07. I spent my fifty second birthday and Christmas in the hospital. I had been working on an "off the books" salute mix. I'd increased the oxidizer and decreased the various fuels, in an effort to cut costs. It did not perform well at all, so I had about a half pound to dispose of.
   The mix was put in a pan, (and here's where the mental lapse came in). Since it was so slow burning, instead of fusing it, I tossed a kitchen match at it, expecting it to flame up and be gone. I remember the blast wave hitting me and waking up on the ground.
   My whole point is that I knew better. Don't deviate from what you have learned. My "bad" mix should have been spread in the garden or fused to burn off. The same thing can happen if you deviate from cannon firing procedures. Do your mental checklist for every shot, just the same as a pilot does his checklist before flying.  
    

[gulfcoastblackpowder]

Thank you for the details.  We all need to be constantly aware that we're playing with stuff that was originally intended to kill/maim.  We also all need to be extremely cautious of cutting corners, or being lulled into complacency by our past experience.  The minute you stop being aware that you're "playing with fire," you need to cease fire.

[Double D]

This mod says appropiate, what say you Tim?

Any reminder about safety is good, this is even better.

[seacoastartillery]

     Thanks for posting, Tapwater.  We ALL need reminders on a regular basis that we are dealing with serious stuff here.  The way you related your experience to firing artillery is particularly well done:

    The same thing can happen if you deviate from cannon firing procedures. Do your mental checklist for every shot, just the same as a pilot does his checklist before flying.  

     We agree 100% and be sure to give careful consideration to those wandering critters downrange as well.  We always have to remember that a slug from one of our 1" cannons can go 3,500 yards if it misses the backstop at 1,200 yards, a 60 foot high hill.  Mike and I both scan the down range area before we shoot the next projectile.  For a graphic demo of the procedure we use see the 4th of July Movie below.

                                        http://www.fototime.com/DDE6ADAE85335AD/conv.wmv


     On the first shot Mike had already finished his scan of the danger zone and was waiting for me to finish mine, then get the OK to fire.
Thank you again Tapwater, a very, very important posting your's is.

Mike and Tracy

         

[BoomLover]

When I was in High School, my friends and I used to go to the Army Surplus store and buy ammo, they had a barrel of it, for $.03 a piece. We used to pull the projectiles out, pour out the powder, and make our own "fireworks". One time,one didn't go off, so, one of my friends went over to take a look at the fuse. Yep, it went off...he lost most of the sight in one eye, and to this day, he still has bits of unburned powder and shrapnel fragments in his face. A 40 plus year reminder, safety first! Always! BoomLover

[tapwater]

   Thank you all for the kind words. There isn't a day that goes by without my replaying that foolish accident. The fragments of the pan and gravel could just have easily blinded me or hit an artery. I'm glad that you've taken my post as I intended.....a friendly reminder to not become complacent.
   Though not always pretty, a picture can indeed be worth a thousand words.
................Be safe out there...............tap

[subdjoe]

Thank you for providing you literally painful reminder that there is no such thing as "too safe" in this hobby/sport/lunacy.  It is kind of amazing that that small amount of containment could make such a difference. 
 

[Victor3]

 Tapwater,

 I'm sorry that happened to you. Glad you're alive to relate the story.

 This might be a good time to repost this, since I think we have some new members here making their own cannons using lathes...

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,140073.msg1098552816.html#msg1098552816

 Like you, I found something out about a common salute compound by accident once - It will simply 'poof' when ignited in small quantities in open air, but explode if in a pile over (IIRC) ~100 grams. If you're close when it goes off, the shock wave alone can kill you.

 Sorry if the above is a bit off-topic (and I'll say no more about it) but it's a common and often fatal mistake that could have killed me personally. I know some cannon guys also like to experiment with pyro stuff. Not me anymore.

[centermass]

Get well soon!!!!!!!