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trentbradbury

safety question

While reading some of the posts I have seen the quote "solid fuel tablets explode" can some body elaborate? what are the circumstances and can it be avoided?
Les

It usually happens when they get damp so the best thing is to keep them in an airtight box.
trentbradbury

thank you
belugawhaleman

What actually happens? Do they burst into flames or What?
BWM
Dean W

belugawhaleman wrote:
What actually happens? Do the burst into flames or What?

Nothing so dramatic.  Sometimes, if they are wet, or water drips on them when they are burning, they will spit little
bits of the tablet out of them.  They do not actually "explode", as in a dynamite or even firecracker sense of the word.
If they are inside a firebox, you won't even know about it happening.

Have you ever used hexamine tablets and boiled over a few drops of water on them?  They crack apart and spit.  Same thing.
Mr.Mamod_396

I have had this happen when water from the boiler drips on them, but they don't really explode they crackle!
Roly Williams

Dean W wrote:
belugawhaleman wrote:
What actually happens? Do the burst into flames or What?

Nothing so dramatic.  Sometimes, if they are wet, or water drips on them when they are burning, they will spit little
bits of the tablet out of them.  They do not actually "explode", as in a dynamite or even firecracker sense of the word.
If they are inside a firebox, you won't even know about it happening.

Have you ever used hexamine tablets and boiled over a few drops of water on them?  They crack apart and spit.  Same thing.


Oh yes you will! I have scorch marks on my living room carpet to prove it
flywheel61

I agree with Roly, I was quite shocked when mine broke up and sent bits of, still burning, tablets, out of the firebox and onto the surrounding furniture.

I'd rather risk a metho spill, that what happened with mine.

Just keeping them in an air-tight box, isn't good enough either, because water, from the whistle and safety valve can dribble down the side of the boiler, and into the firebox.

My darling wife was not amused, I'm now banned to the garage.

Cheers    

Chris
MrDuck

I'm with Roly, I got a small piece on my forehead and was far from pleasant so I keep my eyes away just in case
The Denying Dutchman

Never had any problems with "exploding tablets" I once had water leaking onto the Esbit tablets, they dissolved in the water and the remains refused to burn, so I threw them away.
trentbradbury

I have been contemplating a bix burner for a while now Butane works really well in my Accucraft locomotive
Celsius 100

trentbradbury wrote:
I have been contemplating a bix burner for a while now Butane works really well in my Accucraft locomotive


Go for it, you will be delighted. I used to use solid fuel until I saw the light and now gas fire all my engines.
Alf

When I was using some old square shaped Mamod solid fuel tablets, they exploded quite dramatically and filled the room with some nasty odour that made my fire alarm scream. Never had any troubles with Esbit though.
TheHamster

The Denying Dutchman wrote:
Never had any problems with "exploding tablets" I once had water leaking onto the Esbit tablets, they dissolved in the water and the remains refused to burn, so I threw them away.


Same here! Ive never had the ones i use explode!

Josh
colin

Roly Williams wrote:
Dean W wrote:
belugawhaleman wrote:
What actually happens? Do the burst into flames or What?

Nothing so dramatic.  Sometimes, if they are wet, or water drips on them when they are burning, they will spit little
bits of the tablet out of them.  They do not actually "explode", as in a dynamite or even firecracker sense of the word.
If they are inside a firebox, you won't even know about it happening.

Have you ever used hexamine tablets and boiled over a few drops of water on them?  They crack apart and spit.  Same thing.


Oh yes you will! I have scorch marks on my living room carpet to prove it


I agree with Roly,here is a photo of the aftermath of
a fuel tablet explosion.The engine is just to the right
out of picture


scorpion2nz

The first time i used (mamod) some years ago  it was on the kitchen table and it exploded and set the tablecloth alight .
I was not very popular (is being very polite)
now I try to avoid them
Meths and gas are the only real alternatives for fired ones
and leccy for the others
Roly Williams

This one was fired by Esbit

Klaus Lutz

The trick is to keep it dry. I use freezer bags with a reclosable closure.

If you want to be very cautious you can give a spoonfull of salt into the freezer bag to absorb moisture.

Klaus
trentbradbury

Funny Roly...By the way my wifes dog chewed up the book you wrote..
                   
Casey Jones Snr

Celsius 100 wrote:
trentbradbury wrote:
I have been contemplating a bix burner for a while now Butane works really well in my Accucraft locomotive


Go for it, you will be delighted. I used to use solid fuel until I saw the light and now gas fire all my engines.


I couldn't agree more. Gas firing is the way to go.
Roly Williams

Klaus Lutz wrote:
The trick is to keep it dry. I use freezer bags with a reclosable closure.

If you want to be very cautious you can give a spoonfull of salt into the freezer bag to absorb moisture.

Klaus

Klaus! Good to see you back

Silica Gel is better than salt.
Roly Williams

trentbradbury wrote:
Funny Roly...By the way my wifes dog chewed up the book you wrote..
                   

Shame! Is it salvagable or do you want a replacement?
The Denying Dutchman

scorpion2nz wrote:
The first time i used (mamod) some years ago  it was on the kitchen table and it exploded and set the tablecloth alight .
I was not very popular (is being very polite)
now I try to avoid them
Meths and gas are the only real alternatives for fired ones
and leccy for the others


And Mamod discarded their meths burners because solid fuel was safer!

Strange that Mamod tablets seem to explode and Esbit tablets don't. I wonder what ingredients Mamod puts in to them.
Roly Williams

The Denying Dutchman wrote:
scorpion2nz wrote:
The first time i used (mamod) some years ago  it was on the kitchen table and it exploded and set the tablecloth alight .
I was not very popular (is being very polite)
now I try to avoid them
Meths and gas are the only real alternatives for fired ones
and leccy for the others


And Mamod discarded their meths burners because solid fuel was safer!

Strange that Mamod tablets seem to explode and Esbit tablets don't. I wonder what ingredients Mamod puts in to them.


Mamod ones are wax coated. It probably helps keep them dry during storage but may even make things worse if they get wet in use.
shaygetz

Yeah...I was using Esbit in my Wilesco out in the yard just the other day...



...won't hafta cut the grass for awhile...



...just sayin'....
TheHamster

MrMamod

shaygetz wrote:
Yeah...I was using Esbit in my Wilesco out in the yard just the other day...



...won't hafta cut the grass for awhile...



...just sayin'....



Yeh saves mowing the lawn for a while        Thumbs up!
trentbradbury

The reason for the question was... I tried firing my mm2 for the first time (after running it on air) The crank pin sheared and I needed t dump the tray. I had an old glass jar (note to self get a #$%ing tin can) I dumped the esbit into the jar which I had previously dumped the remains of the boiler from my d3. I also managed to tip the tray and one of the flaming esbit tablets went through the hole in the bottom of the mm2 and landed flaming on the kitchen table. I have Multiple Sclerosis and my wife had just helped with my socks and shoes and was standing there when the flaming tablet landed on the kitchen table and the flaming esbit tablet in the jar blew up. needless to say she was totally impressed. her comment was maybe you need another hobby. all is well yesterday she bought me another steam engine for my birthday.
Trent
shaygetz

trentbradbury wrote:
...one of the flaming esbit tablets went through the hole in the bottom of the mm2 and landed flaming on the kitchen table...


I have a 12" x 12" piece of ceramic tile mounted with silicon caulk to a lazy Susan turntable...the kind you use to put spices in a cabinet.  It gives a fire proof catch area and helps me watch an engine from all angles without touching it...maybe that would help you...

xlchainsaw

i think its  to do with the age of the tablets....fresh tablets seem to be okay.......maybe over time there is a chemical reaction with the brew that makes them explode....perhaps a "useby" date should be printed on the box??? all the old tablets that i "inherited" with engine purchases all exploded ....both mamod and esbit......i couldnt get fresh tablets to explode???
trentbradbury

Mine were freshmI wonder if they contain magnesium, it burns hot and  is a real light show when extinguished with water
Roly Williams

xlchainsaw wrote:
i think its  to do with the age of the tablets....fresh tablets seem to be okay.......maybe over time there is a chemical reaction with the brew that makes them explode....perhaps a "useby" date should be printed on the box??? all the old tablets that i "inherited" with engine purchases all exploded ....both mamod and esbit......i couldnt get fresh tablets to explode???


They are hygroscopic so they absorb water from the atmosphere over time. A "use by" date might help but it depends on how and where they are stored. A "manufactured" date might be more useful.
MrDuck

They swell if left where moist

I've only had 1 explode on me but it was spectacular. In the firebox of my D36. It went with a bang like a car backfiring
trentbradbury

The Fleischmann engine thats on its way has a couple of boxes of fuel tablets that are very old . I will have to put a couple in a tin can light them and see what happens....outside
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