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trentbradbury
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Joined: 14 Jan 2011
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Location: Massachusetts USA
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 Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 11:28 pm Post subject: safety question |
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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?
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Les
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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It usually happens when they get damp so the best thing is to keep them in an airtight box.
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trentbradbury
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 12:01 am Post subject: |
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thank you
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belugawhaleman
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 12:05 am Post subject: |
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What actually happens? Do they burst into flames or What?
BWM
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Last edited by belugawhaleman on Thu May 17, 2012 4:09 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Dean W
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Joined: 28 Jul 2010
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Location: N. Idaho, USA
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 12:09 am Post subject: |
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| 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.
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Mr.Mamod_396
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Joined: 13 Feb 2011
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Location: California, USA
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 2:14 am Post subject: |
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I have had this happen when water from the boiler drips on them, but they don't really explode they crackle!
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Roly Williams
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Location: Lambourn, Berks.
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 7:28 am Post subject: |
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| 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 
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flywheel61
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Joined: 12 Nov 2006
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Location: "On The Road", around Australia
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 7:45 am Post subject: |
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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.
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MrDuck
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 9:38 am Post subject: |
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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 
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The Denying Dutchman
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 10:01 am Post subject: |
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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.
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trentbradbury
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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I have been contemplating a bix burner for a while now Butane works really well in my Accucraft locomotive
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Celsius 100
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Joined: 31 Aug 2009
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Location: Buckinghamshire, England
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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Alf
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Joined: 23 Aug 2008
Posts: 1503
Location: Finland
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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TheHamster
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Location: Airdrie, AB, Canada
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| 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 |
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colin
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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| 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
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