5 replies to this topic

[Strobe]

I'm just getting started in pyrotechnics and I'm going through the safety gear I'll need. Below is my list. Can anyone tell me know if I am on the right track.

- Respirator
I'm looking at this one but wanted to know if it would be adequate:

http://www.homedepot...S....0&MID=9876

-Gloves
If have something similar to these, which came with a set of cast iron pots. I'm not clear how easy they will be to use as they are kind of thick.

http://cgi.ebay.com/...1QQcmdZViewItem

-Glasses
I have a cheap pair like these

http://cgi.ebay.com/...1QQcmdZViewItem

Are those ok or should I be looking for a full face type?

I have a small wood table to work on in my shed and I have wrist grounding strap, but I'm not real clear what to connnect that to. Should a run it to an iron bar in the ground or something?


Anything else I should be thinking about?

Strobe

[MMMMMM Pyro]

Hi,
You're defiantely on the right lines; the gloves will be excellent for ramming rockets etc. but probably less useful for activities needing more dexterity.
The goggles aren't really enough in my opinion, just think about what should happen if something accidentally ignited while you were working on it... personally I use the full face shield from Inoxia.
As for anything else you may need, a quality set of scales accurate to 0.1g. is necessary.

I hope that I have been of some help!

Regards,

Mike

[karlfoxman]

Also a lab jacket is a good item to own, when working with those nasty chemicals like Barium nitrate and potassium dicromate. Latex gloves, dust protection and eye protection being a must for working with the chemicals we use.

[Strobe]

Thanks for the info. I have seen some full face shields at the local hardware store that are not too expensive, I'll invest in one of those as well.

In terms of a scale. I have a an electronic scale that is acurrate to .01 grams or grains. It was purchased for reloading ammunition. Should I have any concerns about this as a sparc hazard? Its powered by one of those sqaure 9 volt batteries.

Strobe

[BrightStar]

In terms of a scale. I have a an electronic scale that is acurrate to .01 grams or grains. It was purchased for reloading ammunition. Should I have any concerns about this as a sparc hazard? Its powered by one of those sqaure 9 volt batteries.

The scale should be perfectly safe as long as you avoid hitting it hard with ferrous metal You'll find that spilling oxidisers or solvents on it will shorten its life though.

I'm completely obsessive about eye protection and carry lightweight safety specs with me at all times, much to the amusement of friends. This is probably just a legacy of my science background, but it does give you some reassurance when mixing and lighting the small stuff...

Edited by BrightStar, 13 February 2007 - 01:46 PM.

[Andrew]

Also a lab jacket is a good item to own,

Mine has loads of yellow and black staines (from Nitric and Sulphuric acid respectively), and a few holes; from my collage days. And it does not fit anymore; I become a hunchback if I try and put it on.

My scale is a chain drive balance, it has a resolution of 5mg on the dial and 1mg on a needle plate. It took ages (about a year and a half of constant use) to become skilled enough to be able to load it properly and not induce a long lived pendulem moment. Although an accuracy of 10mg is easily achievable by lay hands. A good quality digital balance is, although expensive, a very useful bit of kit; inaccurate scales => crap compositions.

You can get kevlar gloves that afford good dexterity and unparalleled fire/heat/sharps protection for about a fiver. Those and a pair of nitrile gloves over the top, and your already a hundred times more safe than bare hands; as some threads on this forum graphically portray.

On a respirator note, don't bother with anything less that P3 protection. Fitted silicone masks (not the full face ones, they are a bit overkill) represent the best protection, although there is a big trade off with price. Good investment though!

Also high on the to do list of safety, is learn good "lab practice". Learn and train your lab skills, like, find the least toxic and most fluffy stuff you can, and practice transfereing it from pot to scale to pot for example, big emphesis on trying not to raise a dust. Making sure you have everything you will need and extras laid out neatly within easy reach, with pleanty of clear space before you start is essental for not cocking it up. If you exercised perfect lab practice you would never need PPE. But do have proper PPE as it is essential; because no one is perfect. But do not fall into the trap of "well I've got the gear, I can just be lax with good practices".