wierd science

[SwampG8r]

discovered this by accident today

what happens when you drop a 9 volt battery in the trash on top of brillo pads?

somehow it causes ignition
drama then ensues
and from that evolves comedy
i love the restaurant business

[struggle4progress]

1. Well, I remember starting fires experimentally with electricity as a kid

but honestly -- a nine volt battery and some brillo pads?

I wouldn't think you could get enough power out of those little nine volt cells to start a fire

I mean, it's true you can get steel wool to burn, but it sure doesn't burn very well without some help, and I wouldn't expect the soap on brillo pads to help. I wouldn't expect any dampness on brillo pads to help either. And if there's anything I remember about brillo pads, it's that mine always got rusty fast -- and rust doesn't burn either. I suppose greasy brillo pads might burn, if you fired them up, but I'd expect grease to insulate the pads electrically

Was it really soap-impregnated brillo pads or was it just raw steel wool? And exactly what were the pads used for? I might believe that steel wool used (say) to refinish wood with something like boiled linseed oil or some other finishing oils might be a spontaneous combustion hazard

<on edit:> Well, apparently I'm wrong: lot's of people say they can start fires with steel wool and a little nine volt

[SwampG8r]

4. steel wool

[Roon]

2. we used to take non-dairy creamer packets

and sprinkle the powder over an open flame and the whole cloud would engulf in flames creating a HUGE fireball. I did this for years working here and there at various restaurants when I was a kid and people were always impressed.....UNTIL........


Late one night I was working in the food court of a mall closing and cleaning it for the night. We were wrapping it up and I found a creamer packet. So I told a fellow worker to "check this out" and made the fireball......right underneath the heat sensor for the fire alarm! WEEEEEE WEEEEEE!! The sensor's red light was flashing so everyone knew which one was activated. I freaked out, we both just went about our business and did our best to ignore the flashing red light .(the siren sound stopped after about a minute).

Engineering was walking around,checking the system,puzzled about what triggered the alarm. We just said "hey" and kept working.It get's worse.....a few minutes later a fire engine pulled up to the mall doors with their lights flashing. The fireman located the sensor and checked out the area. I thought i was toast! Then one of the fireman approached me and asked if one of us lit a cigarette over there (flashing sensor)...I lied and said, "I was!"..the fireman just smiled and chuckled and they all left.

I about DIED of embarrassment that night.I thought I was going to get in a lot of trouble.

Needless to say, that was the last time I fired up a non-dairy creamer packet.

[baldguy]

3. And to think I worried about getting caught for doing whippets

[Roon]

7. My buddy made a killing selling whippets on shakedown st, eom

[pokerfan]

5. wilderness survival 101

A small battery and fine steel wool can be used to start a fire. Simply bridge the battery terminals with the steel wool and a spark will instantly form in the steel wool.

http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/battery/index.html

A nine volt battery is great - since it have a reasonable high voltage - and the terminals are close together. You can ignite steel wool with a 2-cell flashlight. Just take the "end" off of the flashlight and brush the steel wool against the contacts.

[struggle4progress]

6. I just tested my old "burning steel wool" memories with 0000

My continuing impression is, yeah, steel wool burns but it doesn't burn very well unless something else is in the mix

To ignite 0000 with matches and get more than a few creeping sparks that go out fast, it's necessary to pull the wool apart carefully in advance

With proper prior pull-apart, I could indeed ignite it with a 9-volt but I regarded the fire as unimpressive

This will not be high on my wilderness-survival list. Carrying matches and tinder, and keeping both dry, is a smarter trick. And frankly, I think on a sunny day I'd have better luck starting a good fire with a hand-lens

[Dr Morbius]

8. Weird spelling, I think.

I am sorry for your adventure, though. One hopes no one was hurt and no major damage done?

I suspect the smoke given off was quite unpleasant!

[marzipanni]

9. Was the 9 volt battery removed from the smoke detector? n/t

:o

[SwampG8r]

10. how did you know?

i am flabbergasted you got that

[LawnKorn]

11. Down at the school yard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeTRAjX8S7c