Ever have one of those “Oh Shit” happenings? Almost blew myself up the other day. Working away like always, cutting a piece of steel and hear this “Pop” noise. What the heck was that? Look over to my acetylene tank which has flames all around the intake fitting to a full tank of gas! Yikes, holy moly!!! I quickly extinguished flame which totally surrounded the screw on fitting. Holy crap, lots of deep quick breathes scared shitless. What just happened? Had to get back on the horse and figure this problem out now, not tomorrow. Fired up the torch once again, no problem with run times shut off go back to cutting steel, POP! Once again flames surround the neck portion of acetylene tank, Not again! Extinguished the flames a second time with hands, luckily, I had gloves on. Okay that’s twice, time to stand down and figure out the cause. Problem was old torch handle, original from my beginnings which has no flash arresters. Obviously, the torch had fire still left in it and traveled back up the source of gas to tank neck fitting. It scared me so bad my thoughts were “maybe it’s time to put the torch aside” but imagine your most used tool for over 35years no more because you’re scared? Nope not happening fix the problem and get over it. I swapped out torch handle with a second torch I have that does have the flash arresters and completed an entire afternoon of controlled burns. Back to Operations Normal. This has never happened in over 35 years of burning copper. Wow! Live everyday as if it’s your last cuz one day it will be. ART ON!!!
