Welding supply truck explodes

[tomcarman]

Maybe more off topic but a safety reminder for those with oxy/acetylene tanks. Yesterday at Seattle on Interstate 5 this truck carrying oxygen/acetylene tanks suffered some sort of catastrophic failure. I'm sure we've all seen these trucks carrying bottles. If you've ever wondered what would happen if your tanks exploded here's your answer. Note the one pinwheeling down the lane at the end. The driver escaped and no one was injured. Sorry about the ad at the beginning.

https://www.q13fox.com/video/1098560

[woodiewagon46]

Wow!!!!

[Pete]

Those tanks burning and exploding in a fireball are acetylene tanks. They are partially filled with acetone, a very fiery substance. The acetylene is dissolved in the acetone to stabilize it for use and transport. It is unstable in pure gas form.
Oxygen tanks will blow up or become torpedos if the neck is burned or knocked off but they do not burn. They will sure add to an existing fire though....lol

[cas3]

I had a fire in my shop in 2010...bad thing. All those bottles have, if you look close, a small lead plug about the size of a pencil in the top near the valve. The idea is the lead will melt and release the gas instead of cooking it to the point of explosion. The 3 bottles in the fire, Oxygen, Acetylene, and co2/Argon did not explode

[tomcarman]

For sure a safety reminder. When we were kids I remember getting stern warnings from Dad to stay away from the tanks. I can easily imagine numerous scenarios where for whatever reason the tanks aren't secured and they somehow get toppled and the gauges snap or crack and begin leaking as a spark ignites it all. That one tank pinwheeling at the end of the clip shows it all. Can't imagine the damage that would do inside a garage attached to a house or someone's shop.

[ssffnomad]

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Recently retired. Always, Always on my mind for 25 years on the job.
Always did my best to educate the new hires of all potential hazards.
The kids that actually really cared got got 1 on 1 with them .
Others more concerned with the electronic device in their hand, not so much.
Stretch

[Pech33]

That’s one way to mess up the commute. I wonder if it was the drivers fault or some kid that loaded the truck? Details are sketchy. It doesn’t “just happen”!

[Frank Miller]

Looks like truck caught fire and tey were able to clear the road for the explosion.

[Bored&Stroked]

I have a big Argon bottle in the shop for my TIG welder (sits in the corner) - it has a big chain around it that ensures it stays upright. Bad things happen when the top of one of these suckers is knocked off!

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

I have a big Oxy bottle in the shop for my TIG welder (sits in the corner) - it has a big chain around it that ensures it stays upright. Bad things happen when the top of one of these suckers is knocked off!

What do you weld with oxy,with a tig welder?


R

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by Ronnie

What do you weld with oxy,with a tig welder?


R

Whups . . . I should have said Argon! LOL

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Whups . . . I should have said Argon! LOL

Yup that works no problem

R

[tubman]

I thought Argon was use for TIG precisely because it is inert. I suppose it could turn into an uncontrolled missle if the valve got broken off somehow.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by tubman

I thought Argon was use for TIG precisely because it is inert. I suppose it could turn into an uncontrolled missle if the valve got broken off somehow.

Argon and helium are the most used inert gasses for welding.

Helium requires a higher arc voltage and amperage in order to become conductive.
Used with DCEN (direct current electrode negative) gives a stable arc and high welding speed.

Argon is preferred for Aluminium. Used with AC gives a good cleaning action. Mixture of Argon and Helium used with AC gives less stable arc than argon, but good cleaning action, higher speed and greater penetration.

Helium is used for overhead TIG welding quite often because it is lighter than argon so it stays around the weld area better.

If you want to see what an oxygen bottle with the neck knocked off will do, look up an old Mythbusters show where they did that precise test on a brick wall.

[Bored&Stroked]

Check out this video - quality is bad, but the result is spectacular! LOL

https://youtu.be/hu62940nMmc