Darwin Awards: Countdown to Extinction by Northcutt Wendy

Author:Northcutt, Wendy [Northcutt, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: converted from ePUB by gnv64
ISBN: 9781593165222
Amazon: 1593165226
Publisher: Listen & Live Audio, Inc.
Published: 2010-10-15T05:00:00+00:00

At-Risk Survivor: Mortar Fire

Unconfirmed Personal Accoulll

Featllring acetylene gas and a can of Coke

2009 I This moment of blissfully pure and unadulterated stupidity happened

while I was managing a successful franchise exhaust shop a few years back. I

had won a contract to build custom exhausts on a series of hot rods. Due to

the exacting workmanship required, I did these jobs after hours when I wasn't

distracted by customers and staff.

Tired and a bit bored one evening, I took a break, swigged some soda, and

set the Coke can down on the pipe rack. It fell neatly into a length of exhaust

pipe. This raised some intriguing possibilities. I wondered if a small acetylene

explosion would launch a can from the pipe. As it happened, an acetylene set

was ready to hand, and I proceeded unimpeded with my experiment.

I welded a plate over one end of the tube, and bored 11 small hole in the

side, just above the plate. I dropped an empty can down the pipe and

introduced some acetylene and oxygen though the hole. Test #1 went well.

My trusty Zippo ignited the gas and there was a loud pop-but the can

launched a measly ten feet in the air.

I proceeded unimpeded with my experiment.

Being a perfectionist, I knew I could do better. The empty can was slightly

smaller than the three· inch pipe, and much could be gained by wrapping the

can to fit the pipe. Test #2 was better. The pop was louder. and the can

launched upward with enough force to dent the tin roof of the building.

At this point I realized that I could do some damage, so I moved my

enterprise out back behind the shop before proceeding with Test #3. I

carefully wrapped a full Coke can with a rag, oiled to reduce friction. I

rammed it hard down the pipe, but could only get it down about one foot. I

aimed the tube straight up (to maximize altitude) and filled the three

remaining feet with oxygen and acetylene. I must confess that I experienced a

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