Posted: 8/30/2007 8:17:10 AM EDT
|
I got a question for any of you explosives guys out there. I was watching the Discovery Channel the other day and they were showing a large cast shot being done in a mining operation. They used a small hand held initiator using a shock tube to set off the main charge. When the guy fired the shock tube, I could swear that he was loosely holding it in his other hand as the shock wave went down it towards the mine. Wouldn't that hurt or did I just imagine what I saw? Is the shock small enough not to hurt you if you do that? Thanks Ed |
|
Yes, shock tube is very lightly coated with a tiny bit of explosive and it will produce a small bit of flash when set off. It isn't enough to do much damage as the products of that explosive are solids, very little gas is produced. Not that I would want to firmly hold shock tube as it is being set off. But it is no where near as destructive as regular det cord. |
So you're saying that it has enough explosive shock traveling down it to set off a blasting cap, but you can still old the tube in your hand while the shock wave goes through it without hurting yourself? |
It won't set off a regular non-electric cap. While you can be in contact with the tube when it goes off, it isn't recommended. |
Like the .pdf says, it has minimal deformation to the tube, so it probably safe to set off while holding. Though it will probably feel pretty weird. |