Safety Comes First - 2001/01
SoMeTIMeS I find it difficult to pick subjects for my
column, because there are so many facets of our hobby that
are ripe for discussion.
Rather than pick up from where I left off in the last
column, this month I’ll dip into the E-mail and mailbag to see
what questions await.
One letter discussed things that can happen when you use
Dremel® tools.
A gentleman left his Dremel® hand tool on without
knowing it when he left his shop for the evening. He had
covered the tool with a rag, unaware that the shaft was turning
slightly.
Returning the next morning to the smell of smoke, he quickly
found the source and fixed the problem. The rag became tangled
in the shaft, and the unit jammed. It became so hot that the rag
started smoking and almost burst into flames. Definitely a
situation to avoid!
Safety Comes First
FIX WHAT You Find! Since many of you may be new to the hobby or returning to the fold after a long absence, this might be a good time to review the following list that is designed to ensure a peek at essentials before taking to the air! Save yourself grief and money by looking it over. First Flight/Overhaul/Repair Checklist • Before starting engine: 1) Control surfaces: No binding of linkages between servos, and control surfaces/throttle move in the correct direction. Throw set to proper amount.
Safety Comes First
SAFE ENGINE Test Stand: In a previous column I wrote about engine test stands that I've used to break in engines and commented that I hadn't had much luck finding one with lasting quality. The issue for me in using them throughout the years was that most were made from wood that secured engines with springs and wing nuts. Although the wood was strong and of high quality, the springs and wing nuts that held the engine in place often vibrated loose.
Safety Comes First
MERRY CHRISTMAS! It's that time of year again; time to tear shopping hints from modeling magazines and leave them posted in obvious places around the house! If you really want attention, try sticking the ad for something you want for Christmas on the bathroom mirror; trust me, your "better half" will get the message! On the top of my wish list this year is a computer flight simulator program (keeps winter rust off of the flying skills), a new Radio Glove to protect hands from frostbite, or a foam glider (grin). Okay, maybe I'll settle for a few of my favorite glow plugs, a couple of propellers, and a case or two of reliable fuel. Guess I'm just an optimist! Who knows, maybe I can count on glow plugs?
Safety Comes First
THINGS THAT GO BOOM: While scanning the local newspaper, I noted a story about a grain elevator that exploded, and several people died. One might assume that there was a gas leak, a buildup of sewer gas, or possibly stored chemicals that sparked the deadly explosion, but no; I'll bet my next airplane that the cause was airborne grain dust! How could grain dust create an explosion? When too much of any type of flammable material becomes airborne and trapped in a closed environment, it creates a concentrated mixture that needs only a source of ignition to burn-very, very rapidly (boom!). If grain dust and air mix in a closed environment (such as a grain silo), the mixture can be just as deadly as gas fumes waiting for a spark.
