Caution when Browning your parts.

[LAGS]

This weekend I was Browning a TC Renagade.
I made a mistake and overheated one of the parts.
When I applied the Browning Solution to the metal , the cotton ball held in Hemostats caught fire.
That wasn't too bad.
But sparks flew off and hit the cotton balls that I had used yesterday.
They were dried out , and they flashed almost like Gun Cotton.
I was able to stamp out the small fire without damaging anything.
But it was a big surprise.
The bottle does say the solution is Flammable.
But The surprise came both from the hot metal ignighting the applicator.
And even more of a surprise that the dried out cotton balls ignighted just from spark.
Be careful and don't overheat material.
Especially small parts by accident , and keep your bench clear of other flamable material.
Especially things like Acetone that you use for De Greasing your parts.
One other note,
The fire on the wet cotton ball was so hot that it burned off on of the tips on that pair of Hemostats.

[3leggedturtle]

That sucked! I lit cotton balls with just the spark from a dead bic lighter. Lots of fire bugs use cotton balls plain, with vaseline or dipped in wax to get a fire going in cold, wet ir other difficult conditions. Glad your OK and got it out with minimal damage. Todd/3leg

Lots of videos on youtube about cotton balls for starting fires if you get bored...

[Theditchman]

I was coming for lunch next week....should I wear fire proof clothing?...lol

[LAGS]

It is a cold lunch.
So you are good.

[Gtek]

When is the last time you moved that fast, ops check good! I sometimes heat things up and then just grab them every now and then, can 58 3/4's claim senior moment?

[northmn]

There are very good browning solutions that do not require heating.

DEP

[nicholst55]

A fire extinguisher should figure prominently in your shop area.

[LAGS]

A Fire Extinguisher is very important , and I have several around the shop.
But My Point , Was to let others know that a fire can errupt by putting chemicals on Heated Metal.
There does not need a Flame to be present at the time of ignition.
Just wanted to let others know that the chemical I was using CAN and will ignighted Without A Flame.
Something we all would not think of.
And left over material , like the dryed out Chemical Soaked cotton balls can still be a Hazzard.

[waksupi]

Try reading the instructions, if all else fails. You were WAY too hot.

[LAGS]

I agree,
The part was Way To Hot.
And that was because it was the Wedge Pin.
Held in Pliers which act as a heat sink.
To heat it up with a Flame,
To bring the shank up to Temperature and not to have it Cool Down right away it got overheated.
That allowed the edges of the Head , Which are much Thinner to overheat quickly and almost Turn Red.
That is the part that ignighted the cotton ball.
After any accident , I generally run thru and evaluate what went wrong , so it will not ever happen again.
Just 30 years if construction Management experience and dealing with OSHA, but that is a good thing.
But if I was to write out a 20 Page OSHA accident report.
I would put in the recommendation that.
If Flame Heating Small Parts.
Place the part on a piece of steel.
Flame heat the part slowly.
That way an even temperature can be aceived and maintained , without creating dangerous Hot Spots

[waksupi]

I agree,
The part was Way To Hot.
And that was because it was the Wedge Pin.
Held in Pliers which act as a heat sink.
To heat it up with a Flame,
To bring the shank up to Temperature and not to have it Cool Down right away it got overheated.
That allowed the edges of the Head , Which are much Thinner to overheat quickly and almost Turn Red.
That is the part that ignighted the cotton ball.
After any accident , I generally run thru and evaluate what went wrong , so it will not ever happen again.
Just 30 years if construction Management experience and dealing with OSHA, but that is a good thing.
But if I was to write out a 20 Page OSHA accident report.
I would put in the recommendation that.
If Flame Heating Small Parts.
Place the part on a piece of steel.
Flame heat the part slowly.
That way an even temperature can be aceived and maintained , without creating dangerous Hot Spots

With small parts, just drop them in the solution if you are using Plum Brown.

[mazo kid]

I hold small parts with a piece of small wire, heat gently and dunk or swab. Same with fire-bluing small parts.

[LAGS]

The major caution was to be aware of cotton balls or cotton patches that have the acid on them and dry out.
I could not believe how they reacted to minor sparks.
I have made Gun Cotton for a Cannon I once had.
These dried cotton balls with the acid on them , acted almost as powerfull