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well just don't tell the wife what you did to the wedding ring she bought you. You might get burned worse
Worst burn you've ever had
- Thread starter OVERKILL
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I notice when working on a car I usually give wide berth to the battery area of a car. No tools, no rags, no fluids, no leaning. If someone wants to watch, they seem to hover around the battery. I have to warn them that's the part of the car that looks harmless but can go bad extremely fast.
Worst heat burn? Dismounting as a passenger from a single-wall exhaust Kawasaki sport bike. I put my right foot down, then pivoted, and could not do anything until I finished my dismount. I still have that burn mark on my right calf, about the size of a small pancake.
Worst heat burn? Dismounting as a passenger from a single-wall exhaust Kawasaki sport bike. I put my right foot down, then pivoted, and could not do anything until I finished my dismount. I still have that burn mark on my right calf, about the size of a small pancake.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
ouch. Batteries can put out a ton of current in a short... 1000A into 0.02 Ohm is still 20kW of I^2R resistive heating for a very short amount of time. The heat capacity of a gold/copper mix is around 0.15J/g_0C. A ring is what 5g? Of course there was mass in the wrench and all as well to dissipate, but over say, 3 seconds, youre talking 60kJ into 5g. Even with the body and tools considered in, which I cant easily calculate, there is a LOT of energy dissipated through that ring!
So your ring notionally got to be hotter than you can imagine!
Can you characterize the burn as degrees? 1,2,3? Is there blistering? Charred flesh? I agree that given the combination of super hot, metals and electricity, nerve damage and similar things may be a consideration. Generally it takes around 48V for electricity to overcome the natural skin dielectric, but the fact that you claim possible electrocution means Id be real careful, because you may have burned the skin, electrocuted through the blood conductivity, and then charred the flesh back closed.
Talk about thoughtful post
I don't think I can properly categorize it, but I'll describe it as best I can:
- There is a blister about 1/2" wide that runs around my finger (and I can see now, has extended behind the ring)
- There is a yellowed (not quite charred) spot on the bottom of my finger behind where the "weld" happened.
- My finger "feels" normal, I can move it, I have sensation in it...etc.
I kept it on ice for about 30 minutes initially, to keep the swelling down (still couldn't get the ring off though) before coating and covering it.
ouch. Batteries can put out a ton of current in a short... 1000A into 0.02 Ohm is still 20kW of I^2R resistive heating for a very short amount of time. The heat capacity of a gold/copper mix is around 0.15J/g_0C. A ring is what 5g? Of course there was mass in the wrench and all as well to dissipate, but over say, 3 seconds, youre talking 60kJ into 5g. Even with the body and tools considered in, which I cant easily calculate, there is a LOT of energy dissipated through that ring!
So your ring notionally got to be hotter than you can imagine!
Can you characterize the burn as degrees? 1,2,3? Is there blistering? Charred flesh? I agree that given the combination of super hot, metals and electricity, nerve damage and similar things may be a consideration. Generally it takes around 48V for electricity to overcome the natural skin dielectric, but the fact that you claim possible electrocution means Id be real careful, because you may have burned the skin, electrocuted through the blood conductivity, and then charred the flesh back closed.
Talk about thoughtful post
I don't think I can properly categorize it, but I'll describe it as best I can:
- There is a blister about 1/2" wide that runs around my finger (and I can see now, has extended behind the ring)
- There is a yellowed (not quite charred) spot on the bottom of my finger behind where the "weld" happened.
- My finger "feels" normal, I can move it, I have sensation in it...etc.
I kept it on ice for about 30 minutes initially, to keep the swelling down (still couldn't get the ring off though) before coating and covering it.
I wouldn't mess around with a finger injury that's as bad as you described. Get it looked at and have the ring cut off by a doctor. I've known two people who had similar injuries and wound up having to get their fingers amputated because they thought the swelling and infection would resolve itself.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: kb01
I wouldn't mess around with a finger injury that's as bad as you described. Get it looked at and have the ring cut off by a doctor. I've known two people who had similar injuries and wound up having to get their fingers amputated because they thought the swelling and infection would resolve itself.
Removed the gauze to inspect this AM and that's what I ended up doing. It was swollen and is a bit numb on top and near the burn area (even after the ring was removed). Sensation further down the finger is fine.
Doctor wants me to keep an eye on it and have it reassessed by my family doctor later in the week.
Total time at the ER was around an hour, from arrival, wait, check-in and treatment. The lady using the ring cutter was extremely nice. She couldn't bend the ring (it is thick) so I suggest another cut 180 degrees from the first. She obliged and the ring is in two pieces.
Interesting note: there are signs of the ring having been melted by the current (the 2nd cut was near one of the contact points) that became visible when I was able to see the cross-section. She got REALLY hot (as per JHZR2's post).
Some pics of the burn:
I wouldn't mess around with a finger injury that's as bad as you described. Get it looked at and have the ring cut off by a doctor. I've known two people who had similar injuries and wound up having to get their fingers amputated because they thought the swelling and infection would resolve itself.
Removed the gauze to inspect this AM and that's what I ended up doing. It was swollen and is a bit numb on top and near the burn area (even after the ring was removed). Sensation further down the finger is fine.
Doctor wants me to keep an eye on it and have it reassessed by my family doctor later in the week.
Total time at the ER was around an hour, from arrival, wait, check-in and treatment. The lady using the ring cutter was extremely nice. She couldn't bend the ring (it is thick) so I suggest another cut 180 degrees from the first. She obliged and the ring is in two pieces.
Interesting note: there are signs of the ring having been melted by the current (the 2nd cut was near one of the contact points) that became visible when I was able to see the cross-section. She got REALLY hot (as per JHZR2's post).
Some pics of the burn:
Agreed, get it looked at. Better to cut the ring off to get it looked at than to ignore it and cut the finger off. When I wore a ring I made sure I took it off when working on the car for that reason.
Worst burn I had was from a soldering iron. Before I invested in a stand for it, I would just set it on the edge of the workbench. One day I rolled back in my chair, caught the cord, and it fell business end down between my index and middle finger. Ever seen your skin turn chalk white and smell like burnt bacon? They healed and the scars eventually faded, but for weeks it hurt to hold a pencil because my knuckles swelled up so bad.
Worst burn I had was from a soldering iron. Before I invested in a stand for it, I would just set it on the edge of the workbench. One day I rolled back in my chair, caught the cord, and it fell business end down between my index and middle finger. Ever seen your skin turn chalk white and smell like burnt bacon? They healed and the scars eventually faded, but for weeks it hurt to hold a pencil because my knuckles swelled up so bad.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Interesting note: there are signs of the ring having been melted by the current (the 2nd cut was near one of the contact points) that became visible when I was able to see the cross-section. She got REALLY hot (as per JHZR2's post).
Some pics of the burn:
Not that "gore" isnt interesting (sorry to see the burn though, looks nasty), but I wanna see the ring!
BTW, what model battery? If we know the impedance then we know the short circuit current... (thus why I demand the HF chinese battery tester
).
Interesting note: there are signs of the ring having been melted by the current (the 2nd cut was near one of the contact points) that became visible when I was able to see the cross-section. She got REALLY hot (as per JHZR2's post).
Some pics of the burn:
Not that "gore" isnt interesting (sorry to see the burn though, looks nasty), but I wanna see the ring!
BTW, what model battery? If we know the impedance then we know the short circuit current... (thus why I demand the HF chinese battery tester
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Interesting note: there are signs of the ring having been melted by the current (the 2nd cut was near one of the contact points) that became visible when I was able to see the cross-section. She got REALLY hot (as per JHZR2's post).
Some pics of the burn:
Not that "gore" isnt interesting (sorry to see the burn though, looks nasty), but I wanna see the ring!
BTW, what model battery? If we know the impedance then we know the short circuit current... (thus why I demand the HF chinese battery tester
).
Battery was a 10 month old 750CCA Exide marine battery.
Sorry in advance for the quality, I don't have a tripod and holding the camera still with one hand isn't as easy as I thought it would be.
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Interesting note: there are signs of the ring having been melted by the current (the 2nd cut was near one of the contact points) that became visible when I was able to see the cross-section. She got REALLY hot (as per JHZR2's post).
Some pics of the burn:
Not that "gore" isnt interesting (sorry to see the burn though, looks nasty), but I wanna see the ring!
BTW, what model battery? If we know the impedance then we know the short circuit current... (thus why I demand the HF chinese battery tester
Battery was a 10 month old 750CCA Exide marine battery.
Sorry in advance for the quality, I don't have a tripod and holding the camera still with one hand isn't as easy as I thought it would be.
Wow! I am sorry for your injury.
I no longer wear any jewelry. As an aircraft mechanic, I can't afford the risk.
I sincerely hope you have a speedy recovery. Silver Sulfadiazine is excellent for burns.
I no longer wear any jewelry. As an aircraft mechanic, I can't afford the risk.
I sincerely hope you have a speedy recovery. Silver Sulfadiazine is excellent for burns.
A long time ago when I took a welding class, the instructor told us never to wear jewelry of any sort. He recalled a guy that wore a metal necklace and put the welding cord over his shoulder. The current in the welding cord induced current in the necklace.....
OW! That's why I don't wear rings or watches. I have too many injuries as it is. Fortunately, Wife understands.
My worst burn was from a hot YZ125 exhaust pipe. We were hill climbing a tough hill when the bike and I parted company. It fell back on top of me and the pipe was laying on my wrist. I had to push off against the pipe to get the bike off of me. Still had a long way to go out and back, and I was pretty much wiped out by the end of that ride. Buddies were not real concerned.
My worst burn was from a hot YZ125 exhaust pipe. We were hill climbing a tough hill when the bike and I parted company. It fell back on top of me and the pipe was laying on my wrist. I had to push off against the pipe to get the bike off of me. Still had a long way to go out and back, and I was pretty much wiped out by the end of that ride. Buddies were not real concerned.
Tightening up the hot terminal on a 100AMP, -48VDC.battery string . Grounded out the 7/16 wrench. Wrench vaporized were it grounded. My hand was black with soot, vaporized Lead? I was freaking until the black washed off/ I had 2" blister in the palm of my hand. No doctor, no time off from work. I have kept my wedding ring in the sock drawer, since I snagged it on a nail.
I got you guys beat. about 35 years ago at the truck dealership.
I was cutting a piece of metal on top of a barrel. BOOM! My shirt was melted into my skin and i was taken to the OR in shock,much Morphine and 4 days in the hospital.
It was almost bad enough for skin grafts luckily i was young and healed. Found out later the barrel was an empty from the parts washer solvent, it blew the barrel apart.
I was cutting a piece of metal on top of a barrel. BOOM! My shirt was melted into my skin and i was taken to the OR in shock,much Morphine and 4 days in the hospital.
It was almost bad enough for skin grafts luckily i was young and healed. Found out later the barrel was an empty from the parts washer solvent, it blew the barrel apart.
Thanks for posting the whole story here, I was pretty careful with batteries before, but now I'll really watch what I am doing.
Electric burns are bad enough. Having a battery explode and covering you with acid is way worse.
I has about a quart of gas spilled on my mid section and stomach as a teenager and a static spark ignited it from those older nylon or plastic truck liners.
I was on fire for close to a minute. From my knees to my chin I had from second to third degree burns. My jeans and shirt had skin cooked to them as the clothes got torn off me they peeled skin back with them.
I had to break a blister to urinate and my inner thighs still bear the scars. It was a couple weeks before I could walk.
It didn't hurt for about 3 weeks. Then it was agonizing as whatever neves that remained started healing.
I was on fire for close to a minute. From my knees to my chin I had from second to third degree burns. My jeans and shirt had skin cooked to them as the clothes got torn off me they peeled skin back with them.
I had to break a blister to urinate and my inner thighs still bear the scars. It was a couple weeks before I could walk.
It didn't hurt for about 3 weeks. Then it was agonizing as whatever neves that remained started healing.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
I has about a quart of gas spilled on my mid section and stomach as a teenager and a static spark ignited it from those older nylon or plastic truck liners.
I was on fire for close to a minute. From my knees to my chin I had from second to third degree burns. My jeans and shirt had skin cooked to them as the clothes got torn off me they peeled skin back with them.
I had to break a blister to urinate and my inner thighs still bear the scars. It was a couple weeks before I could walk.
It didn't hurt for about 3 weeks. Then it was agonizing as whatever neves that remained started healing.
Wow thats awful
I has about a quart of gas spilled on my mid section and stomach as a teenager and a static spark ignited it from those older nylon or plastic truck liners.
I was on fire for close to a minute. From my knees to my chin I had from second to third degree burns. My jeans and shirt had skin cooked to them as the clothes got torn off me they peeled skin back with them.
I had to break a blister to urinate and my inner thighs still bear the scars. It was a couple weeks before I could walk.
It didn't hurt for about 3 weeks. Then it was agonizing as whatever neves that remained started healing.
Wow thats awful
My uncle got liquored up at a kegger when he was about 20. He tripped over an ice chest and fell into a camp fire. He was so drunk he couldn't crawl out of the fire. He layed there and cooked until his buddies realized and pulled him out.
IIRC he spent over two weeks in the hospital,and had multiple skin grafts.
IIRC he spent over two weeks in the hospital,and had multiple skin grafts.
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