When I was a kid, calcium carbide had several interesting applications (at least for a kid):
+ to fish in shallow waters. They took a small plastic bottle (0.25 – 0.5 L), added some water, then added a small quantity of carbide, tightened the cap and than threw the bottle in the pond / stream…
As the pressure increased, the bottle exploded and the shockwave knocked the fish unconscious.
+ a gun for scaring the crop pests (birds, wild boars). My grandfather had a large hair spray tube with the top cut off, then stuck in a fitting plastic tube (used for water sewage). The spray tube had a small hole near the bottom. He put some water in the spray tube, then added a few pebbles of carbide. When he brought a match near the small hole, the explosion was triggered and made a loud noise.
SatansFriendlyCat on
When my dad was a kid, calcium carbide lamps were used in the bicycles which were probably the primary method of transport where he was. He says it was a different quality of light (though a partial discount must be applied because of nostalgia and age).
SRNE2save_lives on
I wonder if any ever exploded.
AlexCinNYC on
We used them in lieu of fireworks: cut bamboo and bored on the inside made for a nice mortar
HugoZHackenbush2 on
Miners back then, complained of health problems with those lamps. Many felt light headed all the time…
Trollercoaster101 on
How long would this last in a mine as a working tool?
Random-Mutant on
I had one for the caving I did. Slightly finicky but easier to repair than electrical devices when hours from the surface.
BadAngler on
Acetylene generator.
Bryguy3k on
Nothing like wearing an acetylene bomb on your head.
According-Try3201 on
all miners are tough i think
ZoneChill on
Apparently some Miners still use them to this day due to the light quality as it’s probably the closest to Sunlight where as LEDs whilst more efficient and brighter have a lower CRI (Colour Rendering Index).
Traditional-Leopard7 on
I have used these caving in New Zealand back in the day. They actually really do work well. Scary when they go out if you bonk your head on a wall but easy enough to relight in the pitch freakin darkness.
arkam_uzumaki on
Old mines were dangerous.
Ed_95 on
Thats cool, unfortunately the need to put backgorund music IS NOT.
Suspicious-Fox- on
Miners just died young.
LungHeadZ on
So there was no covering for the flame? Correct me if I’m wrong but don’t a lot of mines have flammable gas build ups? That seems too much of a risk though. Someone enlighten me!
19 Comments
Via The Dust Man on TikTok- dustyoldstuff
“They’re brighter than you think they would be.”
Nah, never doubted the intelligence of miners.
When I was a kid, calcium carbide had several interesting applications (at least for a kid):
+ to fish in shallow waters. They took a small plastic bottle (0.25 – 0.5 L), added some water, then added a small quantity of carbide, tightened the cap and than threw the bottle in the pond / stream…
As the pressure increased, the bottle exploded and the shockwave knocked the fish unconscious.
+ a gun for scaring the crop pests (birds, wild boars). My grandfather had a large hair spray tube with the top cut off, then stuck in a fitting plastic tube (used for water sewage). The spray tube had a small hole near the bottom. He put some water in the spray tube, then added a few pebbles of carbide. When he brought a match near the small hole, the explosion was triggered and made a loud noise.
When my dad was a kid, calcium carbide lamps were used in the bicycles which were probably the primary method of transport where he was. He says it was a different quality of light (though a partial discount must be applied because of nostalgia and age).
I wonder if any ever exploded.
We used them in lieu of fireworks: cut bamboo and bored on the inside made for a nice mortar
Miners back then, complained of health problems with those lamps. Many felt light headed all the time…
How long would this last in a mine as a working tool?
I had one for the caving I did. Slightly finicky but easier to repair than electrical devices when hours from the surface.
Acetylene generator.
Nothing like wearing an acetylene bomb on your head.
all miners are tough i think
Apparently some Miners still use them to this day due to the light quality as it’s probably the closest to Sunlight where as LEDs whilst more efficient and brighter have a lower CRI (Colour Rendering Index).
I have used these caving in New Zealand back in the day. They actually really do work well. Scary when they go out if you bonk your head on a wall but easy enough to relight in the pitch freakin darkness.
Old mines were dangerous.
Thats cool, unfortunately the need to put backgorund music IS NOT.
Miners just died young.
So there was no covering for the flame? Correct me if I’m wrong but don’t a lot of mines have flammable gas build ups? That seems too much of a risk though. Someone enlighten me!
Who likes the smell of calcium carbide?