Maybe there might be the odd person that might avoid the same mistake by reading about my stupid moment.
For many, many years I would warm up a paint spray can by placing it in between the louvers of my overhead furnace. I had done this many times. My garage is kept just above freezing at all times unless I'm working in it and consequently the paint starts off each morning quite cool. When spray paint is cool it does not spray nearly as nice as when it is at least room temperature (or even a bit more
). So on a regular basis I would warm a spray can up just a bit before spraying, despite knowing that overheating a spray bomb would well, result in a bomb.
The LAST time I did this, I was not so lucky as previous times. I knew I was getting a bit distracted while I was heating the spray can but it was just a few minutes. I never timed the event I just sort of gauged it by how warm the can felt. This last time I grabbed the can down from the furnace and it felt hot. I got the can to my thigh area in my hand and proceeded to give it a shake. I had maybe made one full shake motion when suddenly there was such an enormous blast of sound and pressure and black mist around me followed by the spray can and pieces ricocheting around my shop. The blast was like a shotgun blast and I felt the can whiz by my face. I was shaking and could hardly believe what just had happened. I looked at my hand and it was covered in black spray paint along with everything in the area also. When I gathered up the pieces I could see that the bottom of the can blew out while I was holding it causing the can to be a rocket projectile that zoomed past my head and it smashed into the drywall ceiling and bounced off a few other things before coming to a rest. I wasn't sure what damage was done yet, I felt myself and examined myself as I figured I should be bleeding somewhere. Nope I seemed intact amazingly enough. Still shaking like a leaf I went into the house to clean up the paint on my hand and then I noticed the cuff of my shop coat was ripped open just from the blast of the can while I held it in my hand.
I have the exploded can hanging in my shop as reminder. I often tell my 12 year old son not to just think about what is LIKELY to happen, but rather what COULD happen and if he is OK with the possibilities. I hope he's smarter than his old man.
For many, many years I would warm up a paint spray can by placing it in between the louvers of my overhead furnace. I had done this many times. My garage is kept just above freezing at all times unless I'm working in it and consequently the paint starts off each morning quite cool. When spray paint is cool it does not spray nearly as nice as when it is at least room temperature (or even a bit more
). So on a regular basis I would warm a spray can up just a bit before spraying, despite knowing that overheating a spray bomb would well, result in a bomb.The LAST time I did this, I was not so lucky as previous times. I knew I was getting a bit distracted while I was heating the spray can but it was just a few minutes. I never timed the event I just sort of gauged it by how warm the can felt. This last time I grabbed the can down from the furnace and it felt hot. I got the can to my thigh area in my hand and proceeded to give it a shake. I had maybe made one full shake motion when suddenly there was such an enormous blast of sound and pressure and black mist around me followed by the spray can and pieces ricocheting around my shop. The blast was like a shotgun blast and I felt the can whiz by my face. I was shaking and could hardly believe what just had happened. I looked at my hand and it was covered in black spray paint along with everything in the area also. When I gathered up the pieces I could see that the bottom of the can blew out while I was holding it causing the can to be a rocket projectile that zoomed past my head and it smashed into the drywall ceiling and bounced off a few other things before coming to a rest. I wasn't sure what damage was done yet, I felt myself and examined myself as I figured I should be bleeding somewhere. Nope I seemed intact amazingly enough. Still shaking like a leaf I went into the house to clean up the paint on my hand and then I noticed the cuff of my shop coat was ripped open just from the blast of the can while I held it in my hand.
I have the exploded can hanging in my shop as reminder. I often tell my 12 year old son not to just think about what is LIKELY to happen, but rather what COULD happen and if he is OK with the possibilities. I hope he's smarter than his old man.
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