Late Christmas Gift to myself

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Yes that is right a torch, going to pick a similar one up tomorrow, I just broke apart a slab of ice about 275kg/600lb based on my calculations in the driveway.

Not doing that again anytime soon. Very Happy

Dimitri

chambered221 · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 3:28 pm Post subject: Re: Late Christmas Gift to myself

I was expecting a picture of a gun !!!

I guess technically it's a gun of sorts.........maybe ???

gelandangan · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 3:42 pm Post subject: Re: Late Christmas Gift to myself

Huge torch!!
I hope it does what it should for you.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

chambered,

If it was a gun it would not be in Spam-O-Rama. Very Happy

Geland,

As long something other then my back is doing the ice chipping and moving I don't care if it takes a while longer then expected. Laughing

Dimitri

chambered221 · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 4:36 pm Post subject: Re: Late Christmas Gift to myself

Sometimes around here ya just never know !!! Insane

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Well if I rigged it up to a tube, ala Australian Biker Gang style, it could in theory be a "gun" of sorts. However I don't think that is practical to me. I need ice removed darn it.

Dimitri

Elvis

well then shoot the ice away!!!!
I guess the neighbours may object but hell it would be fun..

gelandangan

Wonder is a cracker placed on the ice will do the chipping for you..

maybe just fold a pinch of gun powder into a sturdy cardboard pouch, add a fuse, slip it in a crack or purposely drilled hole and light up.

No need to go overboard, a little pop should do it most of the time methinks.

failing that, just slip in some gun powder into a few holes strategically drilled and well.. you know..

Heck this method has been used for many years and gun powders are easily available on the loading room.

Just remember to offer to do the same to the neighbor's driveway, otherwise they'll get jealous and may cause problems.

Vince · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 5:09 am Post subject: Re: Late Christmas Gift to myself

I like the way you think Gelan...a "little" strategically placed black powder...whoomp...job done. Very Happy

If you bought the torch to help dispose of a BIG block of ice, you might be disappointed mate. How thick is the 600lb block of ice? The torch will only melt it in small quantities, will take you forever, and a HUGE bottle of expensive gas to melt that much ice mate.

Cheers, Vince

Ominivision1 · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 7:15 am Post subject: Re: Late Christmas Gift to myself

Dimi

A couple of factors to consider
Ice is a poor conductor of heat so just heating the outside of a large block isn't a good plan.
Water has a very high heat capacity so heating the melted water will waste a lot of energy.

If you want to be green, use a solar cover, the kind used to heat swimming pools. You can seal off around the edges of the cover with weights to keep the warmer air under the cover.

Imo, you will be using and wasting a lot of energy if using lp or propane to melt the block of ice. Cool

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:00 am Post subject: Re: Late Christmas Gift to myself

Besides, Gelan's idea would be a LOT more fun!

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Geland's idea sounds good in theory, in practice the girlfriend would kill me if I did that. As she'd kill me if I used a gun to clean off the ice, as its irresponsible. Laughing

Vince,

Well I first thought of a oxy-acetylene torch which would melt ice very fast, but then remembered my welding instructor saying cement and O/A doesn't mix.

As for being "Green" I don't really mind being "destructive" to the environment by burning nasty hydrocarbons. I figure the bamboo race car I am building is green enough to offset my wastefulness. Laughing

Dimitri

gelandangan · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Late Christmas Gift to myself

Dimitri wrote:

Geland's idea sounds good in theory, in practice the girlfriend would kill me if I did that. As she'd kill me if I used a gun to clean off the ice, as its irresponsible. Laughing

But.. but.. but... No gun.. only a popper cracker!!
And, if she didn't like it, she can do the ice breaking herself!! Mad

Just don't tell her its my idea.. Hiding

Um, come to think of it,
How could you get a girlfriend who is not into guns? Mad

What happened to all those ideals I heard previously?? Confused

Oh.. and its WET cement and O/A doesn't mix..

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Shes alright with guns, just as shes alright with fireworks. She's just not alright with things being used in ways they were not meant to. Worries about my safety. Laughing

Dimitri

slimjim · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:42 pm Post subject: Re: Late Christmas Gift to myself

Dimitri wrote:

She's just not alright with things being used in ways they were not meant to.

One of those women that like to stay between the lines? And put bars on their men?