Subject: Oxygen Tanks Good???

From: [email-masked] (LEE WARD)
Date: Tue, 04 Jun 96 17:49:00 -0600

I found 2 Oxygen Tanks that are 4x17 and were used apparently for
medical reasons,,My question is do these tanks have any useful value in
Welding or Metalwork somehow??
                              Thanks!
                                    Lee Ward
                                          We salvage an recycle
anything!!

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From: [email-masked] (Andy Dingley)
Date: Thu, 06 Jun 1996 00:12:10 GMT

The moving finger of [email-masked] (LEE WARD) having written:

>medical reasons,,My question is do these tanks have any useful value 

Pressure vessels need all sorts of certification. You _could_ get
these re-tested as necessary and put back into service, but I doubt if
it's worth it - it's almost always simpler to use new cylinders, with
the manufacturer's paperwork.

We have a stack of CO2 cylinders around here (beer pressurisation)
which we buy cheaply and half empty, use the gas for mig welding, then
discard empty. Some have been cut on the bandsaw as a supply of heavy
gauge tube. One is a 50psi air reservoir to power the kitchen
pneumatic system (yes, really), with a fridge compressor supplying the
rest. Half of one is a door stop.  They're handy if you need heavy
gauge tubing, but they're not a great find.

If you read the book "Great Mambo Chicken", you might get some ideas
for crossing the Grand Canyon with a steam rocket built out of O2
cylinders   8-)

---

From: [email-masked] (Blake Malkamaki)
Date: Thu, 06 Jun 1996 00:34:03 -0400

$ We have a stack of CO2 cylinders around here (beer pressurisation)
$ which we buy cheaply and half empty, use the gas for mig welding, then
$ discard empty. Some have been cut on the bandsaw as a supply of heavy
$ gauge tube. One is a 50psi air reservoir to power the kitchen
$ pneumatic system (yes, really), with a fridge compressor supplying the
$ rest. Half of one is a door stop.  They're handy if you need heavy
$ gauge tubing, but they're not a great find.

They also make nice low-tone bells if cut right.  I've seen them at craft shows.

Blake
Blake Malkamaki, Little Mountain Ironworks, Concord, Ohio <[email-masked]>
>>Steam engines - Cletrac Crawler Tractors - Maple Syrup - Metal Signs<<
http://www.ncweb.com/users/blake

---

From: [email-masked] (Robert Galloway)
Date: 6 Jun 1996 12:26:14 -0600

>the manufacturer's paperwork.

I don't know about 4 x 17 cylinders but... I own my own welding 
cylinders.  Last time I had to have one recertified, I left it at the gas 
suppliers, paid a fee and when I picked it up it was full and 
recertifed.  I didn't have to provide any proof of ownership or 
manufacturer's paperwork.  I'd check it out before dismissing the idea, 
depending on what need you have for them in the first place.

rhg

---

From: Randall Gray <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 6 Jun 1996 22:34:23 GMT

<Discussions of what to do with old CO2 O2 bottles snipped>

How safe is it to cut O2 bottles?  What precautions should be taken?

-- Randall

---

From: [email-masked] (Andy Dingley)
Date: Fri, 07 Jun 1996 23:24:33 GMT

>How safe is it to cut O2 bottles?  What precautions should be taken?

Make sure they're empty !

If you unscrew the valve from the cylinder you can make absolutely
sure they're empty. Naturally you should check the valve is open (and
clear of gunge) before you try unscrewing it. A full welding cylinder
has enough pressure in it to create a sizable blast if you open the
valve with no regulator in place. There's a hazard of skin (or eye)
penetration from the gas jet, and the cylinder itself may start
moving. If you insist on checking that a delivered cylinder is full by
cracking the valve open, chain the cylinder into your stand first,
have the valve pointing upwards and do it outdoors.

As far as the sawing goes, use a powered saw. You'll not want to go
through one by hand...

---

From: [email-masked] (Greg Dermer)
Date: 5 Jun 96 20:03:24 GMT

>Welding or Metalwork somehow??

I use such a medical cylinder with an MC acetylene cylinder for a portable
welding/brazing/(very brief) cutting setup.

I had the welding supply house replace the medical style valve with a conventional
style and of course they hydro tested it before filling.  I told 'em I wanted
welding grade O2.  When I went to pick it up, they had filled it with medical
grade, and wanted to charge me medical prices.  When I objected, they emptied
the medical O2 and refilled it with welding O2.  Pretty sillly, huh?

Greg
[email-masked]

---

From: [email-masked] (Robert Galloway)
Date: 11 Jun 1996 04:52:10 -0600

>clear of gunge) before you try unscrewing it. 

I was taught always to crack the valve on the cylinder to blow out just 
such grunge before attaching the regulator.
rhg

---

From: [email-masked] (Len Turnbow)
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 06:49:43 GMT

Greg Dermer ([email-masked]) wrote:
: [email-masked] (LEE WARD) writes:

: >I found 2 Oxygen Tanks that are 4x17 and were used apparently for
: >medical reasons,,My question is do these tanks have any useful value in
: >Welding or Metalwork somehow??
: >                              Thanks!
: >                                    Lee Ward
: >                                          We salvage an recycle
: >anything!!

: I use such a medical cylinder with an MC acetylene cylinder for a portable
: welding/brazing/(very brief) cutting setup.

: I had the welding supply house replace the medical style valve with a 
: conventional
: style and of course they hydro tested it before filling.  
: I told 'em I wanted
: welding grade O2.  When I went to pick it up, they had filled it with 
: medical
: grade, and wanted to charge me medical prices. 

(Snip)

O2 is O2, right?  I don't understand the difference
between 'medical grade' and 'welding grade'
Would someone please enlighten me?   Thanks.  -- Len
-- 
                                             [email-masked]

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 15:00:05 GMT

Len Turnbow ([email-masked]) wrote:

: O2 is O2, right?  I don't understand the difference
: between 'medical grade' and 'welding grade'
: Would someone please enlighten me?   Thanks.  -- Len
: -- 
:                                              [email-masked]

  Different purities.  Same as gold,  14k is more expensive than 10k.
Welding O2 would have more impurities I suppose than medical.

---

From: [email-masked] (Andy Dingley)
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 11:16:06 GMT

>Welding O2 would have more impurities I suppose than medical.

Is there anything deliberate in welding oxygen ?  I know that motor
racing nitrous oxide has a noxious additive (sulphur dioxide) added to
prevent people sniffing it as laughing gas.

---

From: Steve Herrick <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 20:41:43 -0700

O2 is not O2. The difference is in a minicule amount of purity
(sometimes), but most importantly certification. The med O2 has to be
certified as safe for Human consumption, which bumps up the price
considerably, due to the testing, and extra insurance....

Hrolthgar -   [email-masked]
           Steve Herrick

---

From: [email-masked] (Robert Galloway)
Date: 12 Jun 1996 06:40:53 -0600

>Would someone please enlighten me?   Thanks.  -- Len

When I used to buy "medical grade" O2 (1968-1976) there was no 
difference.  Today it might be the degree of certification of purity.  
There have been a couple of cases of the wrong gas in cylinders delivered 
to hospitals and patients have died.  They have really gotten sticky 
about the certification of contents.  This is only a guess.

rhg

---

From: [email-masked] (darylb)
Date: 13 Jun 1996 20:34:58 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] (Robert
Galloway) wrote:

> No.  O2 doesn't have any abuse potential.  I suspect and I emphasize, I 
> don't know this for certain, but I suspect that the Medical O2 and the 
> welding O2 may be transported around the country as one material.  We get 
> O2 at the MEDCEN as LOX.  The truck that delivers is doesn't say anything 
> about Medical on it.  I think the cost has more to do with the liability 
> associated with medical use than it does with the relative purity of the 
> product.  Anybody here have any definitive knowledge here?  You're just 
> paying the guy for sticking his neck out and certifying the purity.
> 
> rhg

As a diver and welder I can state the O2 required for welding can have
lots of little impurities in it (like minute amounts of compressor oil
etc), O2 for breathing is likely purified to a much greater degree due to
the body absorbing any present impurities. At least at dive pressures its
a great concern and they make a big deal about it with the compressed air.

My $0.02
Daryl

---

From: [email-masked] (Peter Drumm)
Date: 12 Jun 1996 10:51:35 GMT

In message <[email-masked]> - [email-masked], 10
Jun 1996 15:00:05 GMT writes:
:->
:->Len Turnbow ([email-masked]) wrote:
:->
:->: O2 is O2, right?  I don't understand the difference
:->: between 'medical grade' and 'welding grade'
:->: Would someone please enlighten me?   Thanks.  -- Len
:->: -- 
:->:                                              [email-masked]
:->
:->  Different purities.  Same as gold,  14k is more expensive than 10k.
:->Welding O2 would have more impurities I suppose than medical.

That's what a person would think, but welding oxygen is pure O2,
medical Oxy is a mix of O2 and nitrogen. The reason is that pure
oxygen used for medical purposes is dangerous, anything flammable in
the area could burn violently,  and  pure oxygen would hyperventilate
the person it's being used on. (This info from a paramedic)

[email-masked]
Using Warp/Neologic News/PMMail/iLink2/WebEx
Wausau, WI. 44d 58m 00s N x 89d 36m 45s W
All opinions are my own, even if they are wrong!

---

From: "Jeffrey R. Trites" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 06:46:36 -0700

> Welding O2 would have more impurities I suppose than medical.

At least one outfit here buys only the medical grade, and sells for the
regular price unless specified medical(then you pay more). They say it
is more economical and less hassle than needing two setups.

---

From: [email-masked] (Robert Galloway)
Date: 13 Jun 1996 12:34:19 -0600

I think your paramedic is wrong.  I use oxygen for general anesthesia and 
it is certified and tested by everbody from the vendor to me at the time 
of use as 100% O2.  The anesthesia machine has an O2 tester built into 
it.  

rhg

---

From: [email-masked] (Robert Galloway)
Date: 13 Jun 1996 12:41:41 -0600

rhg

---

From: [email-masked] (Mark Gabriele)
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 20:46:53 -0700

> the person it's being used on. (This info from a paramedic)

Nope.  The O2 you weld with is the same stuff hospitals get, prepared via
the same method (liquefaction of air).  Medical Oxygen is 100% pure O2 (or
awfully close). The difference is in the certification.  In point of fact,
the shop that filled the tank and then "unfilled" it was probably
violating a standard by putting pristine medical O2 into a relatively
grungy welding tank and then back into the Med. O2 pool.  

 I suspect that your paramedic friend was talking about the breathing
aparatus that is carried by firemen into burning buildings.  Those tanks
contain compressed air, which isof course basically O2 / N2 + whatever (a
bit of Argon, a whiff of C02, etc.)

(This info from a physician, a fireman, and synthesized by an engineer.)

-- 
=Mark Gabriele   (PGP public key available upon request)
[email-masked]

"They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist..."
- last words of Gen. John Sedgwick, at the Battle of Spotsylvania

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: 14 Jun 1996 22:02:44 GMT

>paying the guy for sticking his neck out and certifying the purity.

One impurity to be avoided with breathing mixtures is *oil* vapor.
This will give the breather oil pneumonia, which is where the insides
of the lung is coated with a film of oil, which basically suffocates the
individual.

Possibly the extra expense on "medical" grade O2 is compressing and
transporting it so it is still oil-free at the point of use.  Most compressors
add considerable oil vapor to the gas.

Another reason why LOX is good way for hospitals to store oxygen - 
boil-off gas from liquid is guaranteed to be oil-free.  Our clean N2 
supply at the lab is obtained this way.

===========================================================

 1959 BMW R50                                           Jim Rozen              
 1969 BMW R60US                                (JRR0 @ watson.ibm.com)                 
 1975 BMW R75/6    (The "new" one)        

===========================================================

---

From: [email-masked] (Joshua_Putnam)
Date: 17 Jun 1996 16:24:31 GMT

>add considerable oil vapor to the gas.

I know oil is a major concern in compressed *air* for breathing,
e.g. SCUBA, but wouldn't it be a non-factor in pure O2, for the
same reason you have to be careful to keep O2 fittings oil free
in the shop -- spontaneous oxidation?  

--

[email-masked]  is  Joshua Putnam / P.O. Box 13220 / Burton, WA 98013
                       "My other bike is a car."

---

From: [email-masked] (Jonathan M. Elson)
Date: 17 Jun 1996 22:50:16 GMT

Joshua_Putnam ([email-masked]) wrote:
: In <[email-masked]> [email-masked] writes:

: >One impurity to be avoided with breathing mixtures is *oil* vapor.
: >This will give the breather oil pneumonia, which is where the insides
: >of the lung is coated with a film of oil, which basically suffocates the
: >individual.

: >Possibly the extra expense on "medical" grade O2 is compressing and
: >transporting it so it is still oil-free at the point of use.  Most compressors
: >add considerable oil vapor to the gas.

: I know oil is a major concern in compressed *air* for breathing,
: e.g. SCUBA, but wouldn't it be a non-factor in pure O2, for the
: same reason you have to be careful to keep O2 fittings oil free
: in the shop -- spontaneous oxidation?  

You BET!  The only oil-like material that won't blow sky high in the
presence of compressed O2 is some silicone oils.  Any ordinary oil
will cause a disaster if it was in a gas bottle with 2000 PSI O2.
Oil on the outside of the tank in the presence of a small leak will
do the same!  I know.  When I went to work for NASA, the radio/CCTV
building looked awful new.  I wndered how come they just got a new
building.  A week later, I found out.  They used to have a big (200 CF?)
tank of O2 in the shop, and the people who put up antennas and camera
mounts had a couple portable Oxy-Acetylene torches with 20 CuF tanks.
They refilled the little tanks from the big tank.  One time, somebody got
some greasy stuff on the outside of the big tank.  Some time later,
somebody was refilling a small tank, and the fittings didn't seal
properly, causing a tiny leak at the valve.  The Oxygen gas, just cold
after expanding, slid down the outside of the tank as a gas film.
It lit the greasy stuff, which someone immediately put out.  But then
he noticed the tank was getting hot at that spot, and ran out of the
building yelling "the Oxygen tank's going to blow!!!!" and pulling the
fire alarm.  Everybody ran out, including some people who dove out
windows rather than run down the hall PAST the room where the tanks were.
They barely got to the bunker (this WAS a rocket-launch site, remember)
before the building went up!  It literally rained mobile radios and
TV monitors that day!  It took nearly a week to clean up the wreckage,
which was distributed over a couple-block area.

I noted that there were NO oxy-acetylene rigs, portable, fixed or anything
anywhere in the new radio/CCTV building.  When something needed welding,
they got someone from the machine shop to go out and weld it.

---

From: [email-masked] (Barry Workman)
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 06:37:29 GMT

[email-masked] (Jens) writes:

>>Jens wrote:
>>> 
>>> All this talk about tanks blowing up has me a little worried since I
>>> keep my oxy/acet rig in my garage which is part of my house. SO.....
>>> somebody please explain to me why oxygen causes instantaneous
>>> combustion with oil (after all, we have O2 in the atmosphere but my
>>> grease gun hasn't exploded recently). 

>Ok, I got a number of emails telling me how the flashpoint of
>materials drop in the presence of pure O2. A lot of people also
>pointed out that materials like steel burn with O2 (cutting torch).
>All this is nice and dandy and I am aware of these items. (But thank
>you for pointing them out anyhow)  I certainly would not attempt to
>oil an oxygen tank valve as the risk of doing anything to 2000 PSI of
>substance is best left to those people that know what they are doing. 
>What had me baffled though was the general talk that oxygen in general
>spells trouble no matter what (this isn't quite what I was trying to
>say but the proper words seem to escape me this morning). I was
>starting to get seriously concerned about having oxygen in my garage.
>Anyway, to make a long story short, I did some experiments .....
>Take acetone, highly flammable, and blow pure O2 on it - nothing
>happens. Take that same acetone and put a spark lighter to it - it
>starts to burn. Now blow O2 on it and not surprisingly it burns
>better. As it happens I used an old paint can lid to hold the acetone
>in the test and there was some residual (dry) paint on it. Blowing the
>O2 on the burning acetone and (non burning) paint caused the
>combustion temperature to rise sufficiently to start the paint
>burning. Even with the lid getting very hot, the steel of the lid
>never started to burn or melt or whatever (obviously the steel needs
>to be red hot before it will react with the O2).
>The next experiment involved Kerosene and the same combination of O2,
>sparks etc. I could not start a fire no matter what. Yes, I know that
>Kerosene is used to run jet planes and space heaters etc .... but in
>the combination of a normal shop environment where Kerosene might be
>used in a parts cleaning washer, the accidental introduction of pure
>O2 or a spark doesn't seem to be too catastrophic (mind you I didn't
>try this experiment with the gas in a contained area - I used a flat
>lid with kerosene on it - so that might be another story) 
>So, in my mind, the conclusion is as follows:
>1) Never mess with anything that is under heavy pressure (such as a
>tank of O2) unless you know what you are doing.
>2) Oxygen by itself is not pure evil despite what people say. Yes, it
>will accelerate a fire but pure O2 at atmospheric pressure seems
>pretty harmless by itself unless you combine it with fire.
>3) It never hurts to be extra careful when dealing with flammables.

>my $0.02 worth ... contradicting opinions welcomed.
>Jens

The tank of O2 is probably more dangerous as a projectile than as
a source of oxydizer.  When I was learning SCUBA, (my instructor
was Navy UDT -- tells you how long ago that was --) we had all taken
the time to build our own tanks from perloined USAF fire extinguisher
bottles.  Understand, we could get them cheap, the military would clean
them for us to aircraft O2 specs and then they were hydrostated to 
twice normal fill pressures.  We had a single 72 sitting near the side
of the pool and someone or something knocked it over.  The valve hit
the deck and sheared off.  The tank was airborn for about 15 meters and
then hit the water.  It proceeded the rest of the 25 meter pool, through
the side with about 6" still out of the pool wall.  We quietly moved our
classes to another pool on the base but a water level dropping 3' over-
night was a dead give-away....
So, keep the bottles well chained to the frame and take care not to
drop them when moving them.  After that, normal safety precautions work
well.

-- 
    - Barry Workman

---

From: Bill Marvel <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 16:51:16 +0000

WILLIAM DAILEY wrote:
> 
> : So, in my mind, the conclusion is as follows:
> : 1) Never mess with anything that is under heavy pressure (such as a
> : tank of O2) unless you know what you are doing.
> : 2) Oxygen by itself is not pure evil despite what people say. Yes, it
> : will accelerate a fire but pure O2 at atmospheric pressure seems
> : pretty harmless by itself unless you combine it with fire.
> : 3) It never hurts to be extra careful when dealing with flammables.
> 
> : my $0.02 worth ... contradicting opinions welcomed.
> : Jens
> 
>      I must take exception to #2.  Pure oxygen at atmospheric pressure
> is essentially pure evil.  I have worked as an oxygen clean worker for
> several years...repairing oxygen generation (cryogenic &
> electrolytic), storage and distribution systems.  While in training i
> saw a film portraying a man that
> stepped into a pan of oxygen vapor (at atmospheric pressure) and only
> spots of blood were left.  He also caused 1/2 inch steel bulkheads to
> bow on this carrier.  I have routinely done maintenance on oxygen
> systems and it is a fact (not an opinion) that oxygen concentrations
> approaching 90% are extremely hazardous (cinderblock can autoignite).
> This is especially true in the prescence of organics.  I don't think
> using an oxy rig in the manner described in your message provides evidence
> to voice the points that you are making and i also think the
> conclusions are irresponsible.  Real experimental work has been done
> and it directly contradicts the amiable nature of a pure oxygen
> environment that you have eluded to.
> 
> willyAlso don't get oils around oxygen, It will ignite vialintly.

---

From: [email-masked] (Tom Enterline)
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 1996 03:27:06 GMT

>willy

Also worth remembering the Apollo rocket that burned on the launch
pad.  IIRC the capsule was filled with almost pure O2 at atmospheric
pressure.  Even NASA didn't do enough flammability testing (the
testing was done at the in-flight environment of 3-4 psi absolute, not
14.7 psi).

---

From: Bob Falkiner <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 1996 21:01:33 -0400

Barry Workman wrote:
> >>> grease gun hasn't exploded recently).....snip...

The temperature at which things react with oxygen is highly dependent on the oxygen concentration, which is 
directly related to pressure.  It gets worse if there is any physical effect, transient or otherwize where a 
localized piece of equipment gets hotter, such as compressing a line up from room temp to 2500 psi suddenly.  
The outside steel surface doesn't get very hot, but the gas that got compressed inside of the tubing sure did!
do a quick calc and you'll be satisfied that you can reach temperatures that melt glass real easy. Not a 
problem if no combustables present, as the line fills are small mass and the energy will get dissipated easily. 

bottom line:  oxygen and anything that even remotely looks like a grease, hydrocarbon etc is really bad news
at 2500 psi. 

PS someone mentioned CO in scuba tanks.....this is also related as if not enough combustable present to go to 
CO2, then it will go to CO.

NO SHIT WARNING:  if you put combustables in an oxygen first stage regulator, you may find the regulator 
                  spindle embeded in the opposite wall of the lab, or in bodies along the flight path.

---

From: Ben Groover <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 08:15:21 EDT

I was at a car show recently and saw a HENROB 2000 torch demonstrated.
Looking for anyone who has one or knows if they are realy as good as
they look.  It's a torch with a pistol grip that kind of remind me a
a big soldering gun only with flame.  They did some realy impressive
cutting with this thing on tin and 1/2 steel!  It only removed an 1/8
inch of metal or LESS when he cut the 1/2 steel into two puzzle pieces
that fit as good as some of my kids wooden puzzles do!  Also did
some welding with it that was nice but that's not my intended purpose.

thanks for your help,
ben
[email-masked]

---

From: Demon Buddha <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 01 Jul 1996 16:31:52 -0400

> >spots of blood were left.  

	Yes, pure O2 is very dangerous stuff and should not be treated
	casually.  Why do you think guages read "Use no oil"?  If you
	wanna quick but ugly ride to the moon, oil up yer regulator
	guages.  Adios amigo.

	Be careful, and if you don't *really* know the true story 
	regarding ANY potential safety issue, begin my educating
	yourself in facts first, if possible, before starting your
	work.  If not, at least do yourself (and others) the decency
	of erring on the safe side.  Death or mutilation can jump
	on you from the most unexpected sources, and it never seems
	like it will touch you until one day it reaches out and *does*.

	-Andy V.

---

From: [email-masked] (Blake Malkamaki)
Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 00:21:40 -0400

In article <[email-masked]>, Ben Groover
<[email-masked]> wrote:

}I was at a car show recently and saw a HENROB 2000 torch demonstrated.
}Looking for anyone who has one or knows if they are realy as good as
}they look.  It's a torch with a pistol grip that kind of remind me a
}a big soldering gun only with flame.  They did some realy impressive
}cutting with this thing on tin and 1/2 steel!  It only removed an 1/8
}inch of metal or LESS when he cut the 1/2 steel into two puzzle pieces
}that fit as good as some of my kids wooden puzzles do!  Also did
}some welding with it that was nice but that's not my intended purpose.
}
}thanks for your help,
}ben
[email-masked]

I like my Henrob torch.  I use it mainly for light welding, brazing, and
soldering.  I works real nice and uses much less pressure than
conventional torch.  I only used it for cutting one time, but I'm so
spoiled with my plasma cutter that the Henrob could not compare.

Blake

---

From: [email-masked] (Bill S.)
Date: 2 Jul 1996 08:22:03 -0400

[email-masked]> <[email-masked]> <[email-masked]> <[email-masked]> <[email-masked]>
Distribution: 

Some of you are talking about some pretty hazardous things.  Pure oxygen 
greatly accelerates combustion.  Any equipment that is in oxygen service 
must be specially cleaned to be free of grease and other "fuels."  Please 
contact your oxygen supplier, find the Material Safety Data Sheet 
(probably on the web someplace,) contact a major manufacturer like Air 
Products, or call the Compressed Gas Association for safety information. 
Bill S.
The opinions here are my own and not those of my employer.

---

From: [email-masked] (Michael Covington)
Date: 2 Jul 1996 15:12:50 GMT

Demon Buddha ([email-masked]) wrote:

: 	Yes, pure O2 is very dangerous stuff and should not be treated
: 	casually.  Why do you think guages read "Use no oil"?  If you
: 	wanna quick but ugly ride to the moon, oil up yer regulator
: 	guages.  Adios amigo.

I once read a science fiction story (by Asimov?) about an astronaut who
was accustomed to working in hydrogen and methane atmospheres; he had to
treat oxygen as an explosive gas.  Then one day he changed jobs, worked
in an oxygen atmosphere, and accidentally blew something up.

I don't remember the details, but it revolved around the fact that many
things will spontaneously ignite in pure oxygen that wouldn't in air
(nor, of course, in methane).
--
Michael A. Covington                http://www.ai.uga.edu/faculty/covington/
Artificial Intelligence Center                                           <><
The University of Georgia                Unless specifically indicated, I am
Athens, GA 30602-7415 U.S.A.                not speaking for the University.

---

From: Roger Gibbs <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 23:53:09 GMT

>I don't remember the details, but it revolved around the fact that many

This thread also caused me to recall a science fiction story I read
many years ago by Asimov.  In it, humans sent a robot to explore the
surface of Jupiter (this was before people realized that there is no
Jovian surface).  The robot was designed to handle the very hostile
(high pressure, high temperature, poisonous gas) atmosphere there.

The life forms there were very hostile and warlike and proceeded to
try to kill this intruder in a variety of inept and amusing ways.
At one point a group of these critters approached the robot with a
flask of a very dangerous gas and , unfortunately for them, the wind
shifted and blew a portion of it back and instantly killed a number
of them but did nothing to the robot.  The gas was, of course, 
oxygen.

It stuck in my mind all these years.

-Roger