Safety Comes First
HOBBY KNIFE PRECAUTIONS: To get back into the building swing after a long sabbatical, I agreed to assist a friend with the construction of a nice .60-size airplane. I was looking forward to the project. When I received the kit, I set out to put things in order in the shop, i.e. building board on the workbench, glues, sanders, pins, X-Acto blades, etc. on top. Satisfied that all was in place, I grabbed a cup of coffee and returned to the garage to spread the plans on the board for review. When I sat down on a shop stool, I leaned forward and placed my elbows on the board. Almost immediately, the board tilted up and slapped me in the forehead, dumping everything on top into my lap.
Safety Comes First
"An AMA member was recently severely burned when a model fuel can exploded as it was being opened. He received very severe burns, requiring extensive grafting, and is facing a long recovery period. "The metal can he was trying to open had been in storage for over 20 years. There is no evidence of an external spark or ignition source other than the container itself. Consultation with experts in the field indicates that materials, such as ether, propylene oxide and nitromethane, commonly used in model fuels may become destabilized and shock sensitive over a period of time.
Safety Comes First
CHECKLISTS: The weather report predicts that the day will be calm and sunny-check! The wife says she'll be out most of the day with the kids-check! The airplane is charged and loaded in the car-check! A quick call to your ol' flying buddy reveals that he'll be at the field by the time you get there-check! Ahh-life's good! Before leaving home, you conduct a quick mental review to make sure that you have everything: model, radio, flight box, cleaning equipment, tools, everything charged. Rats! You remember the flight box gel cell and Ni-Cd starter could use some topping off, so "just in case," you grab chargers for both.
Safety Comes First
SPRING CLEANING: By the time you read this column, spring should be in full swing, and clear skies luring modelers out to the fields. If you haven't done so already, it's time to get models ready for another flying season, throw the old out from the field box, put in the new, and find the bug repellant. Things to keep an eye out for include old or used rubber bands, chipped props, semiworking glow plugs, dead batteries, old fuel, rock-hard cyanoacrylate (CyA) bottles, stiff (or cracked) fuel tubing, etc. Use the old rule of thumb: if you're unsure of what to toss, "when in doubt, throw it out." You'll enjoy many more trouble-free flying days. Keep bug repellant handy and use it to keep ticks, chiggers, and mosquitos off if you have to wade into the weeds. When it comes to getting sick from bug bites, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Use bug repellant, and wear long pants and sleeves whenever you walk through tall vegetation.
Safety Comes First
STICKY SITUATION: In the May column, I wrote about the precautions you should take when using cyanoacrylate (CyA) glues, and highlighted a few of the ills that could potentially develop if used carelessly. It appears that many readers have experienced a few of these ills firsthand-I received numerous pieces of mail requesting additional information, common-sense solutions, or asking me to provide my own experience. Almost all of the readers described symptoms that occurred after being exposed to CyA without using personal protective equipment. Their symptoms included severe hives, bloody nose, severe cough, runny eyes and nose, and insomnia.
