JUNGLEJIM1
Well-known member
I was pouring jigs Monday morning and decided to melt a large 12 oz. bass casting sinker that a friend had sent me some time ago.The sinker had been sitting in a tackle box in a dry basement for years. It had been found during low water. I used a needlenose pliers to dip it into the pot,holding the steel leader that was attached to the other hand. A couple seconds after the sinker was submerged the pot it literally exploded with a loud pop sending lead in every direction. I was sitting directly in front of the pot when this happened and somehow got from a sitting position to a safe distance in a split second without being burned severely. I believe I flew out of the chair with help from my higher power. I truly believe GOD was with me when it happened and saved me from some horrible burns and even blindness. Believe me when I say it could have been much worse. I gashed my leg just below the knee which probably needed stitches but I butterflied it after I realized I was bleeding and the blood soked through my pants. I had lead sticking to both eyelids which caused some burns as well as burns to both hands and one spot on my left arm where the splattered lead had burned through my long sleeve shirt. The first picture is difficult to see but there is lead hanging from my left eyelid.I had removed the piece from my right before I thought of taking pictures. I actually lost a shoe in the process and it took awhile to find it some thirty feet or so away. I defintely could have been blinded as well as severely burned. You can say I was lucky but I know there is more to this than luck. A couple pictures are of the sinker that exploded,of my desk area after it happened and a picture of the sealing which is about 4-5 feet above the pot.It got the walls,floor and just about everything else in about a ten foot radius. Evidently the sinker hadn't been a solid pour and had been snagged up sitting on the bottom where it filled with water slowly and then rusting closed with water still inside creating a grenade that went off on me!!!!!!!! I'm careful while pouring so this was a shock. The main thing I did wrong was not wearing eye protection. I have blisters on my eyelids,one popped and it hurts like he!!!!!! I wanted to post this to let everyone who pours know that accidents could happen no matter how careful you think you are. Please wear eye protection while pouring and be SAFE. I'll post a picture of my shirt later.This should be a sticky or something.
