Let me first start off that im 100% fine. Im super lucky to be alive know that Horatio died a similar way and i was literally talking to him a lot over that last month of his life.
Im gonna give a little background. I built my first extractor in 2013 with chinese parts, and ive been assembling them and selling them since 2014. Over the last 10 years, ive built over 500 extractors and well over 1000 pressure vessels which include diamond miner, solvent tanks, crc kits, and sieves. Given my length of time doing this and that im primary the extractor builder, id imagine there isnt many people with this hands-on experience in the industry.
There are so many mistakes made on my end on Monday which likely could have prevented this so id like to go over what i saw. How it happened, and how i plan to prevent this going forward,
Monday Morning i went into work super early. We had so many orders that i knew i had to get working early. This was probably my first mistake. I probably should have gone into work and packed some of the orders sunday so i wasnt trying to rush something so dangerous. i got all the orders packed from 9-12 and was feeling great about my progress. Only had 1x 2.5lb extractor to pack. Figured it would take 2 hours and i would be home early… LOL
So, let me tell you how i store all extractors… After all extractors are pressure tested. I leave them in my warehouse under pressure until we run out of packaged extractors or till they sell and need to be packed up. Typically we have 3x of each extractor packed up in boxes ready to ship same day if needed. When those run out. We take pressure tested ones and replace the prepacked one. Extractors can sit anywhere from a month to 2 months waiting to be packed. This way if any lose pressure over that month… its really noticable. It never happens but its just a second way i can insure these things leave my warehouse perfectly pressure tested… Fuck they been sitting in my warehouse at 100psi for months and not moved… LOL
I only have 1x digital ashcroft gauge for second testing measurement. Probably my second mistake. i will typically use the gauge on the extractor for a primary testing instrument but just to second test it. i use a digital gauge to make sure it dont lose a fraction on a psi. i also have building rigs so i can properly test all these things. The testing rig i was using for this particular piece was a 10" spool with base. The part that nearly killed me was a 10" jacketed splatter platter with spout. Since this part doesnt have a gauge built in. I used the digital gauge only on this build, and since this gauge is rotated to different builds at times… IT WASNT ON THE BASE AT THE TIME.
I should have known all pieces on that shelf are STILL UNDER PRESSURE AND AT 100PSI.
I was rushing as i said. Monday was the first time EVER i used a power ratchet taking apart or building an extractor. I figured it would save me 5-15 mins taking apart this whole extractor for shipping. THIS WAS MY CRITICAL ERROR. Ive loosened a clamp or 2 while its been under pressure before. Never with a power tool though. In the past, if i was working with a vessel under pressure and slightly loosened the clamp. The gasket would blow by the clamp and it would lose all pressure quick.
So this 10" base and spatter plater was under 100 psi of pressure and i loosened the clamp with my power ratchet. the nut came off so fast on that side that the other bolt holding the clamp just bend competely releasing the clamp. Sending the splatter platter off at god know what speed. My warehouse ceiling are 16ft. and my top shelf is at 12ft. Luckily my face wasnt completly over the base when it happened. I was bent over and the splatter platter hit me on the head then proceeded to land on the top of my warehouse. Video showing where it landed.
I was so shell shocked. Luckily i didnt get dizzy or lose conscious at all. Felt my head and saw all the blood and went right to the hospital. Got a cat scan, needed some staples. But that was all. It happened at like 1 and i was back to work at 2:30. The more i think about it. the more i feel blessed. This could have been so much worse. Im lucky i have a hard head.
The splatter platter was completly destroyed from its flight. All Orders went out on time. but yesterday packing extractors. i had some serious PTSD from the experience. Ill never take off a clamp unless ALL VALVES ARE OPEN> .
I wasnt wearing safety glasses at the time which will never happen again working with extractors in any form. the splatter platter had its valve and jic fitting on already… imagine taking that to the head or eye.
Ive kept saying this will be my last year selling pressure tested extractors and this experience just about sealed that for me. I know this was a super long story but i wanted to give all the details and all the background cause it if can happen to someone so experienced in this. it can happen to anyone.
So much of this could have been prevented if i didnt rush, check pressure first, open all valves for safety. dont use power tools. maybe wear a hard hat and safety glasses.
here are some pics and videos.
