Lichtenberg wood burning

[Phil Pascoe]

Has anyone done it? Have you bought a machine or made one from a microwave transformer?
I have a donor microwave and I'd much prefer not to kill myself.

 

[Stigmorgan]

Results usually look amazing but way too scared to try it myself

 

[nickds1]

"625 Death Due to Fractal Wood Burning: An Emerging Public Health Problem"

https://academic.oup.com/jbcr/article-abstract/41/Supplement_1/S158/5776139

Conclusions
Fractal woodburning is associated with devastating high-voltage electrical injuries and death. Prevention efforts should be focused on the potential risks of this art form.

Microwave Oven Transformers, aka MOTs, are EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THINGS!

The secondary typically produces 2000VAC at several 100mA - the secondary is also NOT galvanically isolated - one end (the innermost) is connected to the frame of the transformer which is generally earthed - this is done to save money on the inner insulation of the secondary which would otherwise have to withstand the full 2000VAC. MOTs are not engineered for safety - they are engineered for price to do the job for which they were designed, to whit running a magnetron inside an earthed metal box where prying fingers can't get to them. They are NOT designed to be safe whilst being used as a cheap, high voltage, high current, lethal general power source.

I have extensive knowledge of the use of MOTs for things like Jacob's Ladders and Tesla Coils, but there again, I have a degree in electronic engineering and a lot of training in the use & handling of high voltage equipment, plus years of experience designing and building HV kit.

I would NOT under any circumstances recommend you messing with one unless you really really know what you're doing with potentially lethal stuff like this.

And you have very good life assurance. Plus private health care. And a death wish. Or a desire for devastating and life-changing injuries.

 

[Sachakins]

Too scary for me.
https://www.woodturner.org/Woodturn...fety-Fractal-Burning-Lichtenburg-Burning.aspx

https://lichtenbergwoodburning.com/...GWmfZpdlL5cMcIODbLi6w86sFvdq3upvk8AN1s-BU5YfS

 

[Fitzroy]

Past chainsaws on the risk scale, and I've promised the wife not to own a chainsaw.

 

[Spectric]

Whats all the fuss, has everyone forgotten that we used to have CRT tubes in our Tv's which used a high voltage flyback transformer .

 

[Sachakins]

Whats all the fuss, has everyone forgotten that we used to have CRT tubes in our Tv's which used a high voltage flyback transformer .

But we never took it out, connected two probes to it, switched it on, got hold of them and stuck the probes into wet wood

 

[nickds1]

Whats all the fuss, has everyone forgotten that we used to have CRT tubes in our Tv's which used a high voltage flyback transformer .

Similar only in that it was designed to run inside a protective case and not to have folk who should know better playing with them outside of their design envelope.

TV: 25KV but at under 2mA - a much lower current and unlikely to kill you. I never worked on colour TVs for exactly this reason - I didn't need to and if I made the tiniest mistake, the result could be very damaging and painful indeed.

I still have a Fluke oil filled 40kv probe somewhere - it'll be out of spec now as the oil will have absorbed some moisture.

I feel it's irresponsible to play down the risks associated with MOTs.

It's not a joking matter. Lots of people have been critically injured or died. For what? Squiggly lines on a bit of damp wood. Not worth the very real huge risks.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Whats all the fuss, has everyone forgotten that we used to have CRT tubes in our Tv's which used a high voltage flyback transformer .

One of my neighbours had a small firm doing radio and TV repairs. One day a chap working for him dropped dead at work - the first thing he said was thank heavens he wasn't working on a TV, we'd have hauled across the coals by H&S.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Past chainsaws on the risk scale, and I've promised the wife not to own a chainsaw.

I still have an electric one, I've used them for 50+ years. I'd take a chainsaw every day before a 7 1/4" circular saw - I detest those things (despite owning three).

 

[Spectric]

I still have a Fluke oil filled 40kv probe somewhere - it'll be out of spec now as the oil will have absorbed some moisture.

Same here, no idea where to get fresh oil but have not used it for a few years.

Squiggly lines on a bit of damp wood. Not worth the very real huge risks.

Is this not already done with just hot tools, not sure whatt they call it ?

 

[Inspector]

Is this not already done with just hot tools, not sure whatt they call it ?

Pyrography. Accomplished in simplest form with a type of soldering iron or more refined ones like the Razertip wood burning tools (made near here).

Pete

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I'm not interested in pyrography, I can't draw or even write tidily.

 

[Sachakins]

Surel you could carbon copy trace a pattern onto wood and follow the lines with a pyro pen?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

You'd not get the same effect, though, and it could be tedious on any sort of scale.

 

[Sachakins]

True, but ain't gonna die trying it !

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Nor am I, ideally.

 

[Sideways]

Whats all the fuss, has everyone forgotten that we used to have CRT tubes in our Tv's which used a high voltage flyback transformer .

People unaware of the risks are killing themselves.
A bit of fuss is only right.

And yes, the longer time passes from when CRTs were in every home, the less aware younger generations will be of the risks from high voltage electricity. It can burn you under the skin and stop your heart. It is standard practice in certain lines of work that if you survive an electric shock, you go and get a hospital check because you may still have suffered damage that can bite you later.
Ozone created by the high voltages inside the TV used to be a smell many folk would recognise. I wonder if it still is ?

 

[Katomi woodsmith]

All this talk on high voltage, can I remind folk that low voltage can be dangerous if not handled with care
Years ago I had a Wolsey 16/60 I was working under the dash, having left the battery conected
I had taken a couple of jolts and thought “ it’s only 12v
Big flash and a very bad burn on my wrist. My stele watch strap had bridged live and earth.... bad yes the strap had blue, I had a day in hosp and quite a number of ear bending lectures on my stupidly..
Still carry the scar
In the last few years I have put in place solar panels / 12 v wet lead acid batts and inverters

Even though I was told they were not needed I have installed cut off switches, on both input and demand
fuses that are 1/3 under my expected max draw
All cables are over the rated values... ok yes it’s over the top. And yes prob I could have saved some £ s
Added to this I examined all the connections every 6mts for loose/burnt conections
Stay safe all

 

[Richard_C]

AWGB have, or had, some guidance on their website. In short, guidance was don't do it.

Ah, found it

https://www.awgb.co.uk/woodturning-safety/fractal-lichtenberg-pyrography-policy/