I guess the reason I suggested using a ‘church key’ to open was the thought it wouldn’t produce a spark. In the interest of expanding my knowledge, not to be argumentative, how could using a can opener on a metal can produce a spark?The can opener has a theoretically problematic aspect to it, so I would still be operating it remotely. The problem is the cans are made of plated steel. The plating doesn't make sparks when it rubs something, but when you cut through it and expose the steel at the edges of the cut, the possibility of a spark being generated lies in that, especially since the can opener itself is steel. Avoiding abrading steel is the name of the game, and steel-on-steel all the more.
Given that corrosion through the plating is also likely on the lid, avoiding rubbing steel is difficult to work out for unscrewing it, too. You might be able to get permission from your county sheriff to use an abandoned rock quarry or other pit location to just try shooting a drain hole through the can with a 22, as a pit directs any blast upward. Given that I can afford a can of black powder, I think I might just be tempted to do that to save myself more trouble and be sure I was far enough away when the can was penetrated.
Why the hell would anybody use this stuff if it’s so darn dangerous to just open the can OMG haha .
Thanks UN, I know what your saying and have always understood the oxidation part from my college chem classes, I just wouldn’t have imagined even something as innocuous as using a can opener could also induce a spark.Jetinterior guy.
Small particles of iron are a fuel, ready to oxidize. When that oxidizing is slow, we call it rust. When it is fast, it is burning and releasing energy quickly, so it takes the form of a spark. If a puncturing or other force gets concentrated enough on an iron-containing material, tiny particles of it can be torn off the surface with enough momentary energy reach iron's ignition temperature in air. You see a lot of that going on if you apply a grinding wheel to iron or steel, where the friction from tearing the iron particles from its surface is high. But you can get small, individual sparks from tearing steel apart by other means, including puncturing it with a can opener. It is less common because the energy concentration is lower than what you apply when grinding. Nonetheless, they will randomly occur. Every once in a while someone blows themselves up screwing the caps onto pipe bombs because of the rubbing of the iron parts in the screwing motion. So, low probability or not, it isn't worth the risk over the cost of a can of powder to take the chance.
If the contents has corroded through the lid plating, the spark potential is still there, so you want the vice plopped down in pit in the middle of a field somewhere and to pull on the strap wrench with a rope.