Thread: Fractal wood burning.

34 people in the USA have killed themselves attempting this and 30 in the UK and so far 2 AUS.

Simple facts are,

1. High Voltage (HV) is very hazardous,
2. Minimal HV current can be lethal
3. HV is used to create the "patterns" because of the very specific ability to overcome resistance.
4. Solutions are sprayed onto the "canvas" to over come resistance & to promote conductivity.
5. Users typically have no HV training, in hazards, hazard managment, safety ... safe operating practices, or observe total isolation from the device, work piece, support structures and components whilst the FB device is energized.
6. Users typically have no understanding of the potential hazards & risks or in managing the potentially lethal hazards, or of how debilitating a "survivable shock" may be.
7. Designers / constructors of the DIY devices have no formal HV training or qualifications
8. Devices typically do not have adequate HV insulation, shielding, isolation devices such as "deadman" switches, or other engineered protection devices.
9. Procedures used are often "very high risk!"
10. Devices are constructed illegally!
11. Importing "commercial" devices without standards authority certification is illegal!
12. There are no known devices that have standards authority certification as "fractal burners."
13. Do not be deceived by statements that specific components are "certified." That certification only applies in the context of the application for certification ie. a shielded microwave oven or a neon sign installation.
14. Most DIY units have no "protection circuitry" and will remain fully energized until isolated - an unacceptable hazard.
15. Using DIY or un-certified & non-standards compliant devices is also illegal in most (All?) Australian states.
16. All competent authorities have warned against the use of "fractal burners" because any contact with an energized component of the device has a very high probability of being lethal / fatal, or at best causing severe life changing injuries.
17. Pose a very significant risk to first responders - family, neighbours, Ambo's, Fire and rescue etc
18. A significant number of the reported fatalities have involved more than one victim.
19. We do not know the numbers of victims who have survived a non-lethal shock, or the injuries they have suffered.
20. Many of the deceased have been discovered in a fire, or their bodies on fire!

Not much in favour of the typical user.

If you wish to experiment please do not potentially put others lives at risk! or destroy the future prospects for others.

In closing - Fractal Burning can be performed "safely" by very well trained, highly disciplined and methodical users, however they are a very rare exception to the "typical user giving it a go."

Here hold my beer while I ......................

Apart from the safety issues I reckon it significantly detracts from the natural beauty of timber, same reason I also dont like timber flooded with excessive amounts of epoxy or overly thick glossy finishes etc.

Right from the start, I have always considered HV burning to be a novelty and not very trendy at that.
The user has no practical control over the design, the outcome, so I refuse to call it the least bit creative.

Darwin Awards to them all as took themselves out of the gene pool.