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Prop Safety
I'm new to R/C flying. I've hear a lot of horror stories about pilots (even experienced ones) lacerating their hands from spinning props. Is it best to wear leather gloves, or will I just look stupid at the field? My wife wants me to keep all my digits.
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RE: Prop Safety
Just be aware of the prop any time you are near it and don't put your fingers anywhere near a spinning prop.
You wouldn't reach under a running lawn mower would you? Personally I use an electric starter and I feel safer doing so. Make absolutely sure your airplane is held securely and cannot move when you are starting it. For the best safety possible get with a qualified instructor at a local club. |
RE: Prop Safety
Well leather gloves might help with the cuts but you have to remeber tunning with leather gloves could be hard. I use a chicken stick never had a close call and intend to keep it that way. i am very nervouse around a spinning prop so i watch myself and think things trew before doing anything. i think leather gloves will only beusefull for the bigger gasser stuff the small stuff might be hard with leather gloves on (very clumbsy)
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RE: Prop Safety
Something else that'll getcha is the spinner. Make very sure the prop doesn't touch the cone, and that it is straight on the back plate. That thing will shatter and send shrapnel 15 or 20 feet. The nest thing to go would be the spinnner nut and washer ... they could hurt too. I use an electric starter as well. Chicken sticks are ok if the engine is already tuned, but depending on the size of the engine, an over rich mixture could cause detonation before TDC and yank the chicken stick out of your hand. I don't wear gloves, but if it helps any, I have seen others wear them.
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RE: Prop Safety
wearing a good thick leather glove will help if you hand start an engine,like was said though electric starter and chicken stick is preferable
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RE: Prop Safety
Personally I like all fingers, that way no one is confussed if I'm waving or gesturing. I also use an electric starter, but you still get close reaching for the glow stick. I work around machinery all day, serviceing and repairing. I know where my fingers are at all times, but with gloves on that extra 1/8 inch has gotten my hand nicked because the leather gets caught and pulls the hand with it.
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RE: Prop Safety
Remember that most of the really bad prop accidents occur with engines that are already running, not during starting. Adjusting the needle valve is where a lot of people get hurt bad. Another thing to watch out for is for a plane to unexpectedly go to full power because you accidently bumped the throttle stick on the transmitter while you were fixing something on your electric plane. Always pull the battery before doing anything to an electric. If it is so big that it takes two hands to carry the plane, have a buddy carry the transmitter for you instead of trying to carry three things at once while heading out to the flight line.
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RE: Prop Safety
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G'day Mate,
Have a look at these restraints, that we use in our club, here they are manditory, take note of all the above posts, they are correct, & these restraints will stop the plane moving, as you run up your motor & do preflight checks. They also alow you to tune your motor, & be sure it aint going anywhere. |
RE: Prop Safety
Timex,
Now that we have scared the crap out of you and your putting your stuff on EBAY take a second and think about this. First of all don't be afraid of the prop!!!!!!! Give it the respect it deserves but don't be afraid of it. What happens when your afraid of the grounder commin right at you? EXACTLY you get cracked right in the mellon! Most prop accidents happen because of distraction or complacency! If your good about your ground procedures: tail trap, glove, chicken stick, ect. you will not have a problem. I say start with the glove until your comfortable, NOBODY will give you crap for that, if they do they ain't worth a spit anyway. Besides just tell them your a surgeon!!! PS Alan is right, the tail trap is the best thing you can do, our club requires them. |
RE: Prop Safety
Thank you everyone for the comments. I purchased an electric starter, so I should be okay. I'll probably end up wearing leather gloves until the heeby-jeebies wear off, then I'll just respect the prop. My trainer is going to help me break-in the engine (Avistar w/an OS .40 LA) this Sunday, so I'll be learning things the correct way.
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RE: Prop Safety
Ahh yes....The revolving prop thread. I didn't learn till I got bit by a .46 LA. IT HURTS! (I can't imagine what a DA 100 would do).
Whatever safe practice you use. (There are many). Use it consistently. I have seen guys do the STUPIDEST things to get bitten. From pointing THROUGH THE PROP at a loose muffler to just plain not giving it enough respect. Most of the prop injuries happen, as stated, with a running engine. They nearly disappear at full throttle, so be careful and have fun! |
RE: Prop Safety
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I preach to students I help, NEVER remove the ni-starter or tune needle from the front of the plane. Take time to walk around and do it from behind the wing. This also keeps you out of line of a prop that comes loose and spins off. Below is a photo of the style of start-up stands we use. Two of our members have lost fingers (not nicks) while wearing leather gloves.
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RE: Prop Safety
Electric start is great. All it does is save you 4 hours trying to start your engines. Scraping knuckles and other stuff comes from other foolish things we all do
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RE: Prop Safety
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NEVER get complacent! I did once. I figured I could make a quick rig to ground run the new engine. Heck is was a little Norvel .061 spinning a 7x3 APC (Another Perfect Cut) I don't even need to clamp this thing down, I'll just hold it[X(] Well Gump said it best, "Stupid is as stupid does", and I does stupid real good.[sm=tongue_smile.gif]
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RE: Prop Safety
Our club built 6 of the Meroke tables (seen in Huskerboys picture) and we love them. They restrain the plane during starting, and make it easy to walk around behind the plane to make tuning adjustments. They're also at a perfect height so you're not bending over near a spinning prop. With the side wings, there really isn't an easy place to stand beside the engine that puts you in the prop arc.
Brad |
RE: Prop Safety
Noone has mentioned a couple of safety things that are really worth doing.
The first one is almost never done. Paint the tips of your props. All of your props. White works in almost any light. Red doesn't but works well with white. It's amazing how knowing where the prop fan is reminds you that there is a spinning prop in front of that engine. It reminds you that there's something there to avoid. With most props, when they're spinning they're invisible. And you're most apt to try and reach through them bacause you've forgotten anything is there. When the fan is visible, you don't have to remember a spinning prop is there. |
RE: Prop Safety
Noone has mentioned a couple of safety things that are really worth doing.
One thing that creates an additional hazard with props are the wires from a starter panel on a flight box that run to your electric starter and glowplug igniter. If you use both devices from one location, one of the lines is going to have to be routed around the prop. Not good. Those lines require watching over to insure they don't tangle in the prop. No big deal if they get cut, but they're more apt to blow the prop. They have you watching out for them when you've got enough to do keeping yourself out of the prop. And some guys wind up placing the box in line with the spinning prop. And wind up with a box that's so close to the airplane that it's gotta be moved away while the airplane is running. I've seen a pantleg cut while the flyer was concentrating on putting up the glow starter and engine starter and box. Solve all those problems easily. Setup your starter on a battery of it's own. Use the selfcontained glowstarters. Get rid of the wire things. You not only have a safer operating environment, but you gain a great deal of flexibility. You can place your flight box out of the way to begin with. Anywhere you want. And you can start your airplane anywhere. When only a couple of us are flying the "portable" starter saves lots of taxiing. Many a time have we restarted a flameout where it was. Get rid of those two wires. You'll be safer for it. |
RE: Prop Safety
There are armored gloves for sale. I've seen them in nurseries. Evidently garden lovers cut their hands when messing with their plants. And back when the majority of modelers started their engines by hand and most didn't bother with chicken sticks, one or two actually used those gloves. And more modelers used regular leather gloves.
One thing that most of them learned early on was that it was safer to wear only one glove, not both. And it was safer to whip that one off as soon as the engine started. They didn't actually protect well enough to be worth wearing when the engine was running flatout. And they lessened your ability to hold and feel. So off they came. But when the fiberglass razors came along things changed. And we've got some real swords nowadays. Those APCs are murder weapons. And some others aren't really any safer. Gloves with those are a joke. This last spring one of our "two accidents a flight" members absolutely destroyed the arm of a very expensive leather jacket. The leather was much stronger and thicker than any gloves I've ever seen. It simply disappeared in the prop fan as he reached past the prop. The prop didn't even slow down appreciably. He took out about 2-3 inches of jacket sleeve and some of the shirt inside. Look closely at the tips of those APCs. They have almost no pitch nor any real thickness. I think you could shave with them. If you do put on gloves, don't be deceived that you're really protecting yourself. If the glove is strong enough to protect your hand, it'll most likely blow the prop blade off, and where would you guess it'll go? Keep your hands out of the fan. If you can't see the fan, then make it so you can. |
RE: Prop Safety
Speaking of bloody fingers, how are your's Darock? After all that typing you may be down for a while...
WELL SAID!!! |
RE: Prop Safety
well again have respect the prop, don't be scared of it i now have one almost 1 year of flying under my belt, and all of my needle valves are so close to the prop i still get nervous. also the trailing edge of the prop can seriously cut your finger asi have done, now i have blood all over my field box, god dang it.
and resist the erge to stick your finger into the prop,dave trimmer |
RE: Prop Safety
Did you guys read o the CNN page about the guy who cut off his ring finger with his wedding ring still on and gave it to his ex wife. Seriously--he said he needed closure.
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RE: Prop Safety
ORIGINAL: darock There are armored gloves for sale. I've seen them in nurseries. Evidently garden lovers cut their hands when messing with their plants. And back when the majority of modelers started their engines by hand and most didn't bother with chicken sticks, one or two actually used those gloves. And more modelers used regular leather gloves. One thing that most of them learned early on was that it was safer to wear only one glove, not both. And it was safer to whip that one off as soon as the engine started. They didn't actually protect well enough to be worth wearing when the engine was running flatout. And they lessened your ability to hold and feel. So off they came. But when the fiberglass razors came along things changed. And we've got some real swords nowadays. Those APCs are murder weapons. And some others aren't really any safer. Gloves with those are a joke. This last spring one of our "two accidents a flight" members absolutely destroyed the arm of a very expensive leather jacket. The leather was much stronger and thicker than any gloves I've ever seen. It simply disappeared in the prop fan as he reached past the prop. The prop didn't even slow down appreciably. He took out about 2-3 inches of jacket sleeve and some of the shirt inside. Look closely at the tips of those APCs. They have almost no pitch nor any real thickness. I think you could shave with them. If you do put on gloves, don't be deceived that you're really protecting yourself. If the glove is strong enough to protect your hand, it'll most likely blow the prop blade off, and where would you guess it'll go? Keep your hands out of the fan. If you can't see the fan, then make it so you can. NorfolkSouthern |
RE: Prop Safety
Broke n Bummin made a good point regarding the propeller shattering because of pressure against the cone. A couple of weeks ago at our field, the propeller on a 1.50 4 stroke shattered and was propelled through the air (pardon the pun) like a knife blade. It was so fast, I only heard it go past, couldn't see it. If it had hit someone, there could have been a very serious injury.
My point, minimize your presence in front of the prop, that is after starting, get behind the plane and avoid standing along side a spinning propeller. DaveB |
RE: Prop Safety
ORIGINAL: NorfolkSouthern You give some valid reasons for my NOT using APC props. Rather, I use Master Airscrew and would be using Grish Tornado if they were still available. I have not noticed any performance difference between Master Airscrew and Tornado, they both do the job very well (well, Tornado did when they were available). I especially liked the Top Flite white nylon props with the red tips, their visibility made them very safe to work with, but you just can't get them any more. Since we are stuck with APC (Another Perfect Cut, as someone else said) being on the market for all eternity, why can't the company at least paint the tips of their product? Do they even care about the customer who cuts themselves after forgetting that the propeller is spinning? How much of a lawsuit would it take for them to finally pay attention to their disappearing, rotating knives? I bet that colored tips might bring the price of an APC prop up by a penny, maybe two cents. What could possibly be the big deal with that price difference, especially when it can save possible injuries? NorfolkSouthern |
RE: Prop Safety
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I agree Stang
Anyone who has been flying models for any amount of time has nipped (or cut) a finger with a spinning prop. We all know the hazards of the hobby. People need to use common sense & take care of themselves & not count on someone else to say (Do not stick finger in rotating fan)(Do not change fan belt with engine running) & so on. Every time I see a stupid law suit it just turns my stomach. Wake up & smell the coffee (CAUTION HOT). Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day |
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