Can a moth flying into your lead melt make it explode?

[stilly]

So the other night I was casting and this moth was doing hideous suicide circles around the pot and light I have on the bench. I tried to swat him but I figured that with just my luck he was going to dive into the melt and then make it explode all over the place, burn the garage and house down and I would be dead. (who would have EVER saw that coming...)

It was one of those sphinx moths- This one:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/showimage/254/

It was about 3/4 the size of a hummingbird.

So I think I will keep my garage door closed from now on and only the smaller door open instead, but seriously, could one of those things doing kamikaze loops blow my **** up or am I just being excessivly paranoid?

I know that water dropping onto the top will just spatter around and sizzle, but I am wondering about the moisture content in these moths if it happens to hit the lead and actually go under the surface and then...

Actually, I am being excessively paranoid I think but if anyone has any evidence one way or another. Maybe I will make a video of it in the future.

[Galt]

Theoretically, I suppose so. However I wouldn't think they would be able to hit the lead hard enough to go under. I would think they would just burn on the surface.

[Garv]

Theoretically, I suppose so. However I wouldn't think they would be able to hit the lead hard enough to go under. I would think they would just burn on the surface.

Agree, the outside meat would sizzle first and the wings would burn.

The density of the lead would be hard to push through enough to expose the liquid inside quickly enough for an explosion.

A full size hummingbird doing a suicide dive bomb is a different story.

[Capt.Dunsel]

sphinx moths ,
The new flux

[bohoki]

naa they will float and burn just wet bullets will sink and trapped moisture will flash to steam

[VooDooV]

Sphinxter clinch moth.

[Victor Cachat]

I suggest capturing a few moths to determine average body weight and moisture content.
Then experiment with the insulative properties of their outside coverings.

Look up maximum velocities to determine how deep an object of that mass might penetrate the skin on your melt.

Or just trust me when I say it will not go in deep enough and does not have enough water content to flash into a steam bomb.

[stilly]

Sweet. Yeah, I kept forgetting that the desity of the moth is nothing compared to that of the lead and even though I can jam things inside the lead, they are typically wheel weights and even though those moths are huge, they are not wheel weight moths...

I will set up the HD camera to film it when it happens...

[Garv]

sphinx moths ,
The new flux

Good, very good, Capt.

100% organic flux ORL0

GTG until we run low on moths and PETA gets involved.

[mycrstuff]

I have melted down old fishing weights that somehow had some water in them. They make for a nice explosion of lead. The only good thing about the explosion is that lead cools very quickly. It is liquid when it explodes and turns solid and cool by the time it comes down. I have had it land on my arm and not burn me.

[Garv]

I have melted down old fishing weights that somehow had some water in them. They make for a nice explosion of lead. The only good thing about the explosion is that lead cools very quickly. It is liquid when it explodes and turns solid and cool by the time it comes down. I have had it land on my arm and not burn me.

Hope you wear your goggles!
Maybe an oven bake at 250F for a couple hours before melting?

[Twystd1]

Dude. Let it happen

Tasty with BBQ sauce and a hint of sea salt.

-T

[Pauliedad]

I'm thinking you need as much fresh air as possible (leave the big door open) and if Mothra gets a third degree, so be it.

[stilly]

HEH! Apaprently if you get your lead up to about 850 or so, you can dip your hand in water and then dip it into the lead quickly and not get burned...

So perhaps I need to keep pouring water on top of the lead so if said mothra was to fly in and penetrate, he could be safe about it.

[Pauliedad]

It's all for the sake of the moths.