The very first solder I bought was very cheap. There was moisture in it, which caused a handful of steam explosions that propelled little, shiny balls of solder through the air, and they left behind smoke trails sometimes.

 

Not sure if this counts, but I once sat on a gas powered soldering iron. Fun... Apart from that, it's just touching boards that have got slightly too warm when salvaging components off them.

 

As a teenager, along with a class of other trainees I had to watch a safety promotion film about an accident caused by water getting into a reservoir of molten metal. The details are a bit hazy now but it resulted in at least one death, and someone else getting blinded and horrible facial injuries. The film was old even then, and in black-and-white with poor sound, but it still made a big impression.

I guess we should be grateful if the Tinsel Fairy does not bring along her big brother the Grim Reaper!

 

@ Envergure,I posted that somewhere there was something that made
perfect balls that looked like ball bearings.I think you just confirmed
that statement. I'll have to try to find that post,any help please.

 

@ Envergure,I posted that somewhere there was something that made
perfect balls that looked like ball bearings.I think you just confirmed
that statement. I'll have to try to find that post,any help please.

Hi, loosewire
Is this the thread you're talking about? http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/showthread.php?p=368176&highlight=ball+bearings#post368176
Der Strom

 

So yea, I was installing a new light fixture, and thought, why use those little cone shaped caps and twist wires together when I can solder them!!!!

In summary: The hot solder fell from the ceiling onto my arm, and it did not hurt that much, but I still have the scar. Luckily its on the back of my arm where nobody can see.

So yea. Ceiling + solder = ahhhhhhhhhh

 

I had a huge decision to make when a soldering iron fell off a table... let the iron burn my wife's favorite carpet or... catch the iron... which I did... by the hot end.

I had some choice blisters after that! I also got a soldering iron stand after that.