Lichtenberg pyrography

[Penpal]

My new friend at the Lapidary Club makes his living Flying Drones,certainly back to the Future material. I went to his place yesterday and learned how it is done. It utilises sky high voltage and no I did not take pics,according to a mate in America there have been several deaths doing this. Bit like controlled lightning. Scary stuff. The patterns are like ink splats entirely unique. But it really shook me the likeness to trees and watching the lightning perform.

Peter.

 

[Dalboy]

As nice as it is to show, this it is a very dangerous practice and you will find that many sites have now banned any discussion on the subject as well as showing pictures so that new people to woodturning don't want to try it and have accidents.
Personally I would urge [MENTION=735]Phil Dart[/MENTION] to do the same

 

[Forum Phil]

MODERATORS STATEMENT.

As a result of the number of deaths that have occurred whilst attempting to use this technique, the topic is banned from many sites, including all forums run by the Guild of Master Craftsmen, and by the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain.

The moderators of this forum discussed the topic last year and it was decided that to ban the mere mention of the name would be rather silly and draconian, and that unlike other forums we would not make a statement at the time. However, as already alluded to by Peter, it is a highly dangerous technique, and it is particularly undesirable, not to mention irresponsible that anyone should be able to access the method of their own inadvertent demise via these pages. Therefore, given that this site is public, searchable and spider crawlable, the position of The Penturners Forum is that any posts which either set out to explain the details of the technique or set out to support it as a safe practice will be removed.

 

[Bill Mooney]

Just to clarify, it’s common name seems to be Fractal Burning & is best left alone.

 

[wm460]

I like the effect of this technique, I often wonder how this would go with resin.

I have a shed full of very dangerous equipment, in fact I better go out and play with them.

 

[Penpal]

I have often been asked about my equipment designed and built by me functions. My reply always has been my practices will never be thrust on anyone else if I sense an above normal danger involved. I neither condemn nor support ,but merely show the result of the Lichtenberg process. Much like to me jumping off tall buildings with a parachute, formula ! Race Car Driving, Winter Olympics. Football that all carry high risks, not long back a guy in Australia died after being bowled a dangerous bowl. Full well do I know as a sparky the inherent danger of even connecting an extension lead, much less the discussions on how to wire a workshop etc. The same principle apply.

Kind regards Peter.

 

[Lons]

I have often been asked about my equipment designed and built by me functions. My reply always has been my practices will never be thrust on anyone else if I sense an above normal danger involved. I neither condemn nor support ,but merely show the result of the Lichtenberg process. Much like to me jumping off tall buildings with a parachute, formula ! Race Car Driving, Winter Olympics. Football that all carry high risks, not long back a guy in Australia died after being bowled a dangerous bowl. Full well do I know as a sparky the inherent danger of even connecting an extension lead, much less the discussions on how to wire a workshop etc. The same principle apply.

Kind regards Peter.

It's a very different practice to those you highlight Peter, the activities you mention are either unrealistic, ( driving an F1 car or competing in winter olympics? - I wish ), or will have safety equipment and procedures in place so apart from freak accidents death is rare, so I can't agree that " the same principles apply".

Unfortunately it's very easy for someone with absolutely no knowledge using easily obtained items to do this on their own in a small shed or workshop with potentially disastrous results. An example of how the internet and youtube can lull people with maybe limited commonsense to experiment with something which could cost a life.

I appreciate your reasons for showing as the results are spectacular but the subject should be banned on the forum imo.

EDIT:
In response to Phils' post I feel that showing example photos of the finished article could be enough motivation to set someone on the path to following up the practice further via the websites showing methods and is irresponsible. The most likely participants would be youngsters with no fear of the consequences, after all it will never happen to them will it!

 

[Dalboy]

Unfortunately it's very easy for someone with absolutely no knowledge using easily obtained items to do this on their own in a small shed or workshop with potentially disastrous results. An example of how the internet and youtube can lull people with maybe limited commonsense to experiment with something which could cost a life.

I agree Bob and a little something I have in my shed

 

[Lons]

I agree Bob and a little something I have in my shed

Love it Derek

 

[Penpal]

I feel just as you guys, in relation to alcohol and drugs the damage these have done from youth in sheds behind sheds ,school leads me to remember my youth and seeing the real effects. I neither advocate on the topic nor believe anything other than stated on the sign in Dereks shed and I presume yours Bob.

I note your comments ,they firm my resolve to restrict now any information sharing it with people I can trust. For several years the effects of footy,hockey,Aussie rules, cricket,swimming in fact numerous sports has come to bite me on the bum with lasting consequences, I guess the hidden results of team sport. I grew up during WW2 then Korea,Vietnam and truly horrible experiences and regard penmaking as special to me,not a business for profit.

Take care guys.

Peter.

 

[Cumbrian Craig]

When I was 14/15 Yrs old I asked my Dad how I could make a lot of money (he's a retired engineer) his answer makes more sense today than back then. He simply said, find a way to bottle "common sense" You'll never have to work!!!!! These days people can file law suits because they have burnt their mouth on a coffee they have just bought!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards

Craig

 

[Lons]

Hi Peter

I am 100% convinced that no member of this forum would be stupid enough to try those dangerous practices however as this is an open forum which anyone can visit and view they could pick up the post via Google which is my concern.

Hope it's warm in Canberra, it's minus 3 here tonight....brrrrrrr.

 

[Forum Phil]

I response to the several posts that have contributed to this thread, and to the PMs I've received as a result, I feel it is necessary to qualify the Forums position that I set out at the start.

As I mentioned, many sites and forums have banned even the mention of the phrase Lichtenberg Pyrography, which as Bill pointed out is more commonly known as Fractal Burning. However, if every responsible forum were to take the same approach, there would still exist in the public domain, several videos and explanations of the technique that are intended to, or at least serve the purpose of making it look easy and/or desirable, whilst making no mention at all the appallingly high risk of death associated with it.

There has to be in existence some measure of balance, in order that if people are tempted to search on line for it, either now or in the future, there will be at least one responsible site appearing in online search results which makes it clear that to dabble with fractal burning is not much different to playing Russian Roulette with 5 out of 6 bullets loaded. For that reason, this thread has been allowed to thrive, and I am pleased to say that no-one has, not did I expect anyone to come out in favour of trying it.

That said, I believe the point is made, and with much respect to Peter's integrity when he initially posted his thread, I am now closing it to further comment. The search tags have also been edited to make them a little more appropriate than the ones that were automatically generated by the forum software, and for the benefit of anyone reading this in the future, please do not try fractal burning if you have any desire at all to live until your next mealtime. There is a very high chance that you won't make it.