This is topic Xenon bulb disposal in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Stephen Jones (Member # 16) on 02-08-2000, 07:44 PM:
After reading what happened to Aaron I was wondering the best method of disposal.I pack the bulb back in its plastic envolope, put it in its packing and box,then tape up the box with packing tape,then drop the box onto the ground out side fom a high point like the fire escape making sure that there is no one around first.I also use this method when I am traning new booth staff to show how dangerous they can be when they explode,and instruct them on safety proceedures.Of course they do not change a bulb until they have been in the booth for a long time and after very intense training and with supervision for the first few times.------------------
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-08-2000, 07:57 PM:
I like to keep one in the front seat of my car, just in case someone cuts me off I can toss it at them. However, your method is a reasonably safe one. Some people go one further and wrap it in a thick blanket too.
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 02-08-2000, 10:17 PM:
You know those fire rated garbage cans with a foot pedal that rasies the lid? I roll the bulb up in about 30 pages of newspaper and tape up the whole thing. I place the bulb in the back of the garbage can. I then get a length of pipe and place one end of the pipe on the bulb. I adjust the angle of the pipe so the lid is as closed as it will get. I wack the other end with a hammer.Usually I fish out the tungsten thingy and give it to one of the kids.
I like Gordon's method best, but I don't have a vat of liquid nitrogen handy.
Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-09-2000, 01:20 AM:
I take 'em out to the woods and shoot them with a rifle from about 100 yards away!Anybody have an ultra slo-mo camera set up? That would be a very cool training video!
Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 02-09-2000, 11:27 AM:
Oh, Randy, that's so Pennsylvanian!When I don't blow them up in the lamphouse we have three ways of disposal:
1. Wrap the bulb in a blanket or burlap sack (more than one will be needed), and throw a cemment block on it from a fair distance while turning away from the explosion. This works well and is very safe.
2. Wait until your garbage men empty your dumpster. Open one lid and place the bulb free of any caseing on the other, MAKING SURE it is not going to roll off. Now grab a 10-12 feet pole and push the bulb into the dumpster. The fall will explode the bulb and the dumpster will contain the glass. Not a bad method, but must be done in a large dumpster by someone who knows what they are doing.
3. Shoot them from about 100 yards away with your trusty .22 WRF rifle. An OK method if the owner of the property on which your disposing the bulbs doesn't care about guns or glass.
Years back we had a booth tech who asked us to save the bulbs and he would break them for safety purposes. Most of the guys in the booth were right out of high school and the manager strayed away from anything but talking to customers. I guess Jerry just didn't want to see anybody get hurt. He was a good man.
Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-09-2000, 06:03 PM:
Okay, you can only take them out back and shoot them if you live in an area where people are used to hearing gunfire.When I'm not being a Pennsylvania redneck, I just put them back in the 'clam shell' and put that back in the box. Then you just throw the box down on a cement floor real hard.
From my experience busting xenons in various ways, as long as the bulb is cold, the main danger is from flying glass. It's USUALLY not even enough to go through a heavy, corrugated cardboard box. I said USUALLY! I have seen some of the larger pieces of schrapnel actually stick into the box.
I recommend that IF you are going to perform these kinds of experiments, you situate yourself far enough away that you won't be in the "zone of destruction". (On open ground that's at LEAST 5 - 10 yards. -- Double that just to be extra safe.)
I guess what I'm trying to say is that many people treat xenons like they're little bombs. (It probably serves people well.) Granted, if you get near an exploding xenon you should expect to be a little bloodied up. Also, the shreds of glass are like little razor blades and needles... VERY sharp! I would always wear gloves and face shields when handling a xenon in any state, hot, cold, busted or not busted. If you don't have an apron, at least wear a good, heavy jacket.
PS: If you decide to go out and play with xenons, I DIDN'T tell you to do it! If you get hurt because you didn't take precautions, I'll only say, "I told you so!"
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 08-31-2002, 01:48 AM:
Bumping to the top for Alex.
Posted by Barry Martin (Member # 1376) on 08-31-2002, 08:29 AM:
I just store the bulbs in their boxes (plastic case as well) until I get about 10 or 15 saved up. Then I take them outside, usually with another person to look out for anyone nearby. Usually do this after midnight. We go out to the back of the theater, where there is this area enclosed by 3 walls, with the entrance 50 feet away (where the guard person is). The compactor is also out here, so it is convenient. I just lob the bulb, inside the plastic case and box into the air to have it crash on the concrete next to the compactor about 20-30 feet away from where I'm standing. I haven't had glass penetrate the box yet, but I'm sure it can happen. I have been told by one technician that the tungston should be recycled properly as it is a hazardous material, but wasn't sure of the validity of this statement especially after reading someone's post on here about giving it to one of the kids. Of course, the theater trained me to throw them away with the glass, but that doesn't necessarily make it correct in my opinion.
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"The greatest thing you will ever learn, is just love and be loved in return."
Barry C. Martin
IATSE Local 182
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 08-31-2002, 09:26 AM:
Put one under each leg of the bosses chair 
Posted by Brian Tristam Williams (Member # 1235) on 09-03-2002, 06:09 AM:
I see all this paranoia about bulbs, and it sure scares me, as a newbie. What I can't understand is why our techs don't wear any kind of protective gear when handling lamps. Not even glasses. Judging by all the things I've heard about these monsters on Film-Tech, that seems like a dangerous practice.Today, I'm showing a client our lighting desk. I try to move the curtain that covers the desk, and I feel something metal and warm. I think that the tech has left his soldering iron there to cool off. But upon closer inspection I find that the warm metal is part of a xenon bulb. I hightailed it out of there.
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"One man can make a difference."
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 09-03-2002, 12:07 PM:
Here is the NASA Glenn Safety Manual (NASA John Glenn Space Research Center near Cleveland Ohio, which uses xenon lamps to simulate solar radiation) for proper handling of xenon lamps:
http://osat-ext.grc.nasa.gov/gso/manual/chapter_26.pdf Without proper eye protection, an exploding xenon lamp may be the last thing you ever see! 
As to the rest of your body, even if you are lucky enough not to sever a major blood vessel, quartz shrapnel cannot be seen on an x-ray, so the doctors will have a hard time picking the shards out of your body. Just something to think about before you handle a xenon lamp without protective gear.
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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
Posted by Barry Martin (Member # 1376) on 09-03-2002, 11:46 PM:
They aren't so much to be feared, as respected. The chances of a bulb chosing to explode while you are handling it are slim, but are still there nonetheless. Wearing glasses is like wearing your seatbelt in a car; you probably won't be in an accident, but if you are wouldn't you rather have a belt on? I always wear a face mask and gloves, but the flak jacket we were given was almost impossible to move in (especially with my build) so I would just wear a thick shirt. We've had two bulbs explode in my booth in almost 4 years of operation, both occurred with the lamphouse closed due to weaknesses in the bulb (or so the OSRAM techs who received the fragments said) before the bulbs reached 1000 hours (these were 2500 watts). Sure did scratch up the reflector nice though. 
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"The greatest thing you will ever learn, is just love and be loved in return."
Barry C. Martin
IATSE Local 182
Posted by Wes Hughes (Member # 981) on 09-04-2002, 12:04 AM:
LOTS of people handle lamps without ANY protection. I am guilty of not wearing gloves or a jacket sometimes, but only a few times have I not had on goggles and a face sheild.
I am quite sensitive about my eyes! 
Posted by David Rigby (Member # 1301) on 09-04-2002, 04:52 AM:
I'm a newcomer to the exciting world of Xenon bulbs too (my portable uses a crappy old halogen) - but the very first thing I did when the Xenon lamphouse arrived was buy some safety gear from Sound Associates. Explosions may be rare (especially with my low usage), but if there was to be one I wouldn't want an unobstructed path between my eyeballs/lower arms and those quartz fragments. I considered the flak jacket but figured as has already been said that a thick overcoat ought to do OK.David
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 09-04-2002, 05:36 AM:
I have to admit, I don't wear protective clothing either.. But at least I have glasses that are Coke Bottle thick to protect my eyes. But never the less, not wearing safety gear it is still stupid.