Beginning Mining

[tomferry]

I personally think though a torch”s lumen”s in a mine environment is also as equally important. If your head is going to get hit it’s usually from a trip/slip/fall not bringing srt into this, you could say that having something that is not a acceptable standard of lighting is to blame. I myself believe you need a minimum of 150 lumen”s of walk mode in a mine to be comfortable. When your in wide passages you can’t see the sides with much less ”false floors” stopes everything then becomes a real risk just because a low power torch .

 

[wellyjen]

Then again, the brighter the light, the more scary perched rocks, stacked deads and rotting wood you see.

 

[Mr Mike]

a minimum of 150 lumen”s

When I first designed the Retro LED unit for caplamps, the top halogen bulb gave out 48lm and the first version of the Retro was a wapping 90lm full wack - considered unbelievably bright in 2006! A few months later new LEDs came out and it was upto 200lm.

 

[tomferry]

When I first designed the Retro LED unit for caplamps, the top halogen bulb gave out 48lm and the first version of the Retro was a wapping 90lm full wack - considered unbelievably bright in 2006! A few months later new LEDs came out and it was upto 200lm.

That just makes me feel young i must say ! Very fair comment though, I suspect it’s a completely different experience exploring on candle power.

 

[Mr Mike]

That just makes me feel young i must say ! Very fair comment though, I suspect it’s a completely different experience exploring on candle power.

Candle power, our last trip was a bit retro, we had rope ladders and a stinky, things looked very orange / yellow in acetylene light and very dark.

 

[Mr Mike]

single flame, needed a 30s exposure to get this amount of light in the photo.

 

[tomferry]

I own 3 cadbide lamps myself have had all 3 working topside they do interest me. One hasn’t got the drip to control water flow, you put it in the base then fill another container up with water put that in and basically it over flows as you walk around to cause the reaction !

Have used them a few times in some well known “stone “ mines they certainly give a different aspect to mine exploring.

Did you ever use them as a cap lamp on the ladders ??

Lovely photo btw

 

[braveduck]

Amazing, I'm on the border of Cornwall and Devon so actually that would work perfectly! Do you know of any clubs or explorers in Devon at all?

Thanks so much

Look up Cornish Explores as well .

 

[wormster]

Beware of false floors over uncertain depth, don’t prod the rotten pit prop and wash out your kit between trips

 

[tamarmole]

Amazing, I'm on the border of Cornwall and Devon so actually that would work perfectly! Do you know of any clubs or explorers in Devon at all?

Thanks so much

Check out the Plymouth Caving Group, they do a lot of beginner friendly mine trips in and around the Tamar Valley.

 

[S_am]

Theres a wealth of knowledge here!

Look up Rosevale Mine they seem a good bunch wish i was closer so i could beg them for a look!

Minimum I would say helmet wellies and decent torches, I've used "LED Lenser" for maybe 10 years now working nightshifts and recreational abandoned mines.

 

[shotlighter]

Then again, the brighter the light, the more scary perched rocks, stacked deads and rotting wood you see.

That's where the the ReactoFear spectacle lenses come in to their own.

 

[Mr Mike]

Did you ever use them as a cap lamp on the ladders ??

Friend did and had the same sentiment!

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Don't know if OP is still reading this thread???

But if you decide you need a certain bit of kit or other, don't assume that means buying new all the time. Post on this site and you just might find someone willing to sell (sometimes even donate) a bit of kit

 

[Mrs Trellis]

All good advice - I'd add that those plasticised gloves and if you can find some cheap wetsuit bootees that should be a boon. If you don't then try and keep your feet dry - I find wellies cold footwear. I've seen some cavers use plastic bags and tape to keep the water off their socks.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

I am more a caver but I like mines. Caves tend to be safer due to the fact that they have evolved over thousands of years. Unless you alter them in some way they dont tend to collapse. Mines may have been relatively safe whilst worked but then they decay quite rapidly. I am constantly being told not to poke things in " our " mine. Sadly cant help it. A couple of tons fell off the wall recently. One bit on my foot. Luckily the dodgy roof stayed put. I wear the same kit caving and mining but was reminded about poor helmets last week. A new vistor's helmet with light fell off part way up a 25m pitch and disappeared into the watery depths . It did not have a proper cradle. As a diver of 25 years I believe you should never skimp on kit. Good light, over and undersuit and boots with steel toe caps. The latter has saved my tootsies at least twice. ( even if the wellies are pink ). Mines lead you on to all sorts of interesting things like minerology , industrial history, geology and artistic photography/video. My stuff plastered all over the place here. We have a three year project half way through looking for caverns that the miners found and lost. After 18 months hard work we feel that we are getting closer ( say one to 29 metres from them ). Of course we might still be going in the wrong direction.

Time for lunch --

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Note the white dodgy helmet now lost.

 

[Fulk]

When you say, tomferry 'Did you ever use them as a cap lamp on the ladders ?? ' is that because you're wondering if you might burn your hands? Or what? I used a 'stinky' many years ago for all aspects of caving, and don't remember this being a problem (though there were lots of other problems with them!).

 

[tomferry]

When you say, tomferry 'Did you ever use them as a cap lamp on the ladders ?? ' is that because you're wondering if you might burn your hands? Or what? I used a 'stinky' many years ago for all aspects of caving, and don't remember this being a problem (though there were lots of other problems with them!).

Multiple points to be fair.

I was going to say I no as you move with them on your head the flames can grow and get larger & larger, if they get to big can catch the seal on fire !

The one that would worry me the most is the risk of it going out on a big ladder ! What did you do or would you ? Re ignite it ? Or descend without using touch and feel ?

The above comment I am unsure if you carried stuff in a pocket for the re ignite on a ladder , imaybe a shoulder pocket so easy & quick ?

 

[Fulk]

I can't really remember, though I must have done some quite big pitches on ladders with a stinky. However, the idea of trying to re-light one while climbing a ladder doesn't hold much appeal, and I don't think that I ever did it. I guess I must have continued on my way in the dark when it happened.