TM9-1375-213-12
WARNING 2
(a) Hold bottom of machine in right hand with
Face away from caps when circuit is com-
leather strap looped around hand to secure machine
pleted to minimize face injuries from acci-
dental initiation. If at all possible, maintain
(b) Insert handle.
cover between blasting caps and testing per-
(c) Hold machine in a nearly horizontal position
sonnel.
in front of body, a little above waist. Impart maximum
(2) Check circuit for RF by contacting remaining
snap possible to machine body with right hand while
free end of cap lead wire to remaining free end of fir-
rotating handle as hard as possible with left hand in
ing wire conductor.
opposite direction. Left elbow should be close to body
(3) Splice free end of cap lead wire to free end of
at beginning of snap. Keep left wrist locked straight
while rotating handle.
h. Inserting Caps into Charges. Place blasting caps
NOTE
into explosive charges and fasten caps securely to
This left-handed technique may seem awk-
ward; however, it enables operator to impart
i. Testing Entire Circuit.
greater initial-snap to machine by twisting
(1) Move to firing position and test entire firing
both hands and moving the larger and
circuit with blasting cap test set or galvanometer as
heavier part of the machine with his strong-
er hand.
(2) Twist free ends of firing wire together.
(3) Blasting machines M32 and M34.
j. Exercising Blasting Machine. Before connecting
(a) Release blasting machine handle by rotating
to firing wires, operate handle of blasting machine sev-
D-ring until handle springs outward from body of ma-
eral times to assure that machine is properly freed (see
chine.
(b) Hold machine in upright position (terminals
k. Connecting Blasting Machine. Untwist ends of
up) in either hand, so that plunger end of handle rests
firing wire, and fasten them to the two posts of blast-
under base of thumb and fingers grasp machine body
ing machine.
l. Operation of Blasting Machine.
(c) Squeeze hand sharply several times in suc-
(1) Fidelity-type 10-cap machine:
cession until charge fires. No more than four strokes
(a) Loop machine strap over back of left hand
should be required.
and grasp bottom of machine body in left hand.
(4) 30-Cap, 50-cap and 100 cap machines.
(b) Fit handle onto machine shaft in a favorable
NOTE
Before using a newer type 50-cap machine
(c) Twist handle with maximum effort, trying to
(NSN 1375-00-141-9495), it is recommend-
get as much initial snap into the motion as possible.
ed that new operators practice with a blast-
(2) Dixson-type 10-cap machine.
ing cap circuit until they have mastered the
NOTE
operation.
Before using Dixson machine, each operator
(a) Set machine squarely on a solid, level place
must practice actuating machine until he is
and lift plunger by handle, to its maximum extension
assured that he has mastered it. It is recom-
mended that new operators practice using
(b) With body well balanced, feet wide apart,
the machine by hooking up a 10-cap series
and in a partially stooped position, grasp handle firm-
circuit on a 500-foot length of firing cable
ly with both hands and push plunger down with a
and attempting to fire caps. If caps fail to
quick, hard stroke. Maximum electrical output will be
function, operator has not developed full
obtained by trying to knock the bottom out of the ma-
machine output and should repeat procedure
chine with the stroke.
until he has mastered machine.
Change 5
2-8.1 /2-8.2 Blank