HEAT BEAD CHIMNEYS - WARNING / DANGEROUS

[outback jack]

HAD THE FAMILY OVER FOR TEA YESTERDAY. WAS GOING TO COOK A FEED IN THE CAMP OVEN. WHEN THE HEAT BEADS WERE READY I LIFTED THE CHIMNEY UP AND WAS CARRYING IT TO THE CAMP OVEN AND THE HANDLE CAME OFF, HEAT BEADS ALL OVER THE GRASS. LUCKILY NO YOUNG CHILDREN OR PETS NEARBY.

CONTACTED THE SUPPLIER (AUSCHAR) AND TOLD THEM TO RE-CALL ALL CHIMNEYS BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAPPENS

[Ben...]

can you go into more detail why you feel the handle feel off? what part may be faulty? perhaps the fine people out there that have one, can resolve the issue easily with a simple fix so it dosn't happen to them?

[Cheesoid]

Damn, that could have been nasty   Not a good way to spend Australia day.  I hope the distributor takes action because 9 times out of 10 there will be a dog, child, foot in the way.  I use an all weldmesh basket  from Hillbilly in Melbourne http://www.campingwithhillbilly.com/products.htm.  

[outback jack]

ben

a while ago these chimneys were re-called, they supplied an asbestos strip to stop the heat transfer from the beads to the moulded plastic handle (obviously not a good result)

chessoid, thanks mate will check out the hillbilly basket, have bought some of their stuff in the past (good quality)

cheers, jack

[Sharky]

Wow - that could've been very nasty!
I bought one of these in the states about 15 years ago. It has a wooden handle that is screwed onto the two metal lugs off the main chimney. Can't see it ever doing that.

Seems the main culprit here is the material that the handle is made from and its securing method. You're right to complain loudly about this!

 

[outback jack]

gday, sharky i also have one of the older style chimneys (no problems with it)

i bought 2 of the new style ones because they hold more heat beads  (wish i hadn't) and sometimes i use 3 or 4 camp ovens at a time

jack

[D4D]

What were they thinking with a plastic handle? 

[jclures]

I have one of those new chimneys as well, I only use it when I need extra heat beads, as I use my old one normally.
I might look at a retro fit and fit an old stile handle before I use it again though.
Jack did you also put this up on the COCIA forum as well.

[Barry G]

Should be reported to state safety authority for compulsory recall.

[outback jack]

I have one of those new chimneys as well, I only use it when I need extra heat beads, as I use my old one normally.
I might look at a retro fit and fit an old stile handle before I use it again though.
Jack did you also put this up on the COCIA forum as well.

yeah mate, posted on cocia as well

jack

[dazzler]

How did it fail?

Rivet broke, screw came loose, burnt, melted

[outback jack]

Melted (see photo)

Jack

[Rossco]

   OBJ. I think the Hillbilly starter basckets hold LESS than 20 heatbeads. Mightn't be big enough if you're going to be using 2 or 3 camp ovens, you may need 1/2 a dozen to get the job done.  
  Rossco.         PS.   We've been using a wooden handle one for a while now with no problems.