Sublimation [(sub-luh-may-shuhn)]

In chemistry terms, sublimation is the process by which an element goes directly from the solid state to the gaseous state without going through the liquid state. To my knowledge, this process is instantaneous.

You, believe it or not, have probably seen this occur. Dry ice for instance undergoes sublimation. So if you've ever been to a Halloween party with the steaming punch, you've seen this happen. As it is not yet Halloween (despite what Hobby Lobby may be selling), you are probably wondering why I am rambling about this technical term...

Well I recently witnessed the sublimation of an orange. One second there was an orange sitting on the anvil beneath a 400 ton hammer, there was a large bang, and the orange was gone. It was magic if I've ever seen it. I suppose the orange didn't become a gas as there were some remnants scattered about the forge shop, but it might as well have. None of the pieces were dripping-wet-orange-juicy particles; the debris was dry sweepable particles.

This is what I did at work about a week back. I watched oranges explode. Jealous?

We went on a tour of the forge shop. While the orange was certainly a highlight, watching the shop guys at work was certainly a treat as well. We got to see them move a glowing hot piece of metal out of an oven over to the same hammer capable of orange magic, where they proceeded to turn a cylindrical shape into a rectangular prism shape.

I never would have thought operating a 400 ton steam powered hammer could be considered an art form, but I do now. It took three guys. One guy moved the metal around with a set of tongs, another provided shaping tools, and a third worked the hammer with a set of two handles. At times it was almost as if the hammer guy gently tapped the metal, asking it to please change form. Utilizing such heavy loud equipment, communication is key, and just another talent of those three workers. You could tell that there was constant conversation back and forth, but none of it was audible (with the steam running, the hammer dropping, and the metal deforming, talking wouldn't stand a chance at working).

When they were done with their art, the foreman turned to explain a few things to us. I was a little overwhelmed and staring like a small child, so many of the details were lost on me. However, one thing did stick: hand safety. He pointed out that the tong guy and the tool guy never crossed the imaginary boundary beneath the hammer. Even when placing the orange (not super hot, like the metal), the tong guy used his trusty tongs. The foreman explained that the steam pressure could let off, and the hammer could fall unexpectedly. If a hand happened to be underneath that hammer at such a time, hand sublimation would occur. The owner of the hand wouldn't only be out one hand, he'd be out one life too! The sudden pressure change within the blood vessels in the body would cause his heart to explode. I believe him. I don't need to hear the story of how this was discovered, nor do I need to witness such a story myself.