Fractal burning

Fractal burning, Lichtenberg burning or wood fracking refers to a technique where a Lichtenberg figure is burnt into wood using high voltage electricity.[1][2][3][4] It has gained notoriety due to numerous incidents of death or severe injuries when people have attempted it at home, with at least 33 people having died between 2017 and 2022.[1][5]

Lichtenberg branching figure in leopardwood

Process

By applying a coat of electrolytic solution to the surface of the wood, the resistance of the surface drops considerably. Two electrodes are then placed on the wood and a high voltage is passed across them. Current from the electrodes will cause the surface of the wood to heat up until the electrolyte boils and the wooden surface burns. Because the charred surface of the wood is mildly conductive, the surface of the wood will burn in a pattern outwards from the electrodes.[1]

Safety
See also: Electrocution ยง Medical aspects

The danger lies in the process relying on high voltages,[1][3][4][6] much higher than normal mains electricity.[4] High voltages enable a potentially fatal current to pass through the body.[1][4] The slightest contact with the equipment involved may result in death.[1] At such high voltages, arc flashes are also a risk.[4]

A transformer from a microwave oven, featuring a prominent warning of the danger of high voltage.

Transformers from microwave ovens are frequently used for the technique because they are easily obtainable.[7][4] They can produce voltages of around 2100 volts[8] (2,000 volts is used by the modern electric chair,[6] a device used to execute an individual by electrocution), and a fatal current of between 500 and 2,000 milliamps.[7] Even a tenth or a hundredth of that current could be fatal.[7] Because of the galvanic isolation in the transformer, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) or residual-current device (RCD) will not be able to break the circuit in the event of an electric shock.[9]

A 2020 review noted that the mortality rate of fractal wood burning cases was "significant" and "exceedingly high."[7] The American Association of Woodturners has, on safety grounds, banned any demonstrations or sales related to the practice at its events, strongly discourages any of its chapters from promoting the practice, and refuses to publish information about the practice other than safety warnings.[1] The Association of Woodturners of Great Britain has instituted the same policy.[10]

Other organisations that have warned against the practice include:

References
  1. "Safety: Fractal Burning / Lichtenberg Burning". American Association of Woodturners. June 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  2. "ESFI Warns Against Fractal Wood Burning Social Media Trend". Electrical Safety Foundation International. 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  3. "Fractal burning". WorkSafe New Zealand. 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  4. Caroline Delbert (2022-06-27). "People Keep Dying Rigging Microwave Transformers Into DIY Wood-Burning Machines". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  5. Melissa Siegler (2022-04-23). "Wisconsin man, woman electrocuted to death while trying 'highly dangerous' TikTok art trend". USA Today. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  6. "DIY gone wrong: burn surgeons save woman's hands after wood fracking incident". Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America. 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  7. Christopher Richardson DO; Kevin Johnston MD (2021). "An unusual case of high-voltage electrical injury involving fractal wood burning". Journal of Burn Care & Research. 2 (1): e12330. doi:10.1002/emp2.12330. PMC 7819263. PMID 33521782.
  8. "2 meter arcs with 8 MOTs". danyk.cz. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  9. bigclivedotcom (2022-05-01). "The most deadly project on the Internet". YouTube. 9:55. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  10. "Fractal / Lichtenberg Pyrography Policy". Association of Woodturners of Great Britain. 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  11. "ESA Issues Warning on the Dangers of Lichtenberg Generators". Electrical Line. 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  12. Thea Halpin (2018-04-16). "'I can't think of anything more dangerous': High-voltage craft work linked to SA death". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  13. "Electrical safety warning over deadly wood art device". commerce.wa.gov.au. 2020-06-23. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
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